The Ameripolitan Awards Announce 2016 Nominees
The 3rd Annual, 2016 Ameripolitan Awards have announced their 2016 nominees. Scheduled to transpire on February 16, 2016 at the historic Paramount Theatre in downtown Austin, it will be hosted by Western Swing legend Ray Benson, and feature performances by many of the nominees and other notables from the “Ameripolitan” realm.
Founded three years ago by staunch country traditionalist Dale Watson after the “Old Farts & Jackasses” comments of Blake Shelton, the Ameripolitan Awards was Dale’s answer to the concern of so many artists doing their best to keep roots traditions alive going unrecognized by the rest of the country music industry. Since the first year, the awards have grown from a ballroom in a hotel in Austin to the Paramount where people from around the country travel to take part in the festivities. The Ameripolitan Music Awards acknowledges “Artists whose music honors tradition while demonstrating exceptional originality, creativity, and musicianship,” and is a 501(c)3 organization.
This year voting for the nominees will begin on November 26th, and can happen one of two ways: on Ameripolitan.com, or through a new app designed by Ballot Blaster. The app will cost $1.99, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Fender Music Foundation.
“We love the irony of using a modern app for a genre of music with historic roots,” says Dale Watson. “There’s a practicality to it, but the most exciting aspect is offering voters fresh, exciting content. It’s not just voting it’s an experience. Users can learn more about each nominee, discover new music and explore artists they might not otherwise know. Our friend Richard at Ballot Blaster worked hard with us to create something new for Ameripolitan fans.”
Tickets to the 2016 Ameripolitan Awards can be purchased from the Paramount.
The 2016 Ameripolitan Nominees
HONKY TONK CATEGORIES
Honky Tonk Group
- Casey James Prestwood and the Burning Angels
- The Country Side of Harmonica Sam
- The Starline Rhythm Boys
- Jeff Woolsey and the Dancehall Kings
- JP Harris and the Tough Choices
Honky Tonk Female
- Miss Leslie
- Kelsey Waldon
- Margo Price
- Brennen Leigh
- Tara Dunphy
Honk Tonk Male
- Jake Penrod
- Charlie Thompson
- Cale Tyson
- Mike Dart
- Jason James
WESTERN SWING CATEGORIES
Western Swing Group
- Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition
- JP Cyr & His Radio Wranglers
- Hot Texas Swing Band
- Carolyn Sills
- Western Swing Authority
Western Swing Female
- Carolyn Martin
- Kristyn Harris
- Mikki Daniel
- Stacey Lee Guse
- Katie Glassman
Western Swing Male
- Jason Roberts
- Billy Mata
- Doug Moreland
- Kelly Spinks
- Coby Carter
ROCKABILLY CATEGORIES
Rockabilly Group
- The Neon Stars
- The Bellfuries
- Don Diego Trio
- The B-Stars
- Nathan Belt & The Buckles
Rockabilly Female
- Marti Brom
- Sara Dee
- Emmy Lou
- Lara Hope
- BaileyDee
Rockabilly Male
- Jinx Jones
- Chris Casello
- Wayne Hancock
- Scotty Baker
- Paul Pigat
OUTLAW CATEGORIES
Outlaw Group
- The Hillbilly Casino
- Dallas Moore Band
- The Ponderosa Aces
- Jason Boland & The Stragglers
- Eric Strickland and the B-Sides
Outlaw Female
- Darci Carlson
- Rachel Brooke
- Bonnie Montgomery
- Tommy Ash
- Jesse Lafser
Outlaw Male
- Whitey Morgan
- Roger Alan Wade
- Cash O’Riley
- Scott Biram
- Bloodshot Bill
ADDITIONAL CATEGORIES
Venue
- Icehouse Theater, Selma NC
- Luckenbach, Luckenbach TX
- Sportsmen’s Tavern, Buffalo NY
- Lil’ Red’s Longhorn Saloon, Fort Worth TX
- Knuckleheads, Kansas City MO
- The White Horse, Austin TX
- Skinny Dennis, Brooklyn NY
- The Thirsty Beaver Saloon, Charlotte NC
- The Nashville Palace, Nashville TN
- Don the Beachcomber, Huntington Beach CA
Festival
- Bristol Rhythm and Roots
- Viva Las Vegas
- Nashville Boogie
- San Angelo Cowboy Gathering
- New England Shake Up
DJ
- Woody Adkins, KOPN 89.5 FM Columbia MO
- Justin Trevino, KEQX 89.7 FM Dublin TX
- Gordon “Big G” Ames KERV 1230 Kerrville, TX
- Timothy Benton, KSVY 91.3 FM Sonoma Valley, CA
- Johnny Knoxville and Roger Alan Wade Outlaw Country, Sirius/XM Radio
- James Riley SURF 97.3 FM Flager Beach FL
- Eddie White, 2RRR 88.5 FM Sydney Australia
- Ted Branson, KOOP 91.7FM Austin, TX
- Elizabeth Cook, Outlaw Country, Sirius/XM Radio
- “Cousin” Lynn Joiner, WHRB 95.3 FM, Cambridge, MA
Musician
- Joel Paterson
- Chris Casello
- Jason Roberts
- Paul Pigat
- Redd Volkaert
- Tjarko Jeen
- Rose Sinclair
- Richard Helsley
- Floyd Domino
- Lisa Pankratz
- Earl “Pool” Ball
- Jim Loessberg
- Chris Scruggs
- Bobby Trimble
- Dave Biller
November 11, 2015 @ 7:42 pm
Take out the outlaw categories and I only know 3 artists. Trig, you’ve got to give us a crash course in Honky Tonk, Western, and Rockabilly nominees between now and the award show.
November 11, 2015 @ 11:21 pm
One of the reasons I wanted to post this is these nominee lists can be a great study sheet for new artists to check out. There’s a few here I don’t know, and I look forward to learning about them before February. Some of the nominees have been featured here before. Hopefully I can feature a few more.
November 11, 2015 @ 8:45 pm
It’s cool seeing the Ice House Theater in the venue category. I’ve seen Eric Strickland there a few times. I think he has opened up for Dale Watson before.
November 12, 2015 @ 8:11 pm
YES! I just played there myself for the first time. Great place to hear true Country Music! We were well received.
November 11, 2015 @ 9:17 pm
Is that THE Johnny Knoxville??
November 11, 2015 @ 9:21 pm
Yeah he and Roger Alan Wade are cousins.
November 11, 2015 @ 9:24 pm
Yes! Knoxville’s weekly show on the Outlaw station is great! I prefer Hillbilly Jim’s show slightly more because there’s less stoner laughter, but the music selections (and stories) on both shows are excellent.
November 11, 2015 @ 9:21 pm
Wayne Hancock is rockabilly? I always put him in the honky-tonk category.
November 11, 2015 @ 9:29 pm
Wayne Hancock is Wayne Hancock. You can put him in every category.
November 12, 2015 @ 6:54 am
Here’s one example:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VU5T417ytPs
November 12, 2015 @ 8:11 am
Wayne Hancock is actually a train, people often mistake him for something he is not.
November 11, 2015 @ 9:24 pm
Nice to see some of the Nashville-based artists included in the mix, like Kelsey Waldon, JP Harris, Margo Price, and such.
What about Sarah Gayle Meech, though? Didn’t she perform at this event last year?
November 11, 2015 @ 9:28 pm
Sarah Gayle has been a part of it previously. I can’t speak specifically why she’s not a nominee this year, but I do know there’s an effort to not highlight the same exact people every year.
November 11, 2015 @ 11:27 pm
Thanks for putting this up. Saw a lot of names I never heard of before. Will have to check them out. I did have to laugh at the female rockabilly catagory though. Someone get these poor girls a last name! And two of them end with dee!
November 12, 2015 @ 1:04 am
Rest assured, I can’t fathom Ray Benson getting lit up like a Christmas Tree and making everyone uncomfortable.
November 12, 2015 @ 5:15 am
Excellent point!
November 12, 2015 @ 11:16 am
Can’t be any worse than Mojo Nixon.
November 12, 2015 @ 5:53 am
Thanks so much for posting this! I’m incredibly honored to be among the DJ’s listed here!! Looking forward to a great night in Austin!!
November 12, 2015 @ 6:44 am
I’d go if I was country….ha
November 12, 2015 @ 7:37 am
It’s good to see Boland there.
November 12, 2015 @ 8:05 am
Cool to see “Spacey” Casey Prestwoods name on the list. I have not paid attention to what he’s been doing since he stopped playing with Drag The River. Off to the google to find out about CP and the Burning Angels…
November 12, 2015 @ 9:10 am
Just did a quick Youtube search of the first name on the list. Jake Penrod is incredible!
November 12, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
Agreed! He has a great voice and he sure can play too.
November 12, 2015 @ 9:54 am
Good to see Paul Pigat made the list….great rockabilly guitarist…plays just as fiery as Brian Setzer, but with the refinement of Chet Atkins.
November 12, 2015 @ 10:51 am
He was one of my big takeaways from last year’s Ameripolitan festivities.
November 13, 2015 @ 3:02 pm
He’s a Vancouver, BC native (not far from my home). Have seen him perform a bunch of times with his rockabilly band Cousin Harley. Paul can really play.
November 12, 2015 @ 10:35 am
I’m thrilled and honored to be nominated for best DJ!
Can’t believe the company I’m with!
I’ve also learned about new radio shows I have to tune into.
Thanks for posting Trigger!
November 12, 2015 @ 10:40 am
Bellfuries kick ass:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37uKXxjKd90&list=PLz1xf0HYV4b0lkWEHTT2bnJUo8pzIJVEF
November 12, 2015 @ 3:42 pm
Margo Price! Nice to see her name on the list.
November 12, 2015 @ 3:47 pm
wow the cowboy gathering is in my town and I have never really paid attention to what the hell it is, I may have to check it out next year.
November 12, 2015 @ 5:22 pm
Glad to see Jason Roberts name, a great musician and a really nice guy.
November 12, 2015 @ 6:07 pm
I’d be hard pressed to choose between Doug Moreland and Jason Roberts for Western Swing male. I’d probably give it to Roberts by a nose though. That’s the only category I can compare two people in.
November 12, 2015 @ 6:11 pm
Love me some Margo Price! The girl and the band are phenomenal!
November 12, 2015 @ 7:16 pm
I had never listened to Wayne Hancock before reading this. Thanks Trig, thanks everyone.
Now to go spend more money.
November 12, 2015 @ 9:37 pm
What this amounts to for me is a very expensive shopping list.
This is great.
Hope exists.