Winners of the 39th Annual REVIEW Music Awards

On Sunday, May 4th,  history was once again made 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 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 votes cast during both the nomination and final voting rounds, a total of 754 musicians & groups from the region were nominated  by the general public, with the top five nominees in each division moving to a final round of voting and the winners honored at this special annual celebration.

We'll have a complete overview of the evening's festivities along with profile features about top winners in the various divisions, along with tons of cool photos in our 39th REVIEW Music Awards Special Edition that will be published on May 21st, but for now here's a breakdown on all the top honorees.

MISCELLANEOUS AWARDS

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) • Man I Am - ADABOY!  and Just Wanna Be With You - ROKITA

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 Releae (TIE) • The Hellbound Drifters - The Hellbound Drifters and 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 and 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 Guitarist • Darrian Loehne (Cowboy Angels)

Best Rock Band • ADABOY!

Best Rock Drummer • Steven Schnettler

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

Best Rock Bassist • James Marcet (Them Heels)

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 Redburn

Best Performer • Mike Spitz

Best Rap/Hip-Hop Songwriter • Mike Spitz

Best Rap Hip/Hop Video (TIE) • Bonnie ‘n Clyde - Mike Spitz and 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

Male Jazz Vocalist • Mike Brush

Female Jazz Vocalist • Julie Mulady

Best Small Combo • Lauren Rongo & the Calzones

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