The Low Anthem, Ellis Paul Win Boston Music Awards

The 2009 Boston Music Awards were presented during ceremonies at the Liberty Hotel on December 2. Among the honorees in 26 categories are The Low Anthem, a Providence, Rhode Island-based Americana group (Album of the Year), and Ellis Paul, a Boston-based singer-songwriter (Outstanding Folk Act of the Year).

The Low Anthem, who received the award for New Act of the Year in 2008, is comprised of Ben Knox Miller, Jeff Prytowsky and Jocie Adams. The group’s latest album, Oh My God, Charlie Darwin, original released independently late last year and reissued in June on Nonesuch features a nice harmonic blend and nearly 30 different instruments – including a zither and Tibetan singing bells. Uncut magazine also recently named it Americana Album of the Year.

Since emerging from the Boston folk scene during the mid-1990s, Ellis Paul has become one of the most popular contemporary touring artists on the folk and acoustic concert and festival circuit. A number of his urban, literate folk-pop songs with infectious melodies have found their way onto the soundtracks of movies and television shows. His latest release, The Day After Everything Changed, a fully fan-funded effort and his first studio album without a label in 10 years, features Kristian Bush of the popular country duo, Sugarland.

Now in its 22nd year, the Boston Music Awards aim to “celebrate the wonderful music that is produced by artists with strong ties to the Boston area.”