The 2026 Bass Magazine Awards was a star studded event that delivered at The Observatory OC
On Thursday January 22nd, the 2026 Bass Magazine Awards were held at The Observatory OC in Santa Ana, California. The intimate 1,000-capacity venue was completely sold out for this show with tons of NAMM attendees and eager fans of the legendary bass players being honored all packed in together hoping to catch some very special performances. Bass Magazine Founders Jon D’Auria, Chris Jisi, and Elton Bradman opened the night with a poignant dedication to the late bass legend Anthony Jackson. Supported by emotional tributes from Victor Wooten and the Fodera bass family, a spotlight remained on Jackson’s portrait at the side of the stage while some of his music played.
The “Future of Bass” recipient proved that the low end instrument’s legacy is in capable hands. Blu DeTiger accepted her award from legends Leland Sklar and Steve Bailey, delivering an empowering speech before performing a set of hits and unreleased material. DeTiger is quite literally such a fierce and empowering performer, and so talented on bass, that she must be destined for bigger stardom. Later, Laura Lee of Khruangbin was honored, and then led her band through a grooving set of laid-back genre defying music that captivated the audience. Lee has such a phenomenal pulse and rhthym to her playing, her lock in with her bandmates is just perfect, and the band had the whole venue dancing and swaying together.
The “Lifetime Achievement” segments of the awards ceremony provided some the night’s most memorable moments, starting with the legendary Marcus Miller. Introduced by Victor Wooten, Miller delivered an absolutely jaw dropping set that reminded the crowd why his four-decade career remains a standard for slap bass and powerful funk playing. The entire ceremony reached a climax when Les Claypool and Primus took the stage, introduced by the comedic duo of Robert Trujillo of Metallica and Justin Chancellor of Tool. The Primus set turned into a heavy metal all star jam session, featuring a “Too Many Puppies” rendition with Mike Dirnt and Chancellor. And an absolutely unforgettable moment occurred when Miller joined Claypool and Primus for a searing rendition of “Tommy the Cat,” a frantic double-slap jam, that Claypool later called a career-defining moment.
The entire crowd had absolutely reached a frenzy in anticipation of the final Lifetime Achievement Award for Mike Dirnt. Presenters Mark Hoppus and Ronnie Ficarro shared deeply personal stories of Dirnt’s mentorship and his unwavering support during Hoppus’s cancer battle. A visibly moved Dirnt graciously accepted his award before the entire crowd erupted as the curtains parted to reveal his bandmates in Green Day. The legendary Bay Area band delivered an explosive, career-spanning set that included a rare performance of “J.A.R.” alongside arena anthems like “Longview” and “American Idiot.” Seeing this band play in such a small space was unbelievable, and witnessing the love for Dirnt from everyone in the room, especially his bandmates, was so emotional. As the final notes of “When I Come Around” faded, it was clear that the 2026 Bass Magazine Awards had not only honored the technical mastery of these incredible musicians, but had also celebrated the community and heart behind the strings.
