Bishop, Mayall each win 2 Blues Blasts awards

Elvin Bishop and John Mayall both won two Blues Blast Awards over the weekend, while Mississippi Heat were named band of the year.

Bishop’s Can’t Even Do Wrong Right took the Contemporary Blues Album gong while he also won the Male Blues Artist Category. Mayall’s Live In 1967 record was given the Live Blues Album and Historical/Vintage Album awards.

Marcia Ball was named Female Blues Artist and Selwyn Birchwood got the Rising Star title. Other winners include Mud Morganfield and Kim Wilson, Steve Earle, Tinsley Ellis, Otis Clay and Johnny Rawls, and Magnus Berg.

Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater was given a lifetime achievement award at the ceremony, which took place at the Fluid Events Center in Champaign, Illinois.

Blues Blast Awards 2015

Contemporary Blues Album: Elvin Bishop – Can’t Even Do Wrong Right
Traditional Blues Album: Mud Morganfield & Kim Wilson – For Pops
Soul Blues Album: Otis Clay & Johnny Rawls – Soul Brothers
Rock Blues Album: Tinsley Ellis – Tough Love
Acoustic Blues Album: Steve Earle & The Dukes – Terraplane
New Artist Debut Album: Magnus Berg – Cut Me Loose
Live Blues Album: John Mayall – Live in 1967
Historical/Vintage Album: John Mayall – Live in 1967
Blues Band: Mississippi Heat
Male Blues Artist: Elvin Bishop
Female Blues Artist: Marcia Ball
Sean Costello Rising Star Award: Selwyn Birchwood
Lifetime Achievement: Eddy ‘The Chief’ Clearwater

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.