The 30th Blues Music Awards are set for May 7 at the Memphis Cook Convention Center in downtown Memphis, TN. The show will follow the format of the sold-out and critically-acclaimed shows of recent years. More than 65 nominees are expected to attend, and the evening will be filled with special and appearances and performances in a banquet setting in the Convention Center’s ballroom.
With 26 blues categories to compete in, The Mannish Boys received the most nods with six. B. B. King, Buddy Guy, Elvin Bishop and Magic Slim are among the scores of nominees.
There are two ways to attend the event. A table of 10 is available at $1,200, and individual tickets are priced at $125. Tables and tickets are non-refundable; tickets will not be sent out until early April.
The event brings together blues performers, industry representatives and fans from all over the world to celebrate the best in blues recordings and performances from the previous year. Each year, the Blues Foundation presents the Blues Music Awards to the artists selected by the vote of its members. They are universally recognized as the highest honor given to blues artists.
The pre-party will immediately precede the awards and feature the 2009 Blues Music Award nominees for Best New Artist. The nominees include Chris James and Patrick Rynn, Delta Highway, Cedric Burnside & Lightnin’ Malcolm, The Homemade Jamz Blues Band and Eden Brent.
The Blues Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony and Charter Members’ Dinner will be held the night before on May 6.
