The 2013 Best of the Beat Music Awards mark a special milestone for OffBeat Magazine on January 18, 2014. Just last year, OffBeat celebrated 25 years of publishing a monthly magazine devoted entirely to New Orleans and Louisiana’s incomparable music and culture, and this year, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Best of the Beat Music Awards, to be held again this year at Generations Hall (310 Andrew Higgins Drive).

Jon Cleary and his Absolute Monster Gentlemen are among Best of the Beat 2013 Awards headliners.

For two decades, the staff at OffBeat has reached out to the region’s music industry so they can nominate their peers among local artists and music businesses for awards honoring their rich contributions to our unique culture. This is, of course, the culture that brings thousands of enthusiastic visitors to the Crescent City year-round, and generates millions of dollars in economic capital. In essence, the Best of the Beat Awards are an ode to the people that define the New Orleans and Louisiana sound.

Unlike many awards shows though, the Best of the Beat is not a stuffy affair — it is a New Orleans-style party with the funkiest music, the richest food and the most eclectic people. Acceptance speeches are always a hoot, and of course the Lifetime Achievement Award recipients’ tributes are epic moments in music history. One of this year’s program highlights is sure to be the all-star tribute to funk and R&B legend, Cyril Neville. Each year brings its own surprise guests, but we are pleased to announce our preliminary Best of the Beat Awards 2013 line-up below.

OffBeat salutes Cyril Neville with all-star tribute at Best of the Beat 2013 Awards on January 18. (Photo: Native Orleanian)

Be sure to stay tuned here to OffBeat.com, the Weekly Beat and our Facebook and Twitter pages for the announcement of the 2013 nominees in just a couple weeks, when you’ll be able to cast your vote for the New Orleans music artists and entrepreneurs that you think deserve accolades for their contributions this year. Our online public voting platform will open in mid-December. In the meantime, grab your Best of the Beat 2013 Music Awards tickets now.

OffBeat and Visit New Orleans are also offering our out-of-town fans a chance to win a round-trip weekend package for two to attend the Best of the Beat, VIP-style, this month. “Like” the Visit New Orleans Facebook page and click the Best of the Beat Sweepstakes tab to enter to win between December 5 and December 19. Just because you don’t live in New Orleans doesn’t mean you can’t party with us at the 20th anniversary of the Best of the Beat. Ya heard me?

Best of the Beat 2013 Music Awards Live Performance Line-Up

John Cleary and the Absolute Monster Gentlemen

Glen David Andrews

The Brass-A-Holics

Cheeky Blakk

Feufollet

Robin Barnes

An All-Star Tribute to Cyril Neville

…and more to be announced!

CLICK HERE for event details, updates and online ticketing.