Author: Will Johnston

Intrepid Artists Int’l wants to congratulate All of the 2022 Blues Music Award Nominees! We especially want to recognize those we represent and send a Big Congrats out to our 33 Artists Nominations in 17 different categories.

All Intrepid Nominees listed below

B.B. King Entertainer of the Year –
Eric Gales
Mr. Sipp (Castro Coleman)

Band of the Year –
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials

Song of the Year –
“Fragile Peace and Certain War”
written by Carolyn Wonderland
“Holler If You Hear Me”
written by Jeff Schoedl & Mark Solveson
(Altered Five Blues Band)
“I’d Climb Mountains”
written by Selwyn Birchwood

Contemporary Blues Female Artist –
Vanessa Collier
Carolyn Wonderland

Soul Blues Female Artist –
Kat Riggins

Instrumentalist: Bass –
Larry Fulcher

Instrumentalist: Guitar –
Laura Chavez (Nikki Hill / Vanessa Collier)
Eric Gales

Instrumentalist: Horn –
Marc Franklin (Love Light Orchestra)
Regi Oliver (Selwyn Birchwood)

Instrumentalist: Vocal –
John Németh
Curtis Salgado

Album of the Year –
Altered Five Blues Band, Holler If You Hear Me

Contemporary Blues Album –
Curtis Salgado, Damage Control
Altered Five Blues Band, Holler If You Hear Me

Best Emerging Artist Album –
Veronica Lewis, You Ain’t Unlucky

Blues Rock Album –
Mike Zito, Resurrection
Popa Chubby, Tinfoil Hat

Blues Rock Artist –
Albert Castiglia
Ana Popovic

Contemporary Blues Male Artist –
Selwyn Birchwood
Mr. Sipp

Soul Blues Male Artist –
John Németh
Curtis Salgado

Instrumentalist: Drums –
Danny Banks (John Németh)

Instrumentalist: Piano –
Mike Finnigan (Phantom Blues Band)
Dave Keyes (Popa Chubby)
Veronica Lewis
Jim Pugh (Phantom Blues Band)

We are booking dates now for 2022.

The Full List of Nominees can be found at:
https://blues.org/blues-music-awards/

On Monday, December 20, award-winning vocalist and musician Curtis Salgado, the man NPR Music calls “an icon” with “a huge voice,” will launch the emotionally riveting video of Always Say I Love You (At The End Of Your Goodbyes). The original song – a heartfelt, soulful ballad with a moving, universal message of loss and the redemptive power of love – is a featured track on his 2021 Alligator album, Damage Control.

The video – which visually follows the song’s narrative and includes Salgado’s passionate performance – was recorded in Salgado’s hometown of Portland, Oregon in April 2021, and directed by Joshua James Huff. According to Salgado, “The song is about closure. And when someone you know and care about passes on, you might wonder when was the last time you saw them and what were your final words together. Was it something you now regret or something heartfelt and positive? Life is uncertain and finite. That’s why I always try to say, ‘I love you,’ at the end of my goodbyes.”

Alligator founder and president Bruce Iglauer says, “This is one of the most beautiful and moving songs and performances I’ve ever heard, and the video perfectly captures the power and passion of the story and the soulfulness and subtlety of Curtis’ performance.”

Damage Control is being hailed as the best album of Salgado’s long career. Produced by Salgado, Damage Control is packed with soul-searching, street-smart, vividly detailed, instantly memorable songs. With a career spanning more than three decades, Salgado, a six-time winner of the Blues Music Award for Contemporary Soul Blues Male Artist Of The Year (most recently in 2021), is a one-of-a-kind talent whose music is as compelling as his story. From co-fronting The Robert Cray Band to leading his own band (and recording nine solo albums) to helping transform John Belushi into “Joliet” Jake Blues to touring the country with Steve Miller and Santana, he is a true musical giant.

Click Here To View Video

Making A Scene has just released their list of nominations for the 2020 Independent Blues Awards! Congrats to every nominee!

Intrepid is proud to highlight the following artists from our roster who have been nominated for an award:

Male Artist:
Eric Gales
Toronzo Cannon and The Chicago Way
Mike Zito

Female Artist:
Joanna Connor Band

Traditional Band:
Toronzo Cannon and The Chicago Way

Blues Rock Band:
Albert Castiglia Band

Contemporary Blues CD:
Albert Castiglia Band
Toronzo Cannon and The Chicago Way

Blues Rock CD:
Eric Gales

New Artist CD:
Nick Schnebelen

Live CD:
Mike Zito

Traditional Blues Song:
Toronzo Cannon – The Chicago Way

Blues Rock Song:
Albert Castiglia – I tried to Tell ya
Nick Schnebelen – I’m a Fatboy

Song For the Common Good:
Albert Castiglia – Heavy
Eric Gales – Reaching for a change

Road Warrior:
Albert Castiglia
Mike Zito
Joanna Connor
Eric Gales

Stage Performance:
Albert Castiglia
Mike Zito
Eric Gales

Producer/Engineer:
Mike Zito
Tony Braunagel
Tom Hambridge

Music Video:
Mike Zito – Johnny B. Good
Albert Castiglia – Heavy