The Blues Foundation has announced nominees for the 21st annual W.C. Handy Blues Awards, whose winners are voted on by 30,000 blues fans.

Nominees for the 24 categories include some well-known names (B.B. King [ tickets ] for Blues Entertainer of the Year), established artists who are gaining national prominence (San Francisco Bay Area bluesman Joe Louis Walker and his Bosstalkers for Blues Band of the Year) and up-and-coming artists (Shemekia Copeland [ tickets ] for Contemporary Blues, Female Artist of the Year).

The awards will be presented on May 25 at the Orpheum Theatre in Memphis, Tenn. The event was webcast last year, but a webcast for this year is still being discussed.