Celebrating the 2025 Muddy Awards: A Night to Remember

Celebrating the 2025 Muddy Awards: A Night to Remember
By Evelyn Silverman

After months of planning, we were beyond thrilled to see the Muddy Awards come to life Sunday, January 26th at Alberta Abbey. It was a night filled with music, camaraderie, and a deep appreciation for the blues community that we all hold dear. Seeing musicians, fans, and industry professionals come together to celebrate the heart and soul of blues in the Pacific Northwest was truly inspiring.

Some of the best in the region took the stage, reminding us all why we are so passionate about this music. With twenty-four categories recognizing outstanding contributions to the blues scene, the awards honored the talent and dedication that keep the blues alive.

A Tradition of Excellence

The Muddy Awards have long been a cornerstone of the Cascade Blues Association, with members nominating and voting to recognize the musicians, bands, venues, and events that shape our community. After bringing the awards back in January 2024 following a hiatus, we are proud to make them an annual tradition once again. This event is a testament to the passion and resilience of the blues community, and we couldn’t be more grateful to be a part of it.

The Winners

This year’s Muddy Awards celebrated outstanding musicians across twenty-four categories. Congratulations to all the winners and nominees—you make our blues family what it is! View the full list of nominees, finalists and winners.

Gratitude and Acknowledgments

This incredible night wouldn’t have been possible without the hard work and dedication of so many people. They include, but are not limited to:

• Dave Spacek, who saved the day by stepping in as Master of Ceremonies just 15 minutes before showtime!
• Our amazing event volunteers, who kept everything running smoothly: Cristine Walker, Nancy Collins, Colleen Irwin, Samantha Hammerly, Dennis Kitch, Nolan Johnson, Marty Henninger, Jennifer Moriarty, Jane Roberts, Jennifer Kitch, Carolyn Marks, Sue Johnson, Ken Johnson, Paula Bunion, and Andrea Stellar.
• Our event coordinator Terri Stanford, whose skill and talent brought the event to a higher level and better experience for all.
• The stage crew, who worked tirelessly behind the scenes: James Patrick “Coach” Hurley, Pierce Johnson, Sheldon Phillips, Jon Pierce, Rick Doersch, Michael Hovden, and Rebecca Rutledge
• Cedar House Media for printing our beautiful posters and the programs and Marie Walters for saving the day and transporting them!
• Our fantastic presenters, including Peter Dammann, Tevis Hodge Jr., Sandy Gilman, Norman Sylvester, Jeff Frankel, Clint Carter, Mike Todd, Myrtle Brown, Lloyd Jones, Ben Rice, Felix Sanders, Kivett Bednar, Chad Rupp, Ms. Vee, Terri Stanford, “Coach” James Patrick Hurley, Brian Foxworth, Rob Shoemaker, Joey Scruggs, Terry Currier, Mike Day, and Rae Gordon.

Performances

What an incredible lineup we had! Each act brought something special to the stage:

• Beacon Street Titans
• Chad Rupp, Brady Goss, and Mitch Kashmar
• Dave Fleschner
• Jim Solberg, Peter Dammann, Jimi Bott, and Kim Field
• Myrtle Brown Band
• Kivett Bednar Band (Jeff Langston, Pat McDougall, and Edwin Colman III)
• Taylor Newville and Ty Curtis
• LaRhonda & Mark Steele with Ben Rice
• Johnny Wheels and the Swamp Donkeys (Johnny Wheels, Brandon Logan, Taylor Frazier, William “Froggy” Hyland and Jimi Bott)

We also want to give a huge shoutout to:

• Chef Patrick Wilkins, Jamie Pemberton Hess and the Blue Diamond catering staff—that Mac and Cheese was the best!
• The Alberta Abbey staff for hosting us in such a special venue.
• And most importantly, all of you who attended and made this night so special!

Thank you for keeping the blues alive!
(This article was originally shared in February 2025)