On Tues 12th Dec Fiona Boyes’ debut US release ‘LUCKY 13’ was officially nominated by the Blues Foundation in Memphis, TN for the 2007 Blues Music Awards, ‘Contemporary Blues Album of the Year’. Formerly known as the WC Handy Awards, the BMA’s are the world’s premier accolades for Blues Music. Often called the ‘Grammy’s of the Blues’, the BMA’s past winners for ‘Blues Album of the Year’ include BB King, Buddy Guy, Stevie Ray Vaughan and Marcia Ball. The 2007 Blues Music Awards will be announced at a gala dinner on Thurs May 10 at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee .
‘LUCKY 13’ is receiving wide acclaim, climbing international blues charts reaching #1 on The House of Blues, #1 on XM Satellite Blues Chart, #5 on the Living Blues Polls, #5 on Canadian Blues Polls, #6 on the Roots Music Chart and is now in it’s 5th consecutive month in the Living Blues Top 10. ‘One of the most sizzling blues albums - by anyone - in the years’ - Jeff Tamarkin (noted critic and Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Grammy Awards advisor.)
Fiona has once again achieved a unique honour as she is the first Australian artist to be nominated in the 27 year history of the Blues Music Awards.
The first 2 rounds of Blues Music Awards nominations were decided by an international panel of reviewers, music and recording industry executives, radio hosts and music critics. This final round of voting, which will determine the winners, is only open to members of the Blues Foundation, so we are asking all Australian blues fans to join and vote for Fiona.
To encourage Australian music lovers to vote in these awards, Maton Guitars, along with Fiona’s
Memphisrecord label, Yellow Dog Records, and her Australian distributor Only Blues Music, are promoting a special offer for all those who want to support Fiona’s nomination. Maton Guitars will present a Maton Mastersound MS500LS electric guitar (valued at more than $1,500) autographed by Fiona and legendary guitarist Hubert Sumlin, to a lucky voter.
As well as the chance to win the Maton Mastersound MS 500LS, everyone who registers with the Blues Foundation and votes will receive:
· a compilation album from Yellow Dog Records, showcasing their roster of Blues & Roots artists,
· a limited release, autographed CD ‘Fiona Boyes – Maton Showcase’ containing a previously unreleased track from the Lucky 13 session and tracing the history of Fiona’s awards winning albums,
· a Maton DVD documenting the 60 year history of Maton’s emergence as Australia’s leading guitar manufacturer.
Once you have voted at www.blues.org/bluesmusicawards/vote.php4 - you must register your details by emailing lucky13@yellowdogrecords.com including your Blues Foundation membership number, name and contact details, and you will be sent the 2 CD’s and the Maton Guitars DVD, and you are in the draw for the autographed Mastersound MS500LS.
You simply have to go on-line www.blues.org/bluesmusicawards/vote.php4 - pay the $25.00 Blues Foundation membership fee, follow the voting prompts – you can vote for any of the nominees, but don’t forget about Fiona – and then email lucky13@yellowdogrecords.com with your Blues Foundation membership number, name and contact details, and you are in the draw. Voting closes on Feb 28th 2007 and the winner of the guitar will be announced during Fiona’s performance at the Port Fairy Folk Festival in early March.
Once again, thank you for supporting Australian Blues. Let’s all get behind Fiona’s nomination and see if we can make musical history!
- Contact/management Steve Clarke sclarke@piedmonttalent.com
