All of us at  The REVIEW  are extremely pleased and excited to announce that this year’s 37th Annual REVIEW Music Awards Ceremony & Celebration will be returning to Bay City and will be held within the historic spacious splendor of The Westown Theater on Sunday, April 30th. Doors will open at 4:00 PM and the Awards Celebration will run from 5:00 PM until approximately 11:30 PM.

Invitations for this year’s awards celebration will be going out to nominees on March 17th  and tickets will be go on sale March 16th and can be purchased online at Eventbrite.com by clicking this link. 

This annual celebration has evolved over nearly four decades into one of our region’s most significant entertainment extravaganzas of the year in which we celebrate and gather to honor the expansive range of musical artistry populating the Great Lakes Bay Region with their creativity and talent.

Since its inception, the Review Music Awards has grown in both stature and recognition throughout the state of Michigan, presenting an exceptional evening where we turn the spotlight on our area’s top musical artists in genres of Jazz, Blues, Rock, Country, Hip-Hop and Alternative music as determined by readers and fans throughout the region.

The nomination and voting for this year’s 2023 Music Awards Celebration was conducted between the months of February & March and this year we had an unprecedented number of 5,540 people voting with a total of 1,133 artists & bands represented. Only the top five nominees in each division moved on from the nomination round to the final round, where the winners will be announced at this year’s awards celebration.

Tickets are only $20.00 in advance and $25.00 at the door. You may also purchase a table of 6 tickets for only $90.00 and receive a 25% discount over purchasing them on an individual basis.  Tickets are available at the following fine locations: SAGINAW: Review Magazine • White’s Bar • Records & Tapes Galore • Cork & Ale • The Listening Room • Hamilton St. Pub • Old Town Junction. BAY CITY: The Westown & Lucky’s • Electric Kitsch • Herter Music • Puff Dispensary • Voodoo Tattoo. MIDLAND: Radio Wasteland • MI Element • Tim Boychuck’s State Farm Insurance.

In addition to local personalities and guest presenters handing out trophies to musicians & bands in 58 different categories, we will feature an incredible line-up of musical performances by Lori & the Darlings, The Voortex Jazz & Blues Band, last year’s award-winning alternative band Winaschnitzel, indie-jam band. Kush Robinson, singer-songwriter Michelle O’Neil & Friends, nu-rockers Loud Thoughts, and a one-time collaboration featuring award winning guitarists and vocalists Matt Besey & Aaron Johnson, keyboardist Stephanie Noel, along with special guest artists!

Here are the nominees that made it to the Final Round of voting.  The total number of musicians or bands nominated in each division is notated at the top before listing the names of those artists who made it to the ‘Top Five’ in the final voting round. If you see more than five names that means there was a tie for the 5th place position.

Congratulations to all the nominees and look for more details and a full itinerary and schedule of the evening’s festivities in our April 6th edition of The REVIEW!

MISCELLANEOUS

Best Streaming Musical Series • Nominees : 10

Pickin’ In The Kitchen with Dean & Tyler Hughey

Michigan Music History Podcast

Kris Pride

Carrie Westbay Live

Eastside Mike Monday's

Best Metal Band • Nominees : 12

Shadow People

Legend Scroll

Electric Machete

Undone Youth

Henry

Best Musical Fundraising Project • Nominees : 12

Band Roulette

Friday Night Live Summer Series

Saginaw On Stage

Up in Smoke - Champion Music

"Party at the Pavilion" Presented by TwinTerror

William Federspiel Tribute Shows

Best Recording Studio • Nominees : 14

Andy Reed / Reed Recording Co

Musik Maschine

Fire Hyena Studio

Harvest Canteen

Indie Spot

Best Band Website • Nominees : 14

Pesky Kid

REDBURN

Hiding Salem

MikeSpitzOfficial.com

www.scottbakermusic.com

Best Live Streaming Production • Nominees : 14

Mid Michigan Music Podcast

Pickin’ in the Kitchen with Dean and Tyler Hughey

Mid Michigan Sound Operative (Delta College)

Lightnin' Licks Radio podcast

Carrie Westbay

Kris Pride

Best Radio Station • Nominees : 14

WKQZ • Z93

Delta College Public Radio

97.3 Joe FM

106.3 • The Core

98.1 FM KCQ

Best Live Performance Venue • Nominees : 16

The Vault

Bemo's Bar

Whites Bar

The Hamilton Street Pub

Willew Lounge

Best Videographer • Nominees : 18

Amelia Jo

BayCityMiLove

Lisa Goulette

Creatavid

Kari Pride-Helm

Best New Album or CD Release • Nominees : 18

Shadow People

REDBURN- Through the Flesh

Lori and The Darlings - Gratitude Side B

Winaschnitzel - Extended Stay

Michelle ONeil  - Happiness is Real

Best Live Music Club or Bar • Nominees : 19

Bemo's Bar

White's Bar

The Vault

Scotty's Sandbar

Willew Lounge

Best Sound Technician • Nominees : 20

Carey Limberg

Level 47 Productions

John Lacrosse (Juan)

Tim Reed

Dicky Post

Best Music Video • Nominees : 21

REDBURN - Hell No

Lori and The Darlings - Lucky

Mike Spitz - Long Day

Just Write the Book - Matt de Heus

Larry McCray - Arkansas

Best Alternative Band • Nominees : 23

ADABOY!

Citrus Orange

Winaschnitzel

Twenty Dollar Dog

REDBURN

Best New Artist of the Year • Nominees : 25

Lori and the Darlings

Pesky Kid

Twenty Dollar Dog

Michelle O’Neil

Dion Mason

The Midnight Hours

Best New Single Release • Nominees : 30

REDBURN - Hell No

Pesky Kid - Daily Baptism

Lori and The Darlings - Lucky

Voices Run - ADABOY!

Just Write the Book - Matt de Heus

Best Duo • Nominees : 32

Jeff Yantz and James Nelson

The Rupple Brothers

Melissa May and Brian Coonan

Stephanie Noel and Matt Besey

Chris Redburn and StevieLee Kinzer

Best Variety Band • Nominees : 34

Kalysta

REDBURN

Soul Xpress Band

Lori and the Darlings

Road Dawgz

Most Innovative Artist • Nominees : 35

Pesky Kid

ADABOY!

Chris Redburn

Mike Spitz

Matthew de Heus

Vladimir VanNilsson

Best Original Band • Nominees : 35

REDBURN

Adaboy!

Lori and The Darlings

Marsupial Creampie

Mike Spitz

Best Multi-Instrumentalist • Nominees : 36

Joe Balbaugh

Andy Dalton

Jaron Jock

Loren Kranz

Tyler Hughey

Kris Pride

Best Solo Artist • Nominees : 38

Pesky Kid

Mike Spitz

Joe Balbaugh

Kalysta

Michelle O’Neil

ROCK

Best Rock Video • Nominees : 12

REDBURN - Hell No

Lori and the Darlings - "Lucky"

Bring Your Best - 10 Years

Shallow - Kris Pride & Sandra Bullet

Second Chance Band - “Sandman”

Rock Female Vocalist • Nominees : 23

Shannon Schnettler

Lori Keisler

Melissa May

Kalysta

Sarah Hyde

Rock Keyboardist • Nominees : 25

Jaron Jock

Tim Cary

Dion Mason

Anthony Lee

Loren Kranz

Best Rock Songwriter • Nominees : 33

City Limits

Mike Spitz

REDBURN

ADABOY!

Melissa May

Rock Bassist • Nominees : 36

Joe Balbaugh

Zander Regent

Mark Krawczak

Austin Willette

Sean Drysdale

Derrick Fisher

Bruce Lefrance

Rock Drummer • Nominees : 38

Nathan Seifferly

Conner Ingalls

Garrett Rockwell

Eric D'Aigle

Scott “The Animal” Spencer

Rock Male Vocalist • Nominees : 41

Clayton Singer

William Hystad

Royce Beemer

Conor Larkin

Thomas Prosser

Best Rock Band • Nominees : 41

The Euclid Motel

The Midnight Hours

REDBURN

Six Pack Crush

City Limits

Rock Guitarist • Nominees : 45

Darrian Loehne

Jared Govitz

Yancer Lashawn

Nate Griffin

Mark Genigeski

RAP & HIP-HOP

Best Rap/Hip Hop Video • Nominees : 10

Hell No

Mike Spitz

M-20 "Self Betrayed"

Kofi Kingston - Marsupial Creampie

"Angels" TwinTerror & J-Dro

Best DJ • Nominees : 14

Chris Redburn

BIZZLE O

Erik Lytikainen

DJ KIT

Ryan Rousseau

Rap/Hip Hop Artist of the Year • Nominees : 14

Mike Spitz

Chris Redburn

Kyng Laine

M-20

Andy Hahn - Marsupial Creampie

Best Rap/Hip Hop Songwriter • Nominees : 16

Chris Redburn

Mike Spitz

Kyng Laine

M-20

Amelia Jo

Best Performer • Nominees : 17

Mike Spitz

Chris Redburn

Kyng Laine

Erik Lytikainen

Andy Hahn

COUNTRY

Best Country Video • Nominees : 4

The Family Tradition Band

Lori and The Darlings  Lucky

We Don’t Need No Corporations, Do We?  by Dada Veda & Kris Pride

Nashville Rain - Joe Kidd & Sheila Burke

Best Country Band • Nominees : 18

Michele Spitz Band

Rebel Line

Family Tradition

ADABOY!

Jasper Creek

Country Female Vocalist • Nominees : 18

Michele Spitz

Mandi Layne

Lori Keisler

Laurie Middlebrook

Amanda Kari

Kris Pride

Country Songwriter • Nominees : 20

Joe Balbaugh - ADABOY!

Matthew de Heus

Todd Michael

Lori Keisler

Randy Badour

Steve Armstrong

Country Male Vocalist • Nominees : 20

Randy Badour

Tyler Hughey

Steve Armstrong

Michael Richards - Adaboy!

Todd Michael

Best Country Musician (Instrumentalist) • Nominees : 22

Tyler Hughey

Jon Potrykus

Randy Badour

Pete Johnson

Barry Clevenger

Greg Kevorkian

Cody Stewart

JAZZ

Jazz Songwriter • Nominees : 3

Lori Keisler

Robert Lee Balderrama

Timothy Jay Ross

Best Big Band • Nominees : 8

Voortex Jazz and Blues Band

The Matt Besey Band

The Saginaw Eddy Band

Soul XPress Band

Best Small Combo • Nominees : 10

Voortex Jazz and Blues Band

Flavor Tooth

The Songbirds

Mike Brush Combo

Last One Out

Female Jazz Vocalist • Nominees : 11

Kalysta

Chelsea Mae Wietfeldt

Lori Keisler

Monique Ella Rose

Kris Pride

Best Male Jazz Vocalist • Nominees : 13

Matthew de Heus

Jeff Grainger

Chuck Edwards

Robert Lee Balderrama

Jeff Scott

Mike Brush

Best Jazz Musician  • Nominees : 19

Steve Nyquist

Mark VanVoorhees

Sean Drysdale

Mike Brush

Robert Lee Balderrama

Kristine Goodwin

BLUES

Best Blues Video • Nominees : 4

Lori and the Darlings - "Lucky"

Kris Pride

The Ransom

MrBTee1 Video Series

Best Blues Band • Nominees : 11

Papa Kiszka and the Voortex

Lori and The Darlings

The Rhett Yocum Blues Band

Lady Love

Crazy Chestur

Best Funk Band • Nominees : 12

Marsupial Creampie

We, The Infamous

The Soul XPress Band

Soul X-Press

Count-n-Change

Female Blues Vocalist • Nominees : 16

Lori Keisler

Kalysta

Melissa (Mel) Curry

Lady Love

Monique Ella Rose

Male Blues Vocalist • Nominees : 18

Papa Kiszka

Rhett Yocom

Andy Hahn

Mick Furlo

William Hystad

Blues Instrumentalist • Nominees : 18

Papa Kiszka

Rhett Yocom

Roger Marchbanks

Andrew Thompson

Matt Besey

Blues Songwriter • Nominees : 20

Rhett Yocom

Lori Keisler

Larry McCray

Michelle O’Neil

Mick Furlo

Clayton Cipolletti