We Are the Champions• Winners of the 39th Annual REVIEW Music Awards

Editor's Note:

Be sure to scroll through our photo gallery and click this link to catch our highlight video produced by Creatavid, with original music by Val Hazel.

On Sunday, May 4^th, history was once again expanded upon when the 39th Annual REVIEW Music Awards Celebration  returned to The Westown Theater for an evening filled exuberance, palpable anticipation from the nominees, and explosive musical brilliance resonating to all corners of the world with a broad range of live performances as 60 trophies were presented to musicians, bands, venues, and music related video, streaming, and production entities populating the Great Lakes Bay Region in multiple genres ranging from Jazz, Blues, Country, Rock, and  Hip-Hop.

With a total of 8,010 people casting votes during both the nomination and final voting rounds, a total of 754 nominees in each division moving to a final round of voting and the winners honored at this special annual celebration.

Over 300 nominees and attendees showed up to experience this annual gathering that brings the musical community and general public together in a celebration designed to draw greater attention and respect to the remarkable musical resources of the Mid-Michigan area.

With an evening full of unexpected surprises and standout guest musical performances, big winners of the evening in included Them Heels, who won Best Variety Band, Best Alternative Band, Best New CD/Album Release, and Best Rock Bassist; ADABOY! who won Best Original Band, Best Rock Band, and Best EP/Single Release; Hip-Hop artist Mike Spitz (aka: Spitzer) who picked up four trophies for Rap Artist of the Year, Best Performer, Best Hip-Hop Songwriter, and Best Video; Rhett Yocom, who secured honors for Best Blues Band, Best Blues Songwriter, and Best Blues Vocalist.

Loren Kranz was voted Best Solo Artist, Best Jazz Instrumentalist and Best Multi-Instrumentalist, followed by Vlad’s Skeletal Circus, Erik Ryden & the Unk of Funk (Best New Artist of the Year), and Hellbound Drifters, who also secured two or more honors in various divisions.

Both established veteran artists with longstanding legacies of excellence  and newcomers blazing fresh musical trails were honored, with exceptional  performances by guest artists that included a blistering blend of tight yet fluid Jazz, Blues, and Funk music by Erik Ryden & the Unk of Funk, featuring legendary drummer Steve McCray, award-winning guitarist Rhett Yocom, and passionate saxophonist Jeff Grassl.

The celebration kicked off with a spirited set of traditionally grounded Country music courtesy of the award-winning Jasper Creek, featuring Jaxie Hartman who was inducted into the Michigan Country Music Hall of Fame last year.  Also performing was Chris Rokita & the Rebels, whose newest single Just Wanna Be With You also received the nod for Best Single Release and recently clocked 1-million-plus views on YouTube while securing a juried Gold Award Best Music Video honor from the International Gold Awards Film Festival in January of this year.

An exceptional highlight came courtesy of The Band Roulette All Stars, a specially designed supergroup of regional heavyweights consisting of Jeff Poirier, Donny Brown, Mike Thomas, Tom Behmlander, and guitarist Scotty Van Dell who performed a spot-on performance of The CARS legendary debut album.

Closing out the evening on the heavier Rock & Hip-Hop side of life were floor-stomping performances by Hiding Salem, REDBURN, and The Smokie Links.

Be sure to check out interviews with several of the major honorees in this issue as well as our next two publications; and also check out the expanded coverage and photo galleries from this year’s 39^th Music Awards Celebration in our online edition at www.review-mag.com

And now, without further ado, we proudly present the winners of the 2025 39th Annual REVIEW Music Awards:

MISCELLANEOUS

Most Innovative Artist • Vlad’s Skeletal Circus

Best Solo Artist • Loren Kranz

Best Variety Band • Them Heels

Best Multi-Instrumentalist • Loren Kranz

Best New Single Release (TIE) • Just Wanna Be With You - ROKITA & Man I Am - ADABOY!

Best New Artist of the Year • Erik Ryden & the Unk of Funk

Best Alternative Band • Them Heels

Best Original Band • ADABOY!

Best Duo  • Melissa Curry & Michelle O’Neil

Best Recorded LP, CD or EP Release. • The Hellbound Drifters - (Self-Titled)

Best New Album or CD Release (TIE) • The Hellbound Drifters - Self Titled & Pumped!  - Them Heels 

Best Band Website • Hidingsalem.com

Best Music Video • Vlad’s Skeletal Circus - Better Off Dead

Best Live Performance Venue • White’s Bar

Best Streaming Musical Series • Michigan Music History Podcast

Best Musical Fundraising Project (TIE) • Band Roulette & Making Spirits Bright: Jennifer Naegele & Friends

Best Sound Technician • Carey Limberg

Best Radio Station • Z-93 • The Rock Station

Best Live Streaming Production •  PapaDoc Studios

Best Videographer • Mike Beattie

Best Recording Studio • PapaDoc Studios

Best Metal Band • Here After Six

ROCK AWARDS

Best Rock Band • ADABOY!

Best Rock Guitarist • Darrian Loehne

Best Rock Drummer • Steven Schnettler

Male Rock Vocalist (TIE) • Jeff Zimmerman (The Hipakritz) & Chris Rokita

Best Rock Bassist • James Marcet

Best Rock Songwriter • Val Hazel

Female Rock Vocalist • Shannon Schnettler

Best Rock Keyboardist • Stephanie Noel Howland

Best Rock Video • Vlad’s Skeletal Circus - Better Off Dead

RAP & HIP-HOP AWARDS

Rap/Hip-Hop Artist of the Year • Mike Spitz

Best DJ • Chris RedburnBest Performer • Mike Spitz

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Songwriter • Mike Spitz

Best Rap Hip/Hop Video (TIE) • Bonnie ‘n Clyde - Mike Spitz & In the End - REDBURN

COUNTRY AWARDS

Best Country Band • The Family Tradition Band

Best Country Songwriter • Tyler Hughey & Kevin Rousse

Country Female Vocalist • Laurie Middlebrook

Country Male Vocalist • Erik Ryden

Best Country Video • Tattoo Ain’t About You - Glenbrooke

Best Country Instrumentalist • Bob Hausler

JAZZ AWARDS

Best Jazz Instrumentalist • Loren Kranz

Best Jazz Songwriter • Bobby Balderamma

Best Small Combo • Lauren Rongo & the Calzones

Male Jazz Vocalist • Mike Brush

Female Jazz Vocalist • Julie Mulady

Best Big Band • 23 North

BLUES AWARDS

Male Blues Vocalist • Rhett Yocom

Best Blues Instrumentalist • Larry McCray

Best Blues Songwriter • Rhett Yocom

Best Blues Band • Rhett Yocom Blues Band

Best Funk Bank • Kush Robinson

Female Blues Vocalist • Sharrie Williams

Best Blues Video • Erik Ryden & the Unk of Funk - Driftin’ Live