The nominees for the 2010 Grammy Awards, which will be held in Los Angeles on Sunday, January 31, have been announced. No real surprises there with Bob Dylan, Willie Nelson, Levon Helm, Wilco and Ramblin’ Jack Elliott among the list of nominees. I am a bit disappointed to see that Steve Earle was nominated for Best Contemporary Folk Album for his record Townes, considering that his son Justin Townes Earle put out a far superior record this year. That said, I learned years ago that anything Grammy-related should be taken with a mega grain of salt (I mean…The Ting Tings for Best New Artist? REALLY?). Nominees for the Folk and Blues categories are after the jump, and for the complete list of nominees, click here.

Americana Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Together Through Life
Bob Dylan
[Columbia]

* Electric Dirt
Levon Helm
[Dirt Farmer Music/Vanguard Records]

* Willie And The Wheel
Willie Nelson & Asleep At The Wheel
[Bismeaux Records]

* Wilco (The Album)
Wilco
[Nonesuch]

* Little Honey
Lucinda Williams
[Lost Highway Records]

Best Bluegrass Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Could We Get Any Closer?
Jim Lauderdale
[Sky Crunch Records]

* The Crow / New Songs For The Five-String Banjo
Steve Martin
[Rounder]

* Buckaroo Blue Grass
Michael Martin Murphey
[Rural Rhythm Records]

* Almost Live
Bryan Sutton And Friends
[Sugar Hill Records]

* Destination Life
Rhonda Vincent
[Rounder]

Best Traditional Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* A Stranger Here
Ramblin’ Jack Elliott
[ANTI]

* Blue Again
The Mick Fleetwood Blues Band Featuring Rick Vito
[429 Records]

* Rough & Tough
John Hammond
[Chesky Records]

* Stomp! The Blues Tonight
Duke Robillard
[Stony Plain Records]

* Chicago Blues: A Living History
(Various Artists)
Larry Skoller, producer
[Raisin' Music]

Best Contemporary Blues Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* This Time
The Robert Cray Band
[Nozzle Records/Vanguard]

* The Truth According To Ruthie Foster
Ruthie Foster
[Blue Corn Music]

* Live: Hope At The Hideout
Mavis Staples
[ANTI]

* Back To The River
Susan Tedeschi
[Verve Forecast]

* Already Free
The Derek Trucks Band
[Victor Records]

Best Traditional Folk Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Cutting Loose
David Holt And Josh Goforth
[High Windy Audio]

* Naked With Friends
Maura O’Connell
[Sugar Hill Records]

* Polka Cola: Music That Refreshes
Jimmy Sturr And His Orchestra
[Starr Records]

* Singing Through The Hard Times: A Tribute To Utah Phillips
(Various Artists)
Jacqui Morse, Kendall Morse & Dan Schatz, producers
[righteous babe records, inc.]

* High Wide & Handsome: The Charlie Poole Project
Loudon Wainwright III
[2nd Story Sound Records]

Best Contemporary Folk Album
(Vocal or Instrumental.)

* Middle Cyclone
Neko Case
[ANTI]

* Our Bright Future
Tracy Chapman
[Elektra]

* Live
Shawn Colvin
[Nonesuch]

* Secret, Profane & Sugarcane
Elvis Costello
[Hear Music]

* Townes
Steve Earle
[New West Records]