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OffBeat’s annual Best of the Beat Music Awards started nearly 30 years ago, in 1996.
OffBeat founder and publisher Jan Ramsey decided that our musicians and music businesses deserved an awards event of their own and put together a concept for a music awards program that would honor only local musicians. Originally held at the House of Blues, the Best of The Beat Awards were only open to the music community (that has changed over the years to include local music fans). At the first event, the band Better Than Ezra was the big winner and took home Artist of the Year, Album of the Year for Deluxe and Song of the Year for “Good.”
The first Lifetime Achievement Award in Music was awarded to Aaron Neville. Over the years, a virtual who’s who in Louisiana music received OffBeat‘s Lifetime Achievement Award. Tommy Ridgley, Dr. John, Earl King, Pete Fountain, Art Neville, Eddie Bo, Clarence “Gatemouth” Brown, Allen Toussaint, Irma Thomas, Fat Domino, Wardell Quezergue, Theodore Emile “Bo” Dollis, Harold Battiste, Jr., Deacon John Moore, Dave Bartholomew, George Porter, Jr., Cyril Neville, Ellis Marsalis, the Radiators, Johnny Vidacovich, Monk Boudreaux, Walter “Wolfman” Washington, Charlie Gabriel, Dirty Dozen Brass Band, Little Freddie King, and in 2012 multiple awards were presented to New Orleans R&B legends: Al “Carnival Time” Johnson, Clarence “Frogman” Henry, Jean Knight, Frankie Ford, Ernie Vincent, Robert Parker and the Dixie Cups.
As a result of the pandemic, the 2020 Best of the Beat awards was not live, but virtual, and can be viewed on OffBeat’s YouTube channel. In 2021 the Best of the Beat Awards were postponed, but the 2022 event took place on November 10, 2022, at the New Orleans Jazz Museum, honoring Little Freddie King.
This year, the Best of the Beat Music Awards will be held on Wednesday, January 24, 2024, at Tipitina’s, 501 Napoleon Avenue, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Music includes a Tribute to David R. Batiste, Sr. featuring his band The Gladiators + Leo Nocentelli and Special Guests, Loose Cattle, Erica Falls, the Rumble and more. Tickets for General admission and VIP (guaranteed seating, food from Jacques-Imo’s and more) are available here.
OffBeat’s Best of The Beat Music Awards was created to honor local musicians for their contributions to New Orleans and Louisiana music and culture.
The Best of The Beat Music Awards is now a program of the OffBeat Music and Cultural Arts Foundation (OMACAF), a 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to educate and enlighten the public on local music and culture and be a means to help support the music and cultural arts community through education and economic opportunities.
OMCAF’s mission statement is to:
Educate the public about local and regional music and cultural arts.
Give professional working opportunities to the music and cultural arts community. This would be accomplished via researching, gathering, compiling, organizing, disseminating, writing, communicating and promoting information on the artistic and business aspects of music and entertainment industries and associated cultural, educational and business activities and achievements.
OffBeat solicited nominations from our writers and editors and with input from both (and others), to determine the nominations in each category, keeping in mind that these nominations only recognize work done in 2023. It was a difficult process, as usual!
Winners will be announced at the Best of the Beat Music Awards at Tipitina’s on January 24, 2024.
Nominees are listed in alphabetical order. Vote now for your favorite New Orleans Louisiana artists right here! And remember you don’t need to vote in every category but you can only vote ONE TIME. Voting ends at 6 p.m. on January 16, 2024.
ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
Jon Batiste
Louis Michot
Samantha Fish
The Rumble
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah: Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning (Ropeadope)
Ivan Neville: Touch My Soul (Mascot Label Group/The Funk Garage)
Jon Batiste: World Music Radio (Verve/Interscope)
Louis Michot: Rêve du Troubador (Nouveau Electric Records)
The Rumble ft. Chief Joseph Boudreaux, Jr.: Live at the Maple Leaf (Independent)
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: Feel So at Home (Tipitina’s Record Club)
BEST EMERGING ARTIST
Dusky Waters
Flagboy Giz
Jemima Joel
La Reezy
Loose Cattle
Los Guiros
People Museum
Victor Campbell
SONG OF THE YEAR
“Boscoyo Fleaux” by Louis Michot
“Butterfly” by Jon Batiste
“Good Morning” by PJ Morton
“Good Old Days” by Zack Feinberg and David Shaw
“Rock N Roll Heart” by Tom Overby, Travis Stephens and Lucinda Williams
BEST BLUES ARTIST
Bobby Rush
Eric Johanson
Ghalia Volt
Little Freddie King
Mike Zito
Samantha Fish
BEST BLUES ALBUM
Bobby Rush: All My Love for You (Deep Rush)
Ghalia Volt: Shout Sister Shout (Ruf Records)
Jason Ricci and the Bad Kind: Behind the Veil (Gulf Coast Records)
Mike Zito & Albert Castiglia: Blood Brothers (Gulf Coast)
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton: Death Wish Blues (Rounder Records)
BEST R&B / FUNK ARTIST
Dumpstaphunk
Erica Falls
Joe Krown
Jon Batiste
PJ Morton
Sierra Green & The Soul Machine
BEST R&B / FUNK ALBUM
Ivan Neville: Touch My Soul (Mascot Label Group/The Funk Garage)
Joe Krown: Tribute (Sledgehammer Blues)
Jon Batiste: World Music Radio (Verve/Interscope)
Ernie Vincent: Original Dap King (Cornelius Chapel Records)
Walter “Wolfman” Washington: Feel So at Home (Tipitina’s Record Club)
BEST ROCK ARTIST
Billy Iuso
Dash Rip Rock
Karma & the Killjoys
The Iceman Special
The Quickening
The Revivalists
BEST ROCK ALBUM
Billy Iuso: 52 Hz (Independent)
Dash Rip Rock: Cowpunk (Whiskey Tan)
Karma & the Killjoys: Hellscape (Independent)
The Iceman Special: Zycordia (Independent)
The Revivalists: Pour It Out Into the Night (Concord)
BEST ROOTS ROCK / AMERICANA ARTIST
Honey Island Swamp Band
Jenn Howard
Loose Cattle
Lucinda Williams
Shawn Williams
BEST ROOTS ROCK / AMERICANA ALBUM
Jenn Howard: Valiant Women (Independent)
Katy Hobgood Ray: Long Way to Go (Confetti Park)
Lucinda Williams: Stories from a Rock n Roll Heart (Highway 20/Thirty Tigers)
Motel Radio: The Garden (Single Lock Records)
Shawn Williams: Sulking in Love (Independent)
BEST COUNTRY / FOLK / SINGER-SONGWRITER ARTIST
Alex McMurray
Chris Christy
Katy Hobgood Ray
Lilli Lewis
Lynn Drury
BEST COUNTRY / FOLK / SINGER-SONGWRITER ALBUM
Jenn Howard: Valiant Women (Independent)
Johnny Angel and Helldorado: Long Days, Short Pay (Independent)
Julian Primeaux: Songs For The Heart of Sister Flute (Nature & Grain Music)
Lilli Lewis: All is Forgiven (Righteous Babe)
Paul Sanchez: Between Friends … and Me (PSM)
Roussel Maajon: Roussel Maajon (Independent)
BEST RAP / HIP HOP / BOUNCE ARTIST
504ICYGRL
Flagboy Giz
HaSizzle
kr3wcial
La Reezy
Pell
Rob 49
BEST RAP/HIP HOP/BOUNCE ALBUM
Flagboy Giz: I Got Indian in my Family (Independent)
Koan Kenpachi: Supremium (Independent)
La Reezy: Reeborn (Independent)
Rob 49: 4GOD II (Independent)
Stone Cold Jzzle: Joe Black (Independent)
BEST TRADITIONAL JAZZ ARTIST
Preservation Hall Jazz Band
Shake ’Em Up Jazz Band
Smoking Time Jazz Club
The Secret Six
Tuba Skinny
BEST TRADITIONAL JAZZ ALBUM
Leroy Jones: New Orleans Brass Band Music Vol. 2 (with Wendell Brunious) (Independent)
Smoking Time Jazz Club: 6 Blues, 5 Joys and A Stomp! (Independent)
The Garden of Joy: Bouncin’ Around (Big Tone Records)
The Secret Six Jazz Band: Centennial Tribute To King Oliver’s Creole Jazz Band (Independent)
Tuba Skinny: Hot Town (Independent)
BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ARTIST
Adonis Rose and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah
Delfeayo Marsalis & the Uptown Jazz Orchestra
Extended
Oscar Rossignoli
Terence Blanchard
BEST CONTEMPORARY JAZZ ALBUM
Brad Walker + Extended: Side By Side (Independent)
Chief Xian aTunde Adjuah: Bark Out Thunder Roar Out Lightning (Ropeadope)
Delfeayo Marsalis & The Uptown Jazz Orchestra: Uptown On Mardi Gras Day (Troubadour Jass Records)
Jason Mingledorff: Start It! (Independent)
Johnny Vidacovich: Out Da Box (Paw Maw Music)
Judith Owen: Come on And Get It (Twanky Records)
Rickie Lee Jones: Pieces of Treasure (Modern Recordings)
BEST BRASS BAND
Big Six Brass Band
New Breed Brass Band
New Orleans Nightcrawlers
Sporty’s Brass Band
TBC Brass Band
The Soul Rebels
BEST BRASS BAND ALBUM
High Steppers Brass Band: More Than One Way to Groove (Independent)
New Breed Brass Band: Made in New Orleans (525 Worldwide)
Stooges Brass Band: Live at the 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Munck Music)
Storyville Stompers Brass Band: Count Your Blessings (Independent)
The New Orleans Nightcrawlers: Too Much To Hold (Independent)
BEST CAJUN ARTIST
Cameron Fontenot
Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs
Kevin Naquin & Cajun Preservation
Lost Bayou Ramblers
Louis Michot
BEST CAJUN ALBUM
4Horses Cajun Dancehall Band: Live at La Poussiere, Breaux Bridge, LA – Part One (Flattown Music)
Johnny Nicholas Presents Moon and the Stars: A Tribute to Moon Mullican, Volumes 1 & 2 (Valcour Records)
Jourdan Thibodeaux et les Rôdailleurs: La Prière (Valcour Records)
Lost Bayou Ramblers, Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra: Lost Bayou Ramblers & Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (Live) (Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra)
Louis Michot: Rêve du Troubador (Nouveau Electric Records)
BEST ZYDECO ARTIST
Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band
Corey Ledet Zydeco
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers
Rockin’ Dopsie, Jr. & the Zydeco Twister
Sean Ardoin and Kreole Rock and Soul
BEST ZYDECO ALBUM
Buckwheat Zydeco, Jr. & The Legendary Ils Sont Partis Band: New Beginnings… (Bloodline Music)
Corey Ledet Zydeco: Médikamen (Nouveau Electric)
Dwayne Dopsie & the Zydeco Hellraisers: Live at 2023 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (Munck Music)
Rusty Metoyer: Unlike Any Other (Independent)
Sean Ardoin featuring the Stax Music Academy Choir: Mosaic (Independent)
BEST COVER BAND
Bag of Donuts
Bucktown All-Stars
Groovy 7
Louisiana Spice Band
NOLA Dukes Band
The Top Cats
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR (Allen Toussaint Songwriter Award)
Alex McMurray
Jon Batiste
Lilli Lewis
Lucinda Williams
Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton
BEST FEMALE VOCAL
Anjelika Jelly Joseph
Betty Shirley
Erica Falls
Joy Clark
Judith Owen
Quiana Lynell
BEST MALE VOCAL
Clint Maedgen
David Shaw
Gregg Martinez
Jamison Ross
John Boutté
PJ Morton
BEST BASS PLAYER
Amina Scott
George Porter, Jr.
James Singleton
Matt Booth
Noah Young
Peter Harris
BEST GUITARIST
Geovane Santos
Jimmy Robinson
Mahmoud Chouki
Samantha Fish
Tab Benoit
BEST DRUMMER / PERCUSSIONIST
Herlin Riley
Johnny Vidacovich
Russell Batiste, Jr.
Simon Lott
Stanton Moore
Terence Higgins
BEST SAXOPHONE
Brad Walker
Brent Rose
Donald Harrison
Gladney
Roderick Paulin
BEST CLARINET
Ben Schenk
Charlie Gabriel
Doreen Ketchens
Dr. Michael White
Tim Laughlin
BEST TRUMPET
Ashlin Parker
Branden Lewis
John Michael Bradford
Nicholas Payton
Shamarr Allen
Terence Blanchard
BEST TROMBONE
Charlie Halloran
Corey Henry
Craig Klein
Haruka Kikuchi
Stephen Walker
Troy Andrews
BEST TUBA / SOUSAPHONE
Ben Jaffe
Jon Gross
Kerry Lewis
Kirk Joseph
Matt Perrine
BEST PIANO / KEYBOARDS
Andre Bohren
David Torkanowsky
Ivan Neville
Jon Cleary
Kyle Roussel
Oscar Rossignoli
Victor Campbell
BEST ACCORDION
Andre Michot
Corey Ledet
Dwayne Dopsie
Steve Riley
Sunpie Barnes
BEST VIOLIN / FIDDLE
David Greely
Joel Savoy
Louis Michot
Rurik Nunan
Tysman Charpentier
BEST DJ
DJ C’est Funk
DJ Hellturn
DJ Matty
DJ RQ Away
DJ Soul Sister
Mannie Fresh
Raj Smoove
BEST OTHER INSTRUMENTALIST
Alexey Marti (Percussion)
Don Vappie (Banjo)
Helen Gillet (Cello)
Jason Marsalis (Vibes)
Mike Dillon (Vibes)
BEST MUSIC VIDEO
Butterfly (Visualizer) by Jon Batiste (Verve Records and Interscope Records)
Deathwish by Samantha Fish & Jesse Dayton (Daniel Boone/Horizon South Media)
Good Old Days by The Revivalists (Directed and Edited by Johnny Chew)
Smooth Like A Pelican by New Orleans Nightcrawlers with Alfred Banks, Pell & HaSizzle (So It Goes Productions)
Shout Sister Shout by Ghalia Volt (Video Directed by Olivier Linco)
Up Until the Morning by The Rumble Live Recording at Maple Leaf Bar 12/9/2022 (Video by Mark Gunson)
You Already Know by Big Freedia featuring Sonyae (Produced & Directed by Wilberto Lucci)
Best Of The Beat Best Of The Beat
