Photography by Willow Haley

PARTY STARTERS
Dumpstaphunk’s Tony Hall led a tribute to the late Allen Toussaint in the main room, featuring Cyril Neville, Davell Crawford and David Torkanowsky and followed by a set from Johnny Sketch & The Dirty Notes, who paid tribute to Lifetime Achievement recipients The Radiators.

Matt Perrine’s mother came to pick up his award for best tuba/sousaphonist of 2015.

The party celebrating the 21st Annual Best of the Beat Awards was memorable for the outstanding food and music. Some of the best eats in town (including Susan Spicer’s Mondo, Creole Cuisine, Dat Dog, Gumbo Shop, Fulton Alley and many more) were available for the price of the ticket, along with outstanding music: Tony Hall and company celebrating the music of Allen Toussaint, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes’ tribute to the Radiators, and performances by Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Roddie Romero & the Hub City Allstars, Young Fellaz Brass Band, Quickie Mart and Roar!

A special thank you to our sponsors—Positive Vibrations Foundation, Voice of the Wetlands, Orpheum Theater, New Orleans Live, Generations Hall, WWOZ, WWNO, WYES and WWL-TV.

See OffBeat’s full gallery of Best of the Beat 2015.

Walter “Wolfman” Washington brought the blues (and toothy smiles) to the front room at Generations Hall.

Dee-1 was named best Rap/Hip-Hop artist.

Kristin Diable took home two Best of the Beat awards, for best artist and best album in the country/folk singer-songwriter category.