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