10 мая состоялась XXXIX церемония вручения премий Blues Music Award (бывшая W.C. Handy Award).
Complete list of Blues Music Award winners 2018: - Acoustic Album: Break the Chain - Doug MacLeod
- Acoustic Artist: Taj Mahal
- Album: TajMo - Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo'
- B. King Entertainer: Taj Mahal
- Band: Rick Estrin & the Nightcats
- Best Emerging Artist Album: Southern Avenue - Southern Avenue
- Contemporary Blues Album: TajMo - Taj Mahal & Keb' Mo'
- Contemporary Blues Female Artist: Samantha Fish
- Contemporary Blues Male Artist: Keb' Mo'
- Historical: A Legend Never Dies, Essential Recordings 1976-1997 - Luther Allison (Ruf Recordings)
- Instrumentalist-Vocalist: Beth Hart
- Instrumentalist-Bass: Michael "Mudcat" Ward
- Instrumentalist-Drums: Tony Braunagel
- Instrumentalist-Guitar: Ronnie Earl
- Instrumentalist-Harmonica: Jason Ricci
- Instrumentalist-Horn: Trombone Shorty
- Pinetop Perkins Piano Player (Instrumentalist - Piano): Victor Wainwright
- Koko Taylor Award (Traditional Blues Female): Ruthie Foster
- Rock Blues Album: We're All In This Together - Walter Trout
- Rock Blues Artist: Mike Zito
- Song: "The Blues Ain't Going Nowhere" written by Rick Estrin and performed by Rick Estrin
- Soul Blues Album: Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm - Robert Cray & Hi Rhythm
- Soul Blues Female Artist: Mavis Staples
- Soul Blues Male Artist: Curtis Salgado
- Traditional Blues Album: Right Place, Right Time - Mike Welch and Mike Ledbetter
- Traditional Blues Male Artist: Rick Estrin