THE NEW GILDED AGE (Part 2)
THE NEW GILDED AGE (Part 2)
Winners of the 32nd Annual Review Music Awards Celebration
Posted In:
Arts & Entertainment,
,
From Issue 861
By: Robert E Martin
03rd May, 2018 1
REVIEW Magazine presented its 32nd Annual Music Awards Celebration at Lumber Baron's Genevieve Ballroom in Bay City the evening of April 22nd and honored 61 different artists that have enriched the cultural climate throughout the Great Lakes Bay Region. With a total of 7,388 votes cast by the general public between January & March of this year and a total 1025 artists nominated from the region (nearly double than the 526 nominations submitted last year) the top five nominees in each division moved to a final round of voting and the winners were honored at this special annual celebration.
Because of the freakish and unpredictable Ice Storm that blew through the region on April 15th, the Review Awards had to be re-scheduled, which was the first time this has happened in its 32 year-history; but thanks to the attributes of Social Media and the strong musical community that our region is blessed with, attendance was only slightly down, while the mood of nominees, patrons, and fans was at a definitive high.
With an evening full of unexpected surprises and standout guest performances, big winners of the evening included new faces such as Here After Six, who secured five honors including Best Rock Band, Best Rock Songwriter, Rock Drummer and Rock Guitarist honors; Barbarossa Brothers, who also got a big thumbs-up in five categories Best Concert, Album or Project, Best CD Release of the Year, Blues Vocalist, Best Blues Songwriter and Best Blues Band; Marsupial Creampie who secured the honors of Best Alternative Band, Best Variety Band and Best Male Vocalist for Andy Hahn. Additionally, Donald Benjamin walked away with four awards in the twelve categories he was nominated in: Best Music Video, Best Band Website, Best Country Video, and Country Songwriter. Newcomer Jennifer Naegele also received praise as Best Solo Artist and Female Rock Vocalist.
As Plato once wrote: “Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.” Our region has withstood many difficult changes over the expanse of the three decades that this annual celebration encompasses; but one thing that remains constant is the creativity of on-going generations of musical talent to give our region its own distinct and incomparably unique voice, character, and definition.
And now, without further ado, here is a breakdown of the winners in all categories ranging from Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, and numerous Miscellaneous categories.
We hope you enjoy the profile features included in this special Music Awards Edition on some of the top winners; and next issue look for more winner profiles on Here After Six, Donald Benjamin, and Carrie Westbay.
Best Recording Studio • Reed Recording Co.
Best Music Video • "I Choose the Whiskey" - Donald Benjamin
Best Videographer • Kari Helm
Best Radio Station • WKQZ 93
Best Concert/Album or Project • Barbarossa Brothers - Holy Water
Best Music Festival • Hamilton Street Bash
Best Sound Technician • Carey Limberg
Best Waitress • Kristen Avram (Whites)
Best Metal Band • Everyday Ghost
Best Alternative Band • Marsupial Creampie
Best Live Event of the Year • Blues on the Beach
Best Folk Band or Duo • Melissa May & Brian Coonan
Best Band Website • www.DonaldBenjaminOfficial.com
Best CD Release • Holy Water - The Barbarossa Brothers
Most Innovative Artist • Andy Reed
Best New Artist of the Year • Tana Michaels
Best Variety Band • Marsupial Creampie
Best Duo • Melissa May & Brian Coonan
Best Bartender • Jeremy Pomeroy - Chet's Bar
Best Solo Artist • Jennifer Naegele
Best Original Band • Carrie & The Wayward Sons
Best Rock Video • Here After Six- Letter to Heaven
Favorite Rock Club • Bemo's
Female Vocalist • Jennifer Naegele
Rock Keyboardist • Stephanie Noel
Best Rock Songwriter • Jake Priest (Here After Six)
Rock Bassist • Joe Balbaugh
Rock Drummer • Bryan Tasior
Male Vocalist • Andy Hahn
Best Rock Band • Here After Six
Rock Guitarist • Levi Johnson
Best Mixtape / Release • Chase Passion
Best Rap/Hip Hop Video • Chase Passion
Best Promoter • Redburn
Best Producer • Astray
Best Performer • Mike Spitz
Best DJ • Redburn
Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year • Mike Spitz
Best Rap/Hip Hop Songwriter • Mike Spitz
Best Country Video • "I Choose the Whiskey" - Donald Benjamin
Favorite Country Club • Willew Lounge
Country Female Vocalist • Mandi Layne
Country Songwriter • Donald Benjamin
Best Country Band • Kin Faux
Country Male Vocalist • Steve Armstrong
Best Country Musician (Instrumentalist) • Rico Gonzales
Best Male Jazz Vocalist • Matt de Heus
Best Big Band • Standard Session
Favorite Jazz Club • Bancroft Wine & Martini Bar
Female Jazz Vocalist • Monique Ella Rose
Best Small Combo • The Straight Eights
Jazz Songwriter • Mike Brush
Best Jazz Musician • Alison "Bub" Scott
Best Blues Video • The President’s House - Kris Pride (Videographer: Kari Helm)
Favorite Blues Club • Scotty's Sandbar
Best Funk Band • Soul XPress
Male Blues Vocalist • Drew Pentkowski
Blues Songwriter • Barbarossa Brothers
Blues Instrumentalist • Scott Vandell
Best Blues Band • Barbarossa Brothers
Female Blues Vocalist • Luann Ervin