The highly anticipated Blues Music Awards, put on by The Blues Foundation, are commencing Thursday. This will be the 33rd annual award ceremony, held at the Cook Convention Center in Memphis, Tennessee. The prestigious event brings the greatest blues artists and blues industry leaders together to celebrate the best in blues music.
Below is the schedule of events. more information can be found at blues.org.
Wednesday, May 9
12:00 pm — Eric Hughes performs at Court Square on Main Street
6:00 pm — Hall of Fame Reception, Dinner and Induction presented by the Charter Members Marriott
Thursday, May 10
10:00 am through 2:00 pm — Blues Music Award Merchandise Sales Marriott West Foyer
12:00 pm — Brandon Santini performs at Court Square on Main Street
12:00 pm — Beale Street Note Unveiling for Koko Taylor Historic Daisy Theater, 329 Beale
12:45 pm-3:30 pm — Yellow Dog Records Showcase with Colin Linden, Mary Flower, and Eden Brent B.B. King’s free admission
5:30 pm — The Party Begins: Reception featuring performances by 2012 Blues Music Award nominees. Grand Lobby, Convention Center
5:30 pm through 9:45 pm — Silent Auction & Blues Music Award Merchandise Sales Outside the Ballroom, Convention Center
7:00 pm through 1:00am — Dinner, Awards & Nominee performances Ballroom, Convention Center
Friday, May 11
10:00 am through 12:00 pm — Open House at Blues Foundation offices and future home of the Blues Hall of Fame 421 South Main
11:00 am — Mississippi Blues Trail Marker Unveiling at Blues Foundation offices and future home of the Blues Hall of Fame 421 South Main
1:00 pm through 4:00 pm — Memorial Tribute to Louisiana Red: Benefit for Generation Blues Co-Hosted by Bob Corritore and Bob Margolin Hard Rock Cafe $10 minimum donation.
5:00 pm — Blues & Baseball Memphis Redbirds v. Reno Diamondbacks w/ pre-game concert by Nick Moss with special guest Hadden Sayers. Multiple Blues Music and Grammy Award nominee Maria Muldaur will sing the national anthem and IBC winner and Maple Blues Award winner Shakura S’Aida will sing God Bless America during the 7th inning stretch. Memphis Blues tee-shirt giveaway Game at 7:05pm Autozone Park, 200 Union Avenue
6:00 pm through 9:00 pm — VizzTone/Vizzable Artist Showcases featuring Peter Parcek, Scissormen, Greg Nagy Band, Beverly McClellan, Diunna Greenleaf. (Rum Boogie Cafe) NO COVER CHARGE.
7:00 pm — Four Shades of Blue with Zac Harmon, Dennis Jones, Lazy Lester, and Eddie Turner (New Daisy Theater) $20
9:30 pm — VizzTone Beale Street Blues Party featuring Matt Hill & the Deep Fried 2, Bob Margolin, and special guests Gina Sicilia, Dave Gross, David Maxwell, JW-Jones, Bob Corritore, and many, many more! (Rum Boogie Cafe) $5
10:00 pm through 2:00am — The Beale Street Mess Around with performances by Victor Wainwright, Brandon Santini & His Band, J.T. Lauritsen & more! The Beale Street Tap Room $5.
