Friday, January 28, OffBeat hosted the 2010 Best of the Beat Awards at Generations Hall for a night of music, food, and awards.
Musical performances included Meschiya Lake and the Little Big Horns; Washboard Rodeo; Creole String Beans; Davis Rogan; the Soundclash All-Stars with Lyrikill, Tony Skratchere, Sauve, J-Dubble, A. Levy, Quest and more; Chubby Carrier; Stooges Brass Band; Dumpstaphunk; and two sets of tributes—one to the late Alex Chilton that included Dave Pirner, Susan Cowsill, Theresa Andersson, Alex McMurray, Louis Michot, Davis Rogan, Rene Coman and Doug Garrison; and one to this year’s Best of the Beat Lifetime Achievement in Music Award winner Dave Bartholomew by Deacon John, including a guest appearance by Irma Thomas.
The voting for these awards was decided on purely by public vote, held online from the beginning of December through mid-January. This year showed the highest voter turnout yet, and some of the closest races as well. Two categories were decided by only one single vote, and many saw a separation of less than 100 votes between first and second place.
The big winner at the awards was Troy “Trombone Shorty” Andrews, who took home five awards, including Artist and Album of the Year. Other multiple award winners included Dr. John, Anders Osborne, Kermit Ruffins, Big Freedia, John Boutte and Gal Holiday. Without further ado, here’s the full list of winners.
Artist of the Year
Trombone Shorty
Album of the Year
Best Blues Artist
Dr. John
Best Blues Album
Best R&B/Funk Artist
Trombone Shorty
Best R&B/Funk Album
Best Rock Artist
Happy Talk Band
Best Rock Album
Rotary Downs – Cracked Maps and Blue Reports
Best Roots Rock Artist
Honey Island Swamp Band
Best Roots Rock Album
Anders Osborne – American Patchwork
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist
Big Freedia
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Album or Mixtape
Best Traditional Jazz Artist
Kermit Ruffins
Best Traditional Jazz Album
Best Contemporary Jazz Artist
Irvin Mayfield
Best Contemporary Jazz Album
Cindy Scott – Let the Devil Take Tomorrow
Best Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
Best Cajun Artist
BeauSoleil
Best Cajun Album
Best Zydeco Artist
Buckwheat Zydeco
Best Zydeco Album
Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band – Zydeco Junkie
Best Country/Folk Artist
Gal Holiday and her Honky Tonk Revue
Best Country/Folk Album
Gal Holiday and her Honky Tonk Revue – Set Two
Best Gospel Artist
McDonogh 35 High School Gospel Choir
Best Emerging Artist
Big Freedia
Best Cover Band
The Bucktown Allstars
Song of the Year
John Boutte – “Treme Song”
Songwriter of the Year
Dr. John
Best Female Vocalist
Irma Thomas
Best Male Vocalist
John Boutte
Best Bass Player
George Porter, Jr.
Best Guitarist
Anders Osborne
Best Drummer
Stanton Moore
Best Saxophonist
Donald Harrison, Jr.
Best Clarinetist
Tim Laughlin
Best Trumpeter
Kermit Ruffins
Best Trombonist
Trombone Shorty
Best Tuba/Sousaphonist
Matt Perrine
Best Piano/Keyboardist
John Gros
Best Accordionist
Bruce “Sunpie” Barnes
Best Violin/Fiddle Player
Amanda Shaw
Best DJ
DJ Soul Sister
Best Other Instrument
Washboard Chaz – washboard
