The Best of the Beat Music Awards were held for the 2018 edition at Generations Hall in New Orleans on January 31, 2019.
Samantha Fish came out a big winner, taking home for awards including Artist of the Year. Lifetime Achievement Award in Music recipient Walter Wolfman Washington also was rewarded for his latest album My Future is My Past. Bon Bon Vivant was voted Best Emerging Artist. See the full list of winners below.
See all the photos from the awards!
Best R&B/Funk Artist
Big Sam’s Funky Nation
Best R&B/Funk Album
Big Sam’s Funky Nation: Songs in the Key of Funk, Volume 1 (Independent)
Best Rock Artist
The Revivalists
Best Rock Album
The Revivalists: Take Good Care (Loma Vista)
Best Rap / Hip-Hop / Bounce Artist
Alfred Banks
Best Rap / Hip-Hop / Bounce Artist Album
Curren$y & Freddie Gibbs: Fetti (Jet Life Recordings)
Best Traditional Jazz Artist
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Best Traditional Jazz Album
Tuba Skinny: Nigel’s Dream (Independent)
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist
Jason Marsalis
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Jon Batiste: Hollywood Africans (Verve)
Best Brass Band
The Soul Rebels
Best Cajun Artist
Steve Riley & the Mamou Playboys
Best Cajun Album
Kevin Naquin and the Ossun Playboys: Man in the Mirror (Flat Town)
Best Zydeco Artist
Dwayne Dopsie and the Zydeco Hellraisers
Best Zydeco Album
Chubby Carrier & the Bayou Swamp Band: Black Pot (Swampadelic Records)
Best Roots Rock Artist
Paul Sanchez
Best Roots Rock Album
Paul Sanchez: One More Trip Around the Sun (Independent)
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Artist
Gal Holiday
Best Country/Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album
Gal Holiday: Lost and Found (HTRP Music)
Best Blues Performer
Samantha Fish
Best Blues Album
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: My Future is My Past (Anti)
Best Gospel Group
McDonogh #35 High School Gospel Choir
Best Cover Band
Bag Of Donuts
Best Female Vocalist
Samantha Fish
Best Male Vocalist
Cyril Neville
Best Bass Player
George Porter, Jr.
Best Guitarist
Samantha Fish
Best Drummer
Johnny Vidacovich
Best Saxophonist
Aurora Nealand
Best Clarinetist
Dr. Michael White
Best Trumpter
Leon “Kid Chocolate” Brown
Best Trombonist
Troy Andrews
Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Matt Perrine
Best Piano / Keyboardist
Jon Cleary
Best Accordionist
Chubby Carrier
Best Violin / Fiddle Player
Amanda Shaw
Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister
Best Other Instrument
Johnny Sansone (harmonica)
Best Music Video
“All My Friends” The Revivalists, UMG (on behalf of Concord Loma Vista)
Best Emerging Artist
Bon Bon Vivant
Song of the Year
“One More Trip Around the Sun” by Paul Sanchez and John Rankin
Songwriter of the Year
Jon Cleary
Album of the Year
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: My Future is My Past (Anti)
Artist of the Year
Samantha Fish