Preservation of the city's musical traditions was almost rivaled by calls for protection of Louisiana wetlands from artists including Dr. John. He accepted the Big Easy Entertainer of the Year award and Best Album of the Year for his Grammy-winning, politically conscious 2008 album City That Care Forgot.
Folklorist and American Routes host Nick Spitzer presented the Music Heritage Award to the Dirty Dozen Brass Band. The Dozen later joined Dr. John and keyboardist Art Neville for two songs to conclude the evening. Other performances included a solo by Best Female Performer winner Theresa Andersson and a rendition of "I'll Fly Away" by Best Male Performer nominees Clint Maedgen, Kermit Ruffins and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, backed by Joe Lastie Jr. and Ben Jaffe of the Preservation Hall Band.
As master of ceremonies, Clint Maedgen improvised a song by whistling into a bottle, and collected trophies for Best Male Performer and Best Mixed Bag band with the New Orleans Bingo! Show, whose clown-troupe members gave the Big Easy Foundation procedures a dramatic reading. The first Big Easy Award for Best Hard Rock/Metal went to the band Zebra.
The event was sponsored by Gambit, Harrah's New Orleans Casino and Hotel and Stolichnaya Vodka.
2009 Big Easy Awards
Entertainer of the Year
Dr. John
Music Heritage Award
Dirty Dozen Brass Band
Lifetime Achievement in Music Award
Aaron Neville
WWOZ Guardians of the Groove Awards
Hazel Schlueter, Larry Schlueter and Grace Perrine
2009 Business Recognition Award
Downtown Development District and the Young Leadership Council for "Wednesdays In The Square"
Best Female Performer
Theresa Andersson
Best Male Performer
Clint Maedgen
Best Album of 2008
City That Care Forgot
Dr. John & the Lower 911
Best Traditional Jazz
Tom McDermott and Connie Jones
Best Contemporary Jazz
Terence Blanchard
Best Traditional Brass Band
Tremé Brass Band
Best Contemporary Brass Band
Rebirth Brass Band
Best Gospel Choir
Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise
Best Gospel Group/Individual
Jai Reed
Best Blues Artist
Little Freddie King
Best Funk Band
Big Sam's Funky Nation
Best Rhythm and Blues Artist
Walter "Wolfman" Washington
Best Rap/Hip Hop Artist
Lil Wayne
Best Rock Band
Rotary Downs
Best Roots Rock Band
Happy Talk Band
Best Zydeco Band
Cedric Watson and Bijou Creole
Best Cajun Band
Pine Leaf Boys
Best Country/Folk Band
Gal Holiday & the Honky Tonk Revue
Best Latin Band
Fredy Omar con su Banda
Best World Music/Reggae Band
Casa Samba
Best Emerging Group/Artist
MyNameIsJohnMichael
Best Electronica Band
Quintron and Miss Pussycat
Best Mixed Bag Band
New Orleans Bingo! Show
Best Hard Rock/Metal Band
Zebra
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- The Dirty Dozen Brass Band won the Music Heritage Award.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Theresa Andersson took home the Best Female Performer award. Her Hummingbird, Go! was nominated for Best Album of 2008.
- Photo by Gary Loverde
- Master of Ceremonies Clint Maedgen and Gambit Publisher and Big Easy Executive Producer Margo DuBos. Maedgen won Big Easy Awards for Best Male Performer and Best Mixed Bag as part of the New Orleans Bingo! Show.
- Photo by Gary Loverde
- Cedric Watson performs with his Bijou Creole band at the Big Easy Awards, where he was named Best Zydeco Artist of 2008.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Rotary Downs took home Best Rock band honors.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Little Freddie King was named Best Blues Artist of 2008.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- MyNameIsJohnMichael won a Big Easy for Best Emerging Group.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- The Best Latin Band winner was Fredy Omar con su Banda.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- The New Orleans Bingo! Show won Best Mixed Bag.
- Photo by Gary Loverde
- Photo by Gary Loverde House of Blues talent buyer Sonny Schneidau talks with Gambit Political Editor and CEO Clancy DuBos.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Art and Lorraine Neville presented several awards at the show before Art joined Ellis Marsalis and Wanda Rouzan in honoring Mahalia Jackson as Entertainer o rhear
- Photo by Stwart Johnson
- Photo by Stewart Johnson The Best Rhythm and Blues winner was Walter "Wolfman" Washington.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Mary von Kurnatowski and Ben Jaffe presented several awards Jaffe is creative director of the Preservation Hall Jazz Bnd, which was nominated for Best Traditional Jazz.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- The Best Roots Rock award went to Happy Talk Band.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Tom McDermott, who with Connie Jones won Best Traditional Jazz, was presented the award by Irma Thomas — nominated for Best Rhythm and Blues — and Deacon John Moore.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Kim Che're and Best Gospel Group/Individual winner Jai Reed performed the opening number along with Bishop Lester Love (far right). They are pictured with Craig Adams, whose group Craig Adams & Higher Dimensions of Praise won Best Gospel Choir.
- Photo by Gary Loverde
- Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews and Kermit Ruffins were nominated in the Best Male Performer category.
- Photo by Stewart Johnson
- Gal Holiday and the Honky Tonk Revue won Best Country/Folk Band of 2008. Vanessa Niemann (Gal Holiday) also presented several Big Easy awards at the show.
- Photo by Gary Loverde
- Big Easy presenter Rio Hackford, owner of One Eyed Jacks and Pal's Lounge, mugs with guitarist Pepper Keenan of Down, which was nominated for Best Hard Rock/Metal group.
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