Chart page

This page lists the top artists of the year based on progressive amounts of airplay/exposure, plus social media standing.

OVERALL LIST

HISTORICAL RCB CHARTS:

Best Album:
2004: “Ballads & Burlesque” – Rachael Sage
2005: “Little Star” – Girlyman
2006: “Hope & Other Casualties” – Mark Erelli
2007: “Revolution” – Sirsy
2008: “Brand New Frame” – Natalia Zukerman
2009: “Back To Love” – Tom Goss
2010: “Little Vigils” – Mark Erelli
2011: “Old White Men” – Vance Gilbert
2012: “Satellite” – Anna Dagmar
2013: “No More Rain” – The Steel Wheels
2014: “The Red Album” – Red Molly
2015: “Wage Love” – Fred Gillen Jr.
2016: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix “Music From Hurley Mountain”
2017: Kurt Henry Band “Flaming June”
2018: Mare Wakefield & Nomad “Time To Fly”
2019: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix”Miles Of Blues”
2020: Vance Gilbert “Good Good Man”
2021 Kevin Daniel “Been Here Before”
2022 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix “Strike Up The Band” 
2023 Kevin Daniel “The Life & Adventures Of Kevin Daniel” 

Artist Of The Year:
2003: Jenn Lindsay
2004: Rachael Sage
2005: Nadine Goellner
2006: Mark Erelli
2007: Amy Speace
2008: Andy Friedman
2009: Hungrytown
2010: Mark Erelli
2011: Vance Gilbert
2012: Vance Gilbert
2013: Aztec Two-Step
2014: Tom Principato
2015 Ellis Paul
2016 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix
2017 Jess Novak Band
2018 Lara Herscovitch
2019 Jonathan Byrd
2020 Sirsy
2021 Jonathan Byrd
2022 Heather Pierson 
2023 Professor Louie & The Crowmatix

Best EP

2023 Surprise Chef “Friendship”
2022 Buffalo Rose (with Tom Paxton) “Rabbit”
2021 Aztec Two Step 2.0 “Birth Days”
2020: Fred Gillen Jr “Birds”
2019: Castle Black “Dead In A Dream”
2018: Bruce T Carroll – Finding You
2017 The Slants – The Band That Must Not Be Named
2016: Darlingside – Whipporwill
2015 Butchers Blind – A Place In America
2014: Whiskey & Wine Vol 1. – Antigone Rising
2013: Auto Kiss Proof – Aqua Cherry
2012 Another Side Daniel Levi Goans
2011 Bess Rogers Presents Bess Rogers
2010 From The Mouth Of Paris The Mieka Canon
2009 The Best Game In Town Rebecca Pronsky
2008 s/t The Alternate Routes
2007 Sin List Travis McGee & The Revelers
2006 The Green Room Sessions Kyler England
2005 Plans In Pencil Lisa Alice
2004 Hunted Rebirth Redjacket

Best Concept Album:
2023
2022: Putumayo World Music “Afro-Cubano”
2021 David Uoskkinnen’s In The Pocket “The Philly Special”
2020: not awarded
2019: David Newland “Northbound: The Northwest Passage In Story and Song”
2018: Michael Martin Murphey: Austinology: Alleys Of Austin
2017: Kristin Hersh: Wyatt At The Coyote Palace
2016: Professor Louie & The Crowmatix: Music From Hurley Mountain
2015: Darryl Holter “Radio Songs: Woody Guthrie In California 1937-1939”
2014: none
2013: Esperanza: Songs from Jack Kerouac’s “Tristessa” (various)
2012 Little Blue Egg Dave Carter & Tracy Grammer
2011 1861 Project various
2010 Hadestown Anais Mitchell
2009 Up On Rockfield Vance Gilbert
2008 none awarded
2007 A Million Ukuleles MJ Hibbett
2006 The Martini Cowboy Jack Grace
2005 Hotwalker Tom Russell

Best Tribute Album:
2023 Christian Parker “Sweethearts: A Tribute To The Byrds’ “Sweethearts Of The Rodeo”
2022 Edgar Winter “Brother Johnny”
2021 “Stage Fright at 50 – An Ovation From Nashville (featuring The Rock House All Stars)
2020: Gretchen Peters “The Night You Wrote That Song – A Tribute to MIckey Newbury”
2019: not awarded
2018: King Of The Road – A Tribute to Roger Miller

Best New Artist:
2023 Jaimee Harris
2022: Julian Taylor
2021: Sam Robbins
2020: Nobody’s Girl
2019: Tragedy Ann
2018: Shane Martin
2017: Just Dave Band
2016: Monica Rizzio
2015: Dan Weber
2014: Ray Lambiase
2013: Davey O.
2012 The Steel Wheels
2011 Spuyten Duyvil
2010 The Vanguard
2009 Lisa Bianco
2008 Corrientes
2007 The Alternate Routes
2006 Hundred Year Flood
2005 Michael Tiernan
2004 Simon Stinger