Bai Kamara, a Sierra Leon-born singer, has reacted to his nomination for the 2020 Blues Blast Music Awards.

The nomination was announced on July 10, with the Belgium-based guitarist and songwriter nominated for his The Voodoo Sniffers ‘Salone’ in the ‘Best Acoustic Blues Album’ category.

He was nominated alongside Mark Telesca, Libby Watson, Bert Deivert, Catfish Keith, and Bob Margolin as the only one from outside of North America across all categories for the 2020 award.

“We are really excited to be nominated by this prestigious Blues Awards. We had favourable reviews across Europe when ‘Salone’ was released,” the singer told eyesofalagosboy.com on Tuesday ahead of the September event.

“But we never thought it would cross the Atlantic (US). As the only non- American to be nominated in this category, it is a huge honour for my team and I.”

Recorded in collaboration with the German label Moosicus/MIG Music and Kamara’s management agency Zig Zag World, ‘Salone’ was dedicated to the artiste’s country of birth (Sierra Leone).

See the full list of nominees below:

Contemporary Blues Album

Victor Wainwright And The Train – Memphis Loud
Various Artists – Don’t Pass Me By, A Tribute To Sean Costello
Toronzo Cannon & The Chicago Way – The Preacher, The Politician Or The Pimp
The Jimmys – Gotta Have It
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats – Contemporary
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram – Kingfish
Traditional Blues Album

The Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling – Lucky Guy
Junior Watson – Nothin’ To It But To Do It
John Primer & Bob Corritore – The Gypsy Woman Told Me
Jimmy Johnson – Every Day Of Your Life
Cash Box Kings – Hail To The Kings!
Billy Branch & The Sons Of Blues – Roots And Branches – The Songs Of Little Walter
Soul Blues Album

Tad Robinson – Real Street
Reverend John Lee Hooker Jr. – Testify
Frank Bey – All My Dues Are Paid\
Bobby Rush – Sitting on Top of the Blues
Billy Price – Dog Eat Dog
Annika Chambers – Kiss My Sass
Rock Blues Album

Tinsley Ellis – Ice Cream In Hell
The Proven Ones – You Ain’t Done
Mike Zito and Friends – Rock N Roll – A Tribute To Chuck Berry
Jeremiah Johnson – Heavens To Betsy
Coco Montoya – Coming In Hot
Albert Castiglia – Masterpiece
Acoustic Blues Album

Mark Telesca – Higher Vibrations
Libby Rae Watson & Bert Deivert – SHE SHIMMY
Hudspeth & Taylor – Folie a deux
Catfish Keith – Catfish Crawl
Bob Margolin – This Guitar & Tonight
Bai Kamara Jr. & The Voodoo Sniffers – Salone
Live Blues Album

Teresa James & the Rhythm Tramps – Live
Ruthie Foster – Live at The Paramount
Linsey Alexander – Live At Rosa’s
Johnny Burgin – Live
Ben Racine Band – Live À Montréal
Albert Castiglia – Wild and Free
Historical Or Vintage Recording

Various Artists – Cadillac Baby’s Bea & Baby Records – The Definitive Collection
Johnny Shines – The Blues Came Falling Down – Live 1973
Jack Mack & The Heart Attack – Live from Centennial Park – Atlanta 1996
Dom Flemons – Prospect Hill: The American Songster Omnibus
11 Guys Quartet – Small Blues and Grooves
New Artist Debut Album

Slim And The Perkolators
Sister Lucille – Alive
Jose Ramirez – Here I Come
Hudspeth & Taylor – Folie a deux
Avey Grouws Band – The Devil May Care
Andrew Alli – Hard Workin’ Man
Blues Band

Roomful Of Blues
Rick Estrin & The Nightcats
Nick Moss Band Featuring Dennis Gruenling
Cash Box Kings
Billy Branch & The Sons Of The Blues
B.B. King Blues Band
Male Blues Artist

Toronzo Cannon
Nick Moss
Christone “Kingfish” Ingram
Bobby Rush
Billy Branch
Albert Castiglia
Female Blues Artist

Whitney Shay
Shaun Murphy
Ruthie Foster
Liz Mandeville
Beth Hart
Annika Chambers
Sean Costello Rising Star Award
The Mary Jo Curry Band
Ryan Perry
King Solomon Hicks
Jose Ramirez
Ben Levin
Andrew Alli