Tuesday, March 7, 2023

9th Lexi Music Awards: "...and the winner is..." & Wrap-Up

CONGRATULATIONS, ALL!

"We don't compete with each other - we complete each other." - Jonathan Goodwin (Goodwin Brothers)

Photos/Videos - I will edit this to include links to photos & videos of the event, so check back periodically. But we can sure start with the video of The Wallace Sister's performance!

EDIT: See photos at the official FB group HERE and videos are at the playlist HERE....and check photo link again as we're up-loading photos today and tomorrow.

Apology - As stated in my brief at the beginning of the show, I dropped the ball and didn't leave proper correction time...which mattered as soon as 50k homes and hundreds of businesses were suddenly without power following the Friday storm.

That we had major issues with the program and several plaques is NOT the fault of printer or plaque shop. They were dealing with hardships of their own, and I didn't factor in adequate space for redirection. I will do better next year. My apologies to everyone whose name was butchered or left off...like Austin Jones of Burgandy Box Studio being omitted and Miles Osland suffering the insult of 3 different misspellings of his name, and the like. The proper list of nominees is found HERE.

That said...it was an amazing show AND amazing after-party!

The Team - My undying gratitude to Bill Meck and Dave Medley of WLEX TV-18, the entire staff & crew of the Lyric Theatre, Linda & Roy at Highbridge Springs, Sheila at Ale-8-One, Ginny at Botany Bay, Molly & Richard & the entire staff at Goodwood, and Teri, Michael, & Neil at Three Chord Bourbon, as well as our anonymous private sponsor!

In addition, a monster thanx & huge hugs to Edd MacKey & The Lexington Fashion Collaborative (& Keegan for stepping up to the plate under pressure), my partner-in-crime Angelee Feltner for managing performance flow, Max Corona for organizing our presenters,Teresa for being ready for anything, Jay Hamon for video, Damien McLean for photography, Joshua McLean for this year's event poster...and to Rachel & Eric at Lexenomincs!

And as always, to everyone who voted, organized others to vote, wrote in suggestions, helped track down contact information, & more....with extra nod to Donald Mason and Dane Sadler, who for several years have led the charge to award Les McCann the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Performances - Our house band Mojo Tones kicked 15 minutes of pre-show music to set the mood and then the lights dropped for the beginning of the event. The Wallace Sisters opened with the national anthem and then Bill Meck brought them back up for a second song, their stellar cover of the classic "Killing Me Softly".

Devine Carama & JK-47 set the house on fire and reminded us all that hip-hop turns 50 this year! The Lexi-Fest "Unplugged Battle" champions Trippin Roots stepped up with their full electric band and were just as incredible, and the Mojo Tones had everyone dancing on the way out at night's end!

Award Recipients - without further delay, here - ladies & gentlemen - are your 9th Lexi Music Awards award recipients!


(INDUSTRY awards)

Venue of the Year
Manchester Music Hall


Music Store of the Year
Drum Center of Lexington


Music Company of the Year
Overtones/Listen Locally


Recording Studio/Engineer of the Year
Sneak Attack/Jason Groves


Live Sound Tech of the Year
Wallace "Gator" Harrison


Radio DJ of the Year
Kenny C. Cummings


Instrument Repair of the Year
Don Brandenburg


Jay Flippin Music Educator Award
Miles Osland - UK School of Music


(PERFORMANCE awards)

Female Vocal of the Year
Vanessa Davis


Male Vocal of the Year
Cody Morgan


Bass Player of the Year
Steve Nall


Brass/wind Player of the Year
Matthew Polashek


Drums/percussionist of the Year
Trey Bledsoe


Keyboard Player of the Year
Jonathon Goodwin


String Player of the Year
Emily Miller


Ben Lacy Award for Guitar Excellence
Tanner Blevins


(STYLE awards)

Americana/folk Artist of the Year
Trippin' Roots


Bluegrass Artist of the Year
Goodwin Brothers


TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award
Rachel Crowe


Classical Artist of the Year
Whit Whitaker


Country Artist of the Year
Taylor Hughes


Funk/R&B/Reggae Artist of the Year
Brett Higgins


Hip-Hop/Rap Artist of the Year
Devine Carama


Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World Artist of the Year
Bigg Sugg & the Jazz Funkers


Metal Artist of the Year
Grave Yard Romeos


Pop Artist of the Year
Vinyl Richie


Punk Artist of the Year
Ciggy Tuna


Rock Artist of the Year
Bedford Band


Singer-Songwriter of the Year
Vanessa Davis


Cover/Variety Artist of the Year
Five Below Band


(SPECIALS awards)

Song of the Year
"No Peace" City Awake


Album of the Year
"Can't Get There From Here" Eric Bolander


Critics Choice
Goodwin Brothers


Community Service
Five Below Band "Honor Flights"


Lifetime Achievement Award

Les Campbell
Ron Browning
Jessie Laine Powell
Les McCann




Monday, February 13, 2023

ALERT: Lifetime Achievement Recipients, Performers, After-Party, More!

Its my great honor to convey the following information:

1) Lifetime Achievement Award Recipients

The recipients for the 8th Lexi Music Awards are.....

Les McCann
Jessie Laine Powell
Les Campbell
Ron Browning

Congratulations to all!


2) Ticket Info

Due to hardships on the music & arts community, ticket price for the event have been REDUCED from $20 (plus fees) to $15 (fees included). Tickets are available exclusively through the Lyric Theatre box
office. PUBLIC tickets are available starting Valentine's Day

Call (859) 280-2201 or go HERE.

Also, please feel free to respond, invite, and share using the Facebook Event Page!


3) Performers

Due to city restrictions, we have had to drastically reduce the backstage staffing as well as the number of performers. While we anticipate returning to a full performance line-up next year, we are extremely happy to announce the return of our house band and the following incredible guests!

Mojo Tones (house band)
The Wallace Sisters (national anthem)



4) After-Party

The main event at the Lyric Theatre runs from 6pm until roughly 8pm and catered by Goodwood....so our after party will start roughly 8:30pm at the amazing Goodwood Lexington (at 200 Lexington Green Cir Suite 110, Lexington, KY 40503). Molly & Richard have worked out a special "finger food" menu and will be serving their amazing drinks. Exclusives include Ale-8 sodas, Highbridge Springs water, and Three Chord Bourbon.

Just gonna add, on a personal note, that Goodwood has an excellent bourbon barrel stout!

Please visit our sponsors Three Chord Bourbon, The Botany Bay, Highbridge Springs, Ale-8-One, and Goodwood Lexington!


Wednesday, February 1, 2023

...and the 9th Lexi Music Awards Nominees Are...

....and with another HUGE thanx to our sponsors (without whom this event wouldn't be a reality), The Botany Bay, Highbridge Springs Water, Ale-8-One, Three Chord Bourbon, and Goodwood Brewing (with nod to our small private donors, also), our media partner WLEX-TV, and our event partner Lyric Theatre, I'm honored to announce the nominees for the 8th Lexi Music Awards!

Looking forward to seeing you ALL at the gorgeous Lyric Theatre, Sunday, March 5, 2023, at 6pm!

NOMINEES - please send your email contact (with your name/band/org) to lexingtonmusicawards@gmail.com 



INDUSTRY awards nominees


Venue of the Year
Austin City Saloon
The Burl
Manchester Music Hall
The Nook 

Music Store

DooWop Shop Lexington
Drum Center of Lexington
Currier's Music World
Willis Music of Lexington

Music Company
Overtones/Listen Locally
CD Central
What the Shuck? Podcast
Pops Resale

Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer
Burgundy Box Studio/Austin Jones
Sneak Attack Studio/Jason Groves
LIRCO/Steve Nall
April Edwards Audio Productions/April Edwards

Live Sound Tech
Taylor Begley
Nolan Dunn
Wallace "Gator" Harrison
Jerome Galt

Radio DJ
Jay Alexander - 107.9 The Beat (WBTF)
Loretta Friend - V-99FM (WIRV)
Kenny C Cummings - TMV Cafe
Mick Jefferies - WRFL

Gear Repair
Don Brandenburg
JT Butcher
RS Guitarworks
Willcutt Guitars

Jay Flippin Music Educator Award
Miles Osland - University of KY
Beth Dean - Studio 88
Paulie Felice - SDML Academy
Vanessa Davis - Vanessa Davis Music


PERFORMANCE awards nominees

Female Vocal
Rachel Crowe
Melissa Deaton-Johnathon
Taylor Hughes
Vanessa Davis

Male Vocal
Anthony Highley
Shawn Black
Tanner Whitt
Cody Morgan

Bass Guitar
Aaron Gosper
Dave Medley
Steve Nall
Steven Hughes

Brass/Wind
Brady Atwood
Kirby Davis
Matthew Polashek
Michaelle Perros

Drums/Percussion
Peyton Whitt
Trey Beldsoe
Ian Dozer
Jeff Frohlich

Keyboard
Lee Carroll
David Lee Hinkle
Keith McCutchen
Jonathon Goodwin

Strings
Lucy Becker
Aaron Smith
Emily Miller
Jr. Williams

Ben Lacy Guitar Excellence Award
Patrick Gibson
Stephen Lynch
Tanner Blevins
Todd Stricklin


STYLE awards nominees

Americana/Folk
SadBlackLab
Moonlight Mile
Trippin' Roots
Brett & Donnie

Bluegrass
Moonlight Mile
Dark Moon Hollow
Mama Said String Band
Goodwin Brothers

TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award

Jeremy Short
Dane Sadler
Treyvon King
Rachel Crowe

Classical
Lexington Singers
Alicia McCorvey
Lexington Philharmonic
Whit Whitaker

Country
Taylor Hughes
Blacktop Rodeo
Paint Creek
Zac Hart

Funk/R&B/Reggae
Boogie G & the Titanics
Brett Higgins
Big Sugg & the Jazz Funkers
Rob Dread & the KMA

Hip-Hop/Rap
Devine Carama
Lane Allen
Hybrid the Rapper
GemRats

Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World
Big Sugg & the Jazz Funkers
Keith McCutchen
cAnde Girl
Osborne-Tolly Duo

Metal
Totem Jones
Graveyard Romeos
Taylor Road
StormToker

Pop
Vinyl Richie
Cody Morgan
Rags and Riches
Wesley Saylo

Punk
Dead Letterman
Ciggy Tuna
NP Presley
Sempervivi

Rock
City Awake
Bedford Band
Grimsley Rose
Taylor Road

Singer-songwriter
Cody Morgan
Taylor Hughes
Anthony Highly
Vanessa Davis

Variety/Cover
Four Shots In
Graveyard Romeo
Five Below Band
Vinyl Richie


SPECIALS awards nominees

Song of the Year
"Prayin' to the Whiskey" - Taylor Hughes
"Coal Lampin" (featuring Marcus Wilkerson) - GemRats
"Talk" - Rags & Riches
"Shine Through" - Brett & Donnie
"High on Something" - Taylor Hughes
"No Peace" - City Awake

Album of the Year
"Always Gold" - Rags & Riches
"Hidden Gems" - Gem Rats
"Overtones Presents: Goodwin Bros Working in Concert" - Goodwin Brothers
"Can't Get There From Here" - Eric Bolander
"Barricades" - City Awake
"I Hope You Burn" - Savannah Dean Reeves

Critics' Choice
Wesley Shipp
NP Presley
Marty Charters
Goodwin Brothers

Community Service
Devine Carama - Believing in Forever
Warren & Rene Collins-Cobb - Room 17 Productions 
Five Below Band (veterans "Honor Flights")
TeeDee Young Foundation

Lifetime Achievement


TBA (announced weeks before event)








Monday, November 28, 2022

9th Lexi Awards Public Ballot ACTIVE!

Ben Lacy & TeeDee Young guitar & blues awards!
Howdy, friends!

I hope this finds you all healthy and happy and ready for the holidays!

The 9th Lexi Music Awards will take place March 5, 2023 in the heart of Lexington KY...and the public ballot is live NOW (and will be for all of December)!

Find the link to the ballot HERE!

MUSICIANS - please share with all your music peers, family, friends, fans, & press!

MUSIC LOVERS - please share with all your friends, family, and with the artists & bands you love!

Go HERE to learn how we nominate and select award recipients!

Please feel free to contact us directly with any questions or comments!

From 1st Lexi Awards - MJ receiving Lifetime Achievement Award!



Monday, November 14, 2022

9th Lexi Music Awards Info

Howdy, friends!

Just a quick word to announce a few items...

1) DATE - The tentative date (we're finalizing details now) for the 9th annual Lexi Music Awards is Sunday, March 5, 2023....6pm to 8pm!

2) PUBLIC VOTE - the public ballot will be going live no later than December 1st. We'll keep the ballot open for all of December...and maybe a week or so into January.
Trippin Roots will perform at 9th Lexi Awards!

3) EVENT - We will have house band and a handful of musical performances...including a performance by Trippin Roots, who won the "unplugged battle" at the recent Lexi-Fest show!

4) PRO PANEL - We're assembling our Pro Panel now (the public vote nets 2 of 4 nominees in each category, while the pro panel selects the other 2 of 4 nominees in each category) and they will vote in December also, so we can release the names of nominees as quickly as possible.

5) MORE - For info on the voting process, please go HERE....and for "why we do it", please go HERE. As always, we love your feedback! Please feel free to contact us via email at LexingtonMusicAwards@gmail.com or join discussions on our Facebook Group!

Thanx to everyone who continues to support the Lexi Music Awards and the entire music community of the central KY region!




Thursday, November 3, 2022

LEXI-FEST "Unplugged" Band Battle

As we did last year, we'll have a "band battle" (though this time its mostly solo & duo performers) with the winner getting a performance slot at the 2023 Lexi Music Awards!

Should be a fabulous show with a wide array of styles...and if its anything like last year, every single act will be amazing!





Thursday, February 10, 2022

8th Lexi Music Awards Wrap-up (w/ pics/vid)

Amazing show...amazing musical performances....amazing atmosphere! 

My undying gratitude to Bill Meck and Dave Medley of WLEX TV-18, the entire staff & crew of the Lyric Theatre, Linda & Roy at Highbridge Springs, Sheila at Ale-8-One, Ginny & Melissa at Botany Bay, Molly, Chris, & Richard at Goodwood, and Laura, Michael, & Neil at Three Chord Bourbon, as well as our private sponsors Ian Dix and Bill Quinn and a big salute to Thompson Law Office, UPS Store at Beaumont Center, and Parrott Trophy!

In addition, a monster thanx & huge hugs to Edd MacKey & The Lexington Fashion Collaborative, Angelee Feltner for managing performance flow, Teresa for being ready for anything, Jay Hamon for video, and Damien McLean for graphics and photography...and to Rachel & Eric at Lexenomincs!

Also thanx for getting our "paid gigs for the artists" goals off the ground to everyone at Blues Between the Bridges, Hot August Blues, and Master's Music Festival! Hopefully that list will be MUCH bigger by the 9th Lexi Music Awards!

Ohh...lots of photos & video links at the bottom of the page!

And your award recipients for 2022 are: