article/photos by Scott Preston
What an incredible night of music! Lots of great music and had a chance to see many friends as well. The Fairmount Girls were interviewing people on the red carpet (photos) as they went inside. Each of the performers played 3 songs and it was the first time I had seen a few of them: Over the Rhine, Buffalo Killers, Bad Veins, Wussy, Angels of Meth and Tropicoso. The late H-Bomb Ferguson was also inducted into the CEA Hall of Fame. The lovely ladies from Barnyard Burlesque presented the awards to the winners.
There were some interesting acceptance speeches, Kim Taylor (won singer/song writer), had her young son accept for her who was being held up by his dad feeding him what to say. The Rumpke Mountain Boys, who won for Best Bluegrass Group, were down a man when they accepted (Josh the banjo player happened to be in the bathroom). As they walked off the stage Josh ran up on the stage and gave the crowd a Woohoo!!! and threw his hands in the air and ran off the stage.
My head is a little sore lol (seriously never forget earplugs) but here are the award winners:
Jazz: Blue Wisp Big Band
Folk/Americana: Tupelo Honey
Country: Straw Boss
Bluegrass: Rumpke Mountain Boys
Singer/Songwriter: Kim Taylor
Hip Hop: Animal Crackers
Alternative/Indie: The Sundresses
Punk: Caterpillar Tracks
Experimental/Electronic: The Seedy Seeds
Rock: 500 Miles to Memphis
World Music: Pinstripes
R&B/Funk: Freekbass
Blues: Sonny Moorman
Hard Rock/Metal: Banderas
Best Live Act: 500 Miles to Memphis
Best Musical Ambassador: Over The Rhine
New Artist of the Year: The Seedy Seeds
Album of the Year: Wussy
Artist of the Year: Buffalo Killers