By Jeff Maisey

We are pleased to announce the complete list of nominees for the 2026 Veer Music Awards.

The 757 region had an immensely diverse range of musical releases last year. 

In determining nominees, we looked primarily for bands and musicians who officially released a single, EP, album, or music video. Throughout 2025, we posted “Veer’s Top 10 This Week” on Spotify to highlight the constant supply of new tunes being released by Hampton Roads region recording artists.

We are often encouraged by some to keep nominations at 8-10 per category to make the awards “more exclusive.” Obviously, as you’ll read below, we do our best to be much MORE inclusive — 46 separate categories and over 250 nominees. 

This year we added a few new categories to be flexible and reflect trends driven by local bands. These include a category for animated or AI-driven music videos, holiday themed releases, and cover songs. 

We will present Lifetime Achievement Awards to legendary concert promoter/talent agent Rick Mersel and blues great Bobby Black Hat Walters, who recently was named the Blues Ambassador of the city of Newport News. 

Industry Awards will be presented to George “G-Man” Waters and Charles “Bat Man” Brown II. 

Voting will be open January 13 through January 26. ONE vote per IP address. Multiple votes from same IP address will be filtered out. NOTE: A write-in space will be provided for each category. 

Half of the overall tally will come from the readers/popular vote . The other half from Veer Magazine music writers. 

The 2026 Veer Music Awards ceremony will be presented at The NorVa on Monday, February 9 at 7 PM.  FREE admission for all. DoArt Productions will be onsite to take professional photos of award winners and other attendees. 

Many thanks to Rick Mersel and Drew Orton for asking to host this community event in celebration of our local music community. 

 

Song of the Year 

BJ Griffin, “So In Love”

Audiostrobelight, “Embers”

The Last Bison, “See You Again”

Chuck Black, “I Just Want To Know”

Those Without a Name, “Evil Ashley” 

Suburban Key Party, “The Wreckage”

Emerald Beach, “Strawberry Parfait” 

T-Rifik, “Yes We Can”

Louissa, “Groceries”

Snailz76, “Zame Time”

Celeste Kellogg, “Faith in Freedom”

Bennett Wales & the Relief, “Little Terrors”

Jenasis, “Genesis”

Exploding Sun, “Running on the Water”

Akeylah Simone, “Wahala”

Brian Grilli, “Wedding Song”

Roberta Lea, “Too Much of Me”

Daniel Rosenfarb, “Simple Life”

YSN Capo, “Reaching Out My Arms”

TA Gatling, “Rise”

Emily Fraser, “Backyard Getaway”

Troy Breslow, “Local Boy”

Step Pets, “Tether”

Ann Gray, “Something To Prove”

Anthony Rosano, “Before The War”

Shuntell Diverse, “Loving On You”

Mike & Amy Aiken, “Just Our Price to Pay”

Clementine, “Into the Sea”

Jim Bulleit, “Don’t Forget”

Secret Ingredients, “Here Comes Paul”

Hrvy Dent, “Your Momma Don’t Like Me”

Quicksilver Night, “Rocket Surgery” 

Otis Brooks, “How We Dream”

Raspy Soul, “Lil Yeah Yeah”

Lori Creek, “Starlit”

Broken Beaches, “Bye Bezos”

Shaolinn, “Witness Me”

Blvckhndz, “Food”

Jacob Vanko, “Where I Grew Up”

Rob Oliver, “Run in Circles” 

 

Song of the Year (Cover)

Roberta Lea, “Papa Was a Rolling Stone” 

The Fighting Jamesons, “The Broad Majestic Shannon”

Whoa featuring Midnight Rain, “I Knew You Were Trouble”

Lucky 757, “Blue Suede Shoes” 

Quicksilver Night, “Words”

Allen Hudson & The Halfmoons, “Manakin Moon”

The Dual Gravitons, “Waiting For My Man”

The Clue, “Wicked Game”

 

EP of the Year

The Last Bison, “Stronger”

Lavender Fire, “Roommates”

The Jason Cale Band, “Gator By The Tail”

Emerald Beach, “Homemade”

Bennett Wales & The Relief, “Forsythia”

Lori Creek, “Starlit”

Brian Grilli, “Love Songs?”

D*nik, “Empty vol.i”

Louissa, “The Vault”

The James Henry Morgan Gang, “II”

Wilk$, “Timeless”

Deep Creeker, “Deep Creeker”

Maxwell LeVan, “Dead Plants on the Porch”

Hindu Pez, “Behead the Fascists at Dawn” 

 

Album of the Year

Brian Grilli, “Great Big Sky”

BJ Griffin, “Elements”

Turncoat Syndicate, “Lost Weekend”

Suburban Key Party, “Broken Mirror”

Audiostrobelight, “An Energy Inside This Address”

Those Without a Name, “Let’s Pretend”

Broken Beaches, “Glue”

Octavia the Great, “still.collecting.data” 

Jim Bulleit, “Angels & Other Magical Creatures” 

Vivian Valentine, “Haus Kitty: House of Kitty Kouture” 

Akeylah Simone, “As Is I Black First” 

Pearloid, “Sugar In My Hand”

Twonesse, “The Thesis”

Bill Gaunce, “Bill Gaunce”

The Folly, “Pushing Ground”

ghostStar, “In Your Own Time”

Shower Cry, “For Those Who’ve Lost Everything They Love”

Turncoat Syndicate, “Lost Weekend”

Robbie Bradshaw, “This Town Has Secrets”

Maxwell LeVan, “Half Awake”

Fox and the Bear, “Feels Like Home”

 

Live Album of the Year 

Chloe Youtsey, Chris Brydge, John Toomey, “Live at The Roads Bistro”

Dion Langley featuring BKS Band, “Classified Live”

Dean Kohler & The Electric Banana, “Live in Vietnam 1967”

Community Witch, “Live at the National”

The Ben Phelps Project, “Live Sessions”

Kadence, “At Scandals Live 2025”

 

Music Video of the Year

BJ Griffin, “This Good?”

Luh Mar1, “I Gotta Problem”

The Revamps, “Fever”

Red Weather, “Fake Friends” 

Emily Fraser, “Backyard Getaway”

Chris Brydge/Tim Seibles, “Little Star Blues Villanelle”  

BLK HXXDIE, “Different”

Seven Cities Syndicate, “Solo Cup”  

Turncoat Syndicate “Charmed” 

Shuntell Diverse, “Loving On You”

Chuck Black, “Beef & Broccoli” 

Akeylah Simone, “Sun Goddess”

Por Vida, “The Gash”

Big Torrin, “The Meter Is High” 

Tookie Da Topic, “Clap For Me”

Reptile Tile, “Shopping Around”  

Dezzae, “Tonight”  

4 Conditions, “Ticket to Hide” 

Clementine, “Into The Sea”

Mgc payso featuring YSN CAPO, “INVY”

Spirit Gun, “Stand 4 Nothing” 

Aaron Firestone, “Taking My Time On”

Mr Fang and the Darktones, “I Want To Die” 

Snailz 76, “Bookbag”

Jenasis “Genesis”

BJ Griffin, “Are You Ready”

BJ Griffin, “So In Love”

BJ Griffin, “Star

Octavia The Great, “Cain and Abel” 

The Hookz, “Every Song (Screaming Out Your Name)”  

Ursus Maximus, “Eternal/Immortal”

Whoa! Featuring Midnight Rain, “I Knew You Were Trouble”

 

Animated/AI Music Video

Starving Artists, “Talking Bible”

Jarrett Beeler, “Mergers & Acquisitions” 

Quicksilver Night, “Words” 

Goldi, “Let Me In Remix”

Quicksilver Night, “The Galactic Edge”

Suburban Key Party, “Go Baby Go”

Peppos-Jones Band, “Gotta Do’s”

 

Holiday Release

Edolus: Released the song “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”

Shez Treble: Released the track “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”

Jennifer Gammill: Released the vinyl album “Silver & Gold” 

Good Shot Judy: Released the album “A Crooner’s Christmas Vol 1” 

Aniela Salinas: Released the song “Santa Baby” 

Roberta Lea: Released the single “Too Much of Me” featuring Kam Franklin

The JD3 Band: Released the track “A Blue Christmas For Me” 

Jennifer Gammill & Roberta Lea: Released the single “First Christmas With You”

Louissa: Released the the tune “The Christmas Song”

(rOw: Released the song “Wishlist”

Ashleigh Chevalier: Released the single “Mary, Did You Know?”

Mink & Cheef: Released the 9-song album “Drunken Christmas Volume 6”

Jerad Alan: Released the songs “Naughty List” and “The Grinch Sole My Eggnog”

Vernon Lee Holloman Jr: Released the album “Merry Christmas I Love You”

Jim Bulleit, “Not Another Christmas Song”

 

Hip Hop

TeezySoDope: Released the album “iAmTeezySoDope”

Snailz 76: Released the music video “Bookbag” and the album “The King James Version”

Octavia the Great: Released the album “still.collecting.data” and EP “7:54”

B Menace

Twonesse: Released the album “The Thesis” 

Chuck Black: Released the album “This Not Rap 3,” numerous singles and and several music videos  

Stu Money: Released the album “East Virginia 3” and “Coldest Summer Ever”

Tookie Da Topic: Released the album “Ladies Night In” 

Big Torrin: Released the music video “The Meter Is High” 

Ghetto Chris: Opened for Project Pat at The NorVa

Seven Cities Syndicate: Released the album “Arrivederci”

CYFFA Leyenda: Released the track “Hypnotizing” and album “Virginia vs The World”

Pound Wallace: Released the album “Unc Pound Mafia World Vol 1”

Edison Av & Sik Sense: Released the album “The Storms Have Eyes”

Jahl3el: Released the album “The Care Package” 

Junky Musik Babies Ent: Released several tracks including “Suffolk Thang”

Six Speed Nicky: “Only Child” received rotation on WNSB Hot 91 and he opened for Currensy in Richmond at Ember Hall. 

 

R&B

La’Nique: Released the song “Still I Rise”

Dezzae: Release 4 singles including “Flava” and “Tonight” 

Artel Carter: Released the singles “Summer” and “Beaches” 

Richard Perkins: Released the singles “Touch” and “Over The Edge”

T-Rifik: Released the tunes “Yes we Can” and “Got Me a Bag”

NVTION: Released the song “So Tired”

Wilk$: Released the EP “Timeless”

SHANN: Released the single “Rebab” and opened for Timbaland 

YSN Cap: Released the album “Gemini Cap Vol 3”

Raspy Soul: Release a retrospective album

Shuntell Diverse: Released the singles “Loving On You” and “Heal You”

Devecia Mack: Released the songs “Occupied” and “Summertime Fine”

FGE TAAE: Released the albums “Gifted Curse” and “Better Than Last Time”

Rachel Rocheleau: Released the tune “Gluuuuu” 

Chloe Youtsey: Released the song “You Are Enough”

 

Jazz

Chloe Youtsey, Chris Brydge, John Toomey: Released the album “Live at The Roads Bistro” 

Jae Sinnett: Performed as part of his curated Phoebus Jazz Festival

Chris Brydge/Tim Seibles: Released the music video “Little Star Blues Villanelle”

The Virginia Experiment: Headlined the 3rd Annual VA Genius Jazz Festival at The Annex

John Toomey: His trio served as the house band for the Attucks Jazz series

Jimmy Masters: Curated and performed as part of the Sandler Center jazz series

 

Smooth Jazz

Dion Langley: Released the album “Classified Live”

J Staton: Released the single “Just Like That”

Talton Manning: Released the EP “Push”

Matt Willard: Released the single “Oh Baby Baby” 

 

Gospel

Voices of Fire: Performed at the Vatican on Disney Channel and released the album “Ophanim”

Reformed: Released the album “No Not One”

Gifted Hands: Released the single “Father God”

CXDIE: Released the tracks “Landslide” and “New…Year”

 

Country

Brian Grilli: Released the album “Great Big Sky” and EP “Love Songs?”

Celeste Kellogg: Opened for The Band Perry and released 3 singles including “Faith in Freedom”

Roberta Lea: Released the songs “Too Much of Me” and “More Than Enough of a Man”

The Bill Miles Band: Released the tunes “Hired Gun” and “Souls For Sale”

Robbie Bradshaw: Released the album “This Town Has Stories”

Troy Breslow: Released the album “The First of My Kind”

Hrvy Dent: Released the album “Love Is For Losers”

Patrick Luley: Released the tunes “My Darkest Night” and “Once in a Lifetime Love”

Aniela Salinas: Released the singles “Be My Angel” and “Denver”

 

Experimental/Electronic

Nested For Rest: Released the album “Chronicle”

Roger Spacebucks: Released the songs “Dreamers” and “Berlin”

Blvckhndz: Released the album “50 Shades of Rage” and the single “Firmware Fetish”

Reptile Tile: Released the track “Shopping Around”

Hindu Pez: Released the album “The Treme Sessions” and track “Behead the Fascists at Dawn”

Jon Schuemaker: Released a variety of albums, EPs and single including “Andromeda”

Spiral Static: Released the electronic goth track “Liberation”

Killerboots Collective: Released the EP “The Jameson Session”

 

Dance

TIARA & His Precious Gems: Released the songs “Easy On The Eyes” and “Best Friends”

Vivian Valentine: Released the album “Haus Kitty: House of Kitty Kouture”

Jenasis: Released the singles “Soul Beat,” “Genesis” and “Hanging On”

Apollo: Released the album “Exodus:XDS” featuring the songs “Freedom” and “Power”

  

Ambient/Soundtrack

Stephen Peppos: Released “Serenity” on Bandcamp

Otis Brooks: Released the soundtrack to “Pride & Prejudice & Dragons”

Ryan Farish: Released the album “Under The Stars”

 

Pop

Louissa: Released the EP “The Vault” and the single “Groceries”

BJ Griffin: Released the album “Elements,” 4 music videos, and headline The NorVa

Emily Fraser: Released the music vid and song “Backyard Getaway”

Otis Brooks: Released the track “How We Dream”

Ann Gray: Released the tune “Something To Prove” and “Acid Trip”

Shaolinn: Released the song “Witness Me”

Akeylah Simone: Released the album “As Is: Black First” and single “Wahala”

Goldi: Released an Afrobeat version remix of “Let Me In”

Jennifer Gammill: Released the single “Dancer’s Dream”

Sunny Moonshine: Released the song “Fireflies”

Shez Treble: Released the song “(I Want This) Forever”

Daniel Rodenfarb: Released the songs “Simple Life,” “Thunder and the Rain,” and “The Storm”

Tyler Donavan: Released the single “Only You”

Shormey: Released the songs “Aeroplane” and “Lover Girl Is Waiting For Your Call”

Clementine: Released a trio of songs including “Into The sea” and “Sell By Date”

Erica Payne: Released the singles “Back Outside,” “Crushed Crush,” and “Sold Out My Heart”

LDG: Released 4 singles including “Can’t Let Go”

Mrs Leakeye: Released the tracks “Our Boys” and “Hold On”

Lavender Fire: Released the album “From Shadows to Light” and EPs “Roommates” and “She’s My Ocean”

Times New Roman: Released the tracks “Bad Omens,” “Party Pleasers,” and “No Hard Feelings”

 

Indie Pop

Shower Cry: Released the album “For Those Who’ve Lost Everything They Love”

Emerald Beach: Released the EP “Homemade”

The Last Bison: Released the EP “Stronger” and headlined The Annex

Broken Beaches: Released the album “Glue”

Berries: Released the song “Get That High”

Step Pets: Released the single “Tethers”

The Dharma Initiative: Released the song “Me and You”

ghostStar: Released the album “In Your Own Time” and single “Danton”

Rickshaw Derby: Released the songs “The Driver” and “The Treehouse and An Oboe”

Pearloid: Released the album “Sugar In My Hand”

Coffee Resin: Released the album “Dirty Bath Water”

Maxwell LeVan: Released the album “Half Awake” and EP “Dead Plants on the Porch”

Hippie Love Party: Release the demo version of “Fish”

LetteRDead: Released the single “Running From the Sun”

The Lazy Dangers: Released the song “Glowing”

Wyatt Baldwin: Released the single “Love Is a Casino”

Tim the Wzrd: Released the tune “I Wanna Go to the Moon (With You)”

Connor Kingston: Released the EP “Threw Me In”

 

Punk/Garage

False Cape: Released the EP “Tears On My Blunt”

Community Witch: Released the albums “Glass Chrysalis” and “Live at The National”

RHDP: Released the album “KASKASERÖ” on Beach Impediment Records

The Dual Gravitons: Released the songs “Streets of Trondheim” and “Because I Wanna”

ALPHA: Released the album “Fly” 

High Ideals: Released its 6-song self-titled debut on NYE.

Spikepit: Released the album “Peacewalker” on cassette and Bandcamp

 

Rockabilly/Retro

Katie and Billy Daniel: Released the single “The Drawing Board”

Mr Fang & the Dark Tones: Released the album “Fast Track to Hell”

Lucky 757: Released the album “Hey Baby”

The Futuros: Released a trio of songs including “Baby Got Her Wig On”

The Moats Dogs: Released the song “Patch The Boat Up”

 

Metal

Magg Dylan: Released the single “Split”

Cannabis Crypt: Released the album “Vile Breed”

Death Harvest: Released the EP “Pale Rider”

Ursus Maximus: Released the single and music video “Eternal/Immortal”

Deconflixion: Released the singles “Chiral Symmetry” and “Awaken”

Frakture: Released the album “Worms No My Name”

Por Vida: Released the songs “The Gash” and “Milk”

Croatan: Released the single “Lay All Your Love On Me”

Roccaforte: Released the singles “TWO” and “A Man With No Face” 

Edolus: Released the EP “Fate”

Yeet Cleaver: Released the EP “Neanderthal Gods”

Divided: Released the singles “Quarantine” and “Called Out”

 

Alternative Rock

Knives Down: Released the song “Call U Back”

Jared Farrell: Released the song “The Great Divide”

Turncoat Syndicate: Released the album “Lost Weekend”

Those Without a Name: Released the Cure-eque album “Let’s Pretend”

Audiostrobelight: Released the album “An Energy Inside This Address”

Suburban Key Party: Released the album “Broken Mirrors”

Lori Creek: Released the EP “Starlit”

Torn By Fate: Release numerous singles including “Black Crown” and “Unbreakable”

Jarrett Beeler: Released the album “Sleep It Off”

Madd Francis: Released the songs “Finger Slug, “Who Am I Kidding?,” and “Kick It Up”

Half Past Dead: Released the album “Sugar, Lies & Denial”

Deep Creeker: Released a self-titled 5-song EP

Arms Bizarre: Released the songs “Cult of Self” and “Sanctuary”

Starving Artists: Released the reworked “Talking Bible”

 

Rock

Daniel Clark: Released the single “That Georgia Girl”

LeSabre: Released the album “LeAlbum”

TA Gatling: Released the singles “Rise” and “Muddy Waters”

Superfang: Released the album “Tidal”

Exploding Sun: Released the singles “Running on the Water” and “Here By My Side”

Bennett Wales & the Relief: Released the EP “Forsythia”

T.S.A.F: Released the song “Love On a Wire”

John Michael: Released the single “Sorry”

A Man To Cook For: Released the song “The Door”

The Ramblers: Released a self-titled album

 

Classic Rock

The Folly: Released the album “Pushing Ground”

Secret Ingredients: Released the album “Houston, We Have a Party”

Mike & Amy Aiken: Released the track “Just Our Price To Pay”

Anthony Rosano: Released the song “Before The War”

The Annie Johnson Band: Released the song “By The River”

Joel English: Released the album “Omnia Polaris”

Shannon & The Reunion: Released the song/video “California”

Dean Kohler: Released the albums “The MCA Demos” and “Live in Vietnam 1967”

Jim Bulliet: Released the album “Angels & Other Magical Creatures”

Peppos-Jones Band: Released the album “Life Notes,” and single, and music video “Gotta Dos” 

Richard Spano: Released the song “Outsider”

Donnie Kepley: Released the songs “Hiding Inside” and “Aimless Blues” on Soundcloud 

Band of Consenting Adults: Released the EP “Ordinary Things: The Dwigt Files”

Jerad Alan: Released the track “One Screw Loose Too Many”

The Clue: Released the album “Buckroe Nights”

Vernon Lee Holloman Jr: Released 4 albums including “The Road” and “The Journey” 

Cowboy Pirate Mafia: Released the songs “Bottom of a Bottle” and “Shake What Ya Mama Gave Ya”

 

Blues

Bluzhammer: Released the song “I’m Tired” 

Tina Micula: Released the songs “Supershero” and “Love Note”

The Jason Cale Band: Released the EP “Gator By The Tail”

Paul Urban: Released the song and music video “Southside Boogie”

No Agenda: Released the 4-song EP, “Hardly Know Her”

The JD3 Band: Released the tunes “Rumor Has It” and “’65”

Rob Oliver: Released the tune “Run in Circles”

The James Henry Morgan Gang: Released the EP “II”

Bobby Black Hat Walters: Released the song “America, No Kings” and sold out CNU’s Ferguson Center as the headliner

 

Folk/Acoustic

Jim Masters: Released the album “Red Sky”

Dan Pellegrino: Released the songs “Yours and Mine” and “Amen”

Storyweavers: Received airplay on WHRV with “Dark Days”

John Baldwin: Released the album “Songteller”

(rOw: Released the songs “Caravan Babe” and “Diamond in the Rough”

Jacob Vanko: Released the song “Where I Grew Up”

Kadence: Released the album “Soar Beyond Farther Than You Know”

Dan Nash: Released the song “Snow in April”

Ben Phelps: Released the album “Songwriter V.II”

Fox and The Bear: Released the album “Feels Like Home”

The Hookz: Released the song “Every Song (Screaming Out Your Name)”

Stella Haile: Released 3 singles including “Tooth Fairy’s Daughter”

Forest Flynn: Released the songs “Thrills” and “Different One”

Timothy Jernigan: Released the album “Welcome to Franklin”

Yes Now Is: Released a live version of the song “Is It You” on Bandcamp

Ashleigh Chevalier: Released the songs “Cheap Wine & Your Tattoos” and “Fly”

Brian Gray: Released the song “I Found You”

Teddy Krol: Released 3 singles including “Summertime”

Aaron Firestone: Released a series of singles including “Giant Cup of Coffee”

 

Jam/Psychedelic/Reggae

The Bread Collectors: Released the song “Blended and Sifted” 

Clay Benjack: Released the singles “Separate” and “Melt”

One Culture: Released the songs “The Road,” “Patience” and “Steady Movin’”

Ganjacat: Released the songs “Firefly” and “Mirrors” 

 

World Music

Tidewater Pipes & Drums: Performed at the Virginia International Tattoo

Amalita: Released the album El Cuento del Higo y de la Avispa” 

Siren City Pipe Band: Won 1st Place at Chicago Festival & Highland Games

The Dunkirk Riots: Released the Irish traditional-meets-rock songs “Digging For Gold” and “The Answer”

 

Live Band

Community Witch: Opened for Johnny Marr at The NorVa

Bobby Black Hat Walters: Headlined a sold-out concert at CNU’s Ferguson Center

BJ Griffin: Headlined The NorVa

The Last Bison: Headlined The Annex

Thee Nux Trio: Opened for Nita Strauss at Elevation 27

Cultivated Mind: Opened for Steel Pulse and played Point Break Festival

B Michelle – Opened for Kool & The Gang at Portsmouth Pavilion

Celeste Kellogg: Opened for The Band Perry

Mean Jesus: Opened for Suicidal Tendencies at The NorVa 

The Chong Band: Opened for Remain in Light

Por Vida: Opened for Nita Strauss at Elevation 27

The Fuzz Band: Headlined Pulse Music & Arts Festival 

Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos: Opened for Samantha Fish in Baltimore

 

Cover Band

Snackbar Jones

5Starr

The Band Monarch

Airliner 

JD Silvia’s Blues Machine

Wonderland

Grooveline 757 Band

Woodwork

Better By Tuesday

Krunch

Runnin’ Shine

Seamless Band

Relix

Michael Clark Band

Brasswind

Rocky 7

Four Letter Words

Shotgun Hunter

EverAfter

PB&J

Foxglove

Everybody Loves Tequila

Vince Kornegay Band

Free For All 

Intangible Cats

Strictly Bizzness

Lil Moe Rock

The Steals

Band-It

Plastic Eddie

Hotcakes

Almost Famous 4Ever

Moaning Lisas

The Janitors

Dave Johnson & The Truth

The Band Vontrelle

The Connection

 

Cover Solo/Duo

Bryan Dunn

Dave Johnson

Seamless Duo

Skip Friel

Grant Austin Taylor

Bennett Walker Wales

Micah Spruill

Split Peace Soup

Mike Doyle & Brent Shepard

Zack Salsberry

Mike Gombas Jr

Fixity

Mike Proffitt

Beth Turner

Red Stapler Duo

Karl Werne

Runnin’ Shine Duo

Lewis McGehee

Derek Smith

Nate Sacks

Joe Heilman

Aaron Fulcher

Glasgow Kiss

 

Tribute/Themed Band

Lawn Boys (Phish)

Nature’s Child (reggae)

United Souls (reggae)

Grateful Jed (Grateful Dead)

Midnight Rain (Taylor Swift)

Wilder Horses (The Rolling Stones)

Last Fair Deal (The Grateful Dead)

Champagne Band (Classic R&B)

The Deloreans (1980s)

WOAH! 90s (1990s)

Good Shot Judy (Big Band era)

Beach Floyd (Pink Floyd)

Barry Manilow’s Wardrobe (1980s)

Radio 80s

 

Open Mic Night

Poppa’s Pub

Warrior’s Taphouse

Redbone’s Raw Bar

Winston’s Cafe

Abbey Road

Victorian Station/Big Pink

Hilton Tavern

Stuft 

Jerry’s of Indian River

Fuzzy Wednesdays @ The Rhythm Room

Aloft Nights w/Emily Fraser & Alex Best

Elation Brewing

The Roads Bistro

Froggies

Marker 20

Elliott’s Fairgrounds

Cowboy Cactus

Voodoo Brewing Williamsburg

HK On The Bay

MoMac Brewing

Woody’s Western Branch

 

Classical Music Performance (Local soloists)

Christopher Kypros: The pianist performed a live original score to accompany the silent film “The General” at the Naro Expanded Cinema.  

Rebecca Gilmore: Released two Vivaldi Double Cello Concertos

Stephen Coxe & Friends: Performed at Christ & St Luke’s Church 

Alexis Colner: The harpist led the Virginia Symphony Orchestra in performance of Higdon’s Harp Concerto 

Tidewater Classical Guitar Orchestra: Performed a concert of re-imagined Beatles songs

The Invencia Piano Duo: Andrei Kasparov and Okasana Lutsyshyn performed a program of works honoring French composer Gabriel Fauré  

 

Live Music Venue (Bar/Bands)

The Cardinal VB

The Rhythm Room

Scandals

The Barrel II

Old Beach Tavern

Riffhouse Pub 

Chicho’s Backstage

Wing King Kempsville

Froggies

Stuft

Baja Cantina 

The Silos

Jerry’s of Indian River

Taphouse Grill

Woody’s Raw Bar

South Beach Grill

 

Live Music Venue (Listening Room)

Abbey Road

Victorian Station

Hilton Tavern 

The Roads Bistro

Baron’s Pub 

Grace O’Malley’s Irish Pub

Cafe Stella

Noir A Simply Panache Lounge 

Murphy’s Irish Pub

Varia

Cafe Stella

 

Live Music Venue (Brewery)

Elation Brewing

St George Brewing Company

New Realm Brewing Company 

The Vanguard Brewpub

Big Ugly Brewing

Tradition Brewing

Billsburg Brewing

Smartmouth Pilot House

Chef’s Food Hall

MoMac Brewing

Commonwealth Brewing

The Virginia Beer Company

Afterglow Brewing

The Bunker by Young Veterans

Voodoo Brewing VB 

Voodoo Brewing Williamsburg

 

Live Music Series (Indoors)

Acoustic Carnival @ Baron’s Pub 

Live From the Music Room @ Hermitage 

Unity Gain: Live Electronic Music

Out of the Box Series @ Sandler Center

Songwriters in the Round @ Victorian Station 

Songbird Sessions @ Aloft Hotel

Towne Bank Jazz Series @ Sandler Center

Songwriter Night at MoMac

Mixtape First Thursdays at Chrysler Museum

 

Live Music Series (Outdoors)

Sunsets on the River @ Hermitage Museum

YNOT Wednesdays @ Sandler Center

New Realm Brewing Co Summer Music Series 

Suffolk TGIF Summer Concert Series

New Town Tunes After Hours Concert Series

Sunset Thursdays @ Atlantic Union Bank Pavilion

Big Bands on the Bay

Live on the Lawn @ Taste

Summer Concert Series @ Port Warwick

Summerfest 2025 at VB Town Center

Yorktown Sounds of Summer Series

Summer Fun at OV

Symphony By The Sea Series 

 

Music Event (featuring local bands)

Wildflower Music & Arts Festival

Umoja Festival

High Street Fest

Jazz Vocal Summit @ The Z

Mosaic Festival

Porchella 2025

Virginia Deathfest 

LAVA Halloween Extravaganza

ViBe Check

Pulse Music & Arts Festival

Fair Trade Festival

An Occasion for the Arts (Williamsburg)

Musicians & Arts Festival

norFOLK Festival

Proteus Festival

Bobby Black Hat’s 70th Birthday Bash

Yes Fest

10th Annual ViBe Block Party

Good Shot Judy Crooner Christmas

Harborfest

Neptune Festival

Stockley Gardens Arts Festival

2025 New Cabin Fever Pickin’ Party

 

Live Sound Tech

Brian Boozer Jahboo 

Shannon Leggette

Daniel Aguiar

Rome Gehrig

Faraji Jackson 

Jim Palacio

Ian Janes 

Erwin Farrow

Amory Langley

BarKim

Carter White

DK Kudlz

Bernard Eze 

Jack Gallagher

Richard Spano

Tim Connelly

Thomas Morgan

Michael “Rocky” Graziano

Brian Lumpkin

John Carney

 

Live Lighting Tech

Robert Bbc Loya

JaVy Loplex

Daniel Aguiar

Jedd General

William Scott Grinels

Eden Florence Guill

Delk Gizzmo

Corey Schmidt

BarKim

Jim Palacio

Rome Gehrig

Matthew Cockrill 

Faraji Jackson

Todd Cooke 

 

Photography — Live

Robbie Bruner, “Clover Stokes of The Band Monarch” 

Ryan Del Rosario, “Mean Jesus”

Robert Peck, “Anthony Rosano”

Katie Culver, “Sheezer at LAVA Halloween”

Aria Maisey, “Gabe Niles as James Brown”

Daniel Simmons, “Spikepit at the Taphouse”

Kimberly Granger, “Edward Williams of The Jason Cale Band” 

John Quincy Whelan, “Jason Cale”

Jada Holliday, “Bobby BlackHat and Akeylah Simone” 

Pete Federico, “Clover Stokes of The Band Monarch”

George Everett, “Sherri Linn”

Jacob Adcock, “Otis Brooks” 

Michael Iwanoski, “Celeste Kellogg”

Sylvia Mack, “The Band Monarch”

George Marsh, “Woah! Diego & Hootie” 

Sean Burn, “Woah!”

Brian Talley, “Jim Lambie of Brasswind at Oozlefinch”

 

Photography — Posed 

Cathy Hopkins, “Thru with Therapy”

Will Clarke, “Emerald Beach”

Katie Culver, “Community Witch Alternative Album Cover”

Corijona Forlines, “Turncoat Syndicate”

Peter Slavov, “Tiara & His Precious Gemstones” 

Patricia Tsitera, “Nested For Rest”

Diego Duarte Gomes, “Codey Lee James Trio”

Robert Peck, “The Band Monarch”

Robbie Bruner, “Your Favorite Band’s Favorite Bands”

Brenda Luley, “Partick Luley”

Jim DeAngio, “The Ramblers”

 

Music Instrument Retailer 

Winter Sound

Music Go Round  

Alpha Music

Russell’s Music World

AL&M 

Guitar Center

Olde Towne Arts & Music