The Winners of the 2016 Ameripolitan Awards
Dale Watson’s 3rd Annual, 2016 Ameripolitan Awards went down Tuesday night in Austin at the Paramount Theatre, with awards handed out in the categories of “Honky Tonk,” “Western Swing,” “Rockabilly,” and “Outlaw,” designated by male and female, and groups. Additional awards were handed out favorite venues, festivals, DJ’s, and musicians.
Ray Benson hosted for the first time, and Founder of the Sound awards were handed out to Wanda Jackson, who unfortunately couldn’t make the festivities due to weather, and Red Simpson who passed away in January. The 2016 Master Award was handed out to Charley Pride who was in attendance, and performed three song.
READ & SEE: The 2016 Ameripolitan Awards in Words and Pictures
Ameripolitan was founded three years ago by traditional country artist Dale Watson and was inspired by the “Old Farts & Jackasses” comments of Blake Shelton. The Ameripolitan Awards are Dale’s answer to the concern of so many artists doing their best to keep roots traditions alive who are going unrecognized by the rest of the country music industry. The inaugural awards were held in a ballroom in a hotel in Austin and moved to the Paramount in 2015. The Ameripolitan Music Awards acknowledges “Artists whose music honors tradition while demonstrating exceptional originality, creativity, and musicianship,” and is a 501(c)3 organization. Fans and artists from around the country and world have traveled to take part in the festivities.
The 2016 Ameripolitan Winners
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 -WINNER
- JP Harris and the Tough Choices
Honky Tonk Female
- Miss Leslie
- Kelsey Waldon
- Margo Price – WINNER
- Brennen Leigh
- Tara Dunphy
Honk Tonk Male
- Jake Penrod
- Charlie Thompson – WINNER
- Cale Tyson
- Mike Dart
- Jason James
WESTERN SWING CATEGORIES
Western Swing Group
- Billy Mata and the Texas Tradition – WINNER
- JP Cyr & His Radio Wranglers
- Hot Texas Swing Band
- Carolyn Sills
- Western Swing Authority
Western Swing Female
- Carolyn Martin – WINNER
- Kristyn Harris
- Mikki Daniel
- Stacey Lee Guse
- Katie Glassman
Western Swing Male
- Jason Roberts – WINNER
- Billy Mata
- Doug Moreland
- Kelly Spinks
- Coby Carter
ROCKABILLY CATEGORIES
Rockabilly Group
- The Neon Stars
- The Bellfuries – WINNER
- Don Diego Trio
- The B-Stars
- Nathan Belt & The Buckles
Rockabilly Female
- Marti Brom – WINNER
- Sara Dee
- Emmy Lou
- Lara Hope
- BaileyDee
Rockabilly Male
- Jinx Jones
- Chris Casello
- Wayne Hancock -WINNER
- Scotty Baker
- Paul Pigat
OUTLAW CATEGORIES
Outlaw Group
- The Hillbilly Casino
- Dallas Moore Band
- The Ponderosa Aces
- Jason Boland & The Stragglers – WINNER
- Eric Strickland and the B-Sides
Outlaw Female
- Darci Carlson
- Rachel Brooke
- Bonnie Montgomery – WINNER
- Tommy Ash
- Jesse Lafser
Outlaw Male
- Whitey Morgan – WINNER
- 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 – WINNER
- 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 – WINNER
- 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 -WINNER
- Elizabeth Cook, Outlaw Country, Sirius/XM Radio
- “Cousin” Lynn Joiner, WHRB 95.3 FM, Cambridge, MA
Musician
- Joel Paterson
- Chris Casello
- Jason Roberts – WINNER
- 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
February 17, 2016 @ 12:00 am
Any reason why they listed Whitey alone and not as a group? Just curious but good for him either way!
February 17, 2016 @ 5:04 am
That was an individual award. Jason Boland & The Stragglers were the group winners in the Outlaw category.
February 17, 2016 @ 4:04 pm
Sonic ranch was released as Whitey Morgan and the 78’s. Just figured that would put him in the outlaw group category.
February 17, 2016 @ 7:59 am
Just saw Whitey & the 78’s last Sunday in Indy small club. Man or they tight live, really blew me away, a great show not to be missed!
February 17, 2016 @ 9:13 am
Was his Sonic Ranch not a solo record ?
February 18, 2016 @ 6:14 am
Whitey Morgan and the 78s won as best outlaw group at the first Ameripolitan Awards
February 17, 2016 @ 12:02 am
Glad to see the Thirsty Beaver on there, cool little bar. Really is little though. Like smaller than my apartment.
February 17, 2016 @ 7:07 am
Jason Roberts is a master of his craft, and Whitey Morgan is outstanding, but MARGO PRICE????
How on Earth is she more qualified for that award than Brennen Leigh? Who actually has original material and new ideas not just watered down rehashed 70’s imitating Ray Price sound just like Sonny James Tony Booth Joe Stampley and Johnny Bush????
The Honky Tonk category is a joke in and of itself because it is such a one dimensional category.
And I am surprised to see Jason Boland up for an Outlaw award because I usually don’t associate his music with the Outlaw sound…
I really want to go see this in person some day, I’m hoping Dale Watson really gets this off the ground and turns it into something amazing. It’s really neat to see festivals, DJs and venues getting awards and not just the artists. I think this is the only event in all of Country Music that reaches out to the music community like this and doesn’t just swirl around the artists.
February 19, 2016 @ 5:23 pm
Boland and the Stragglers won because they’re an Outlaw Band, from Oklahoma.
February 17, 2016 @ 8:53 am
By my calculations the awards show needs to be renamed the Texas Ameripolitan Music Awards. Out of the 16 categories you listed only 6 went to artists, etc. from outside the Lone Star state. Just an observation from someone that “has no dog in the race” just something I noticed.
February 17, 2016 @ 12:25 pm
I will say this: last night had a very distinct international vibe to it. There were nominees, performers and many attendees for all over Europe. Walking through the foyer you could hear three or four different languages being spoken.
I do think Ameripolitan needs to make an effort to open the field, but I also think they attempted to make that effort this year.
February 17, 2016 @ 1:23 pm
Looks like you drew a plumb assignment, Trig.
Glad to see Roger Alan Wade is still performing.
February 18, 2016 @ 1:58 pm
No Unknown Hinson? He won one of the categories a year or two ago, didn’t he?
Good to see Paul Pigat on there, though….one of my favorite players.