2026 Nominations Ballot LIVE! Time to VOTE!

Please share the link and please VOTE!

Go HERE!!

YOU choose who will be on the ballot....so put your favorite bands, solo artists, recording studios, music stores, live venues, music and much more!

The Future of the Lexi Awards

"Often when you think you’re at the end of something, you’re at the beginning of something else." 

-- Fred Rogers

New executive director Angelee with David & Bill.

Wow....its been a great 11 years so far, and open ballot for the 12th Lexi Music Awards is just days away as I write this.

When I started this project, I never dreamed we'd start at the beautiful Lyric Theatre, and until we were there, I never dreamed we'd be at the gorgeous Singletary Center on UK's campus.

But I did dream other things.....

Elsewhere on this blog, I wrote about WHY WE DO IT as well as HOW WE DO IT, but right I'd like to talk about WHO is doing it.

For 11 years I've been the executive director and producer of the Lexi Music Awards, a job I couldn't have done without dozens of other talented people, from Angelee Feltner, who has variously handled stage management, merchandise, front end, & more, to Ange Canessa securing the presenters and their organization, to fashion icon Edd MacKey & his models making us look like the Real Thing, to Bill Meck sailing the ship with class and style every single year, to every member of the crews (sound, lights, house, etc.) and every sponsor we've ever had the pleasure to partner with, and many, many more.....NO ONE pulls off this sort of thing alone, and I am eternally grateful for every single one of you.

WHO:

That said, it is time to hand the torch over to someone who has the skills and drive and intelligence to take this ride to the next level. Don't get me wrong - I'm proud of what I managed to accomplish. But it is obvious I've taken things as far as my abilities can take it, and Angelee is the obvious choice to take the wheel.

Forthwith, let it be known that David M. McLean is stepping down as executive director of producer of the Lexington Music Awards, and that, effective immediately, Angelee Feltner is the new executive director and producer of the Lexington Music Awards.

WHY:

I will remain as co-producer for a time (primarily focusing on the performers and such) but plan to transition to Lexi Music Awards' Ambassador-at-Large, so to speak, as I work on ancillary and adjacent projects - most to be discussed in the future, but the one closest to my heart and stated in the "Why We Do It (item 7)". To wit: I hope to properly develop the educational scholarship for musical excellence discussed on this blog and elsewhere.

The new logo!

In a nutshell, I hope to get a long-term dedicated sponsor for an annual cash donation to a different school each year (and perhaps another for an under 18 music student each year). 

HOW:

We've had positives & negatives with the way we've managed things so far (especially the voting process) and have tried to tweak to process for fairness and access. Angelee has had MANY great ideas on how to improve the process and those changes are well under way.

She'll be speaking about those as we go. 

Give her your feedback - good or ill - but be sure to give her your full support. This is largely a game of experimentation in real time and in the public eye. Victories will be achieved AND mistakes will be made. Angelee is both smarter and more capable in this arena than me - she'll build on what goes right and she'll fix what goes wrong. So lend a hand or at least a kind word!

And with that, I'll wrap this up.

More on everything (including my other dream projects) later. Right now, a celebration is in order! Grab a glass, pour a beverage, and a hearty CHEERS to Angelee!

Take the wheel, Angelee!!

11th Awards Wrap-Up

Amazing evening!! Our first time at Singletary Center for the Arts on the beautiful UK campus!

Outstanding crew to work with, from administration to sound to lights to security to the ticket office and more!

Our awards team was on point: my partner in crime Angelee Feltner, Max Corona (stage management - presenters), Edd MacKey (stage management - presenter guides), Jay Hamon (video), Luke Francis (graphics & photography), and everyone's favorite emcee Bill Meck.

We had a couple of hiccups with our performances, but got it fixed on the fly, because that's what musicians do! All hail Dr. Raleigh Dailey, Tiffaney Nesbeth & Jaidon Smith, Cody Lee Meece, the UK Percussion Ensemble (director Matthew Gieger), Tony Wavy, and our incredible house band, Mojo Tones!

Extra salute to Raleigh Dailey who, with no rehearsal and all of 40 seconds to figure out his approach, stepped in to perform the national anthem (with some of the most beautiful reharmonizations you'll ever hope to hear)! 

None of this would be possible without YOU for your involvement and support, and without our amazing sponsors: The Botany Bay, Highbridge Springs Water, Ale-8, UPS store, Goodwood Lexington, WLEX TV-18, and Never Say Die bourbon!

11th Lexi Music Awards 

March 9, 2025

INDUSTRY AWARDS 

Venue of the Year 

Bluegrass Barrel House 

Music Store of the Year 

Drum Center of Lexington 

Music Company of the Year 

Off the Cuff with Adam Banks

Recording Studio/Engineer of the Year 

Jason Groves/Sneak Attack 

Live Sound Technician of the Year 

Mike Hulliger 

Radio DJ of the Year 

Deadair Dennis Dillon 

Instrument Repair of the Year 

Frazzell Guitars

Jay Flippin Music Educator Award

Vanessa Davis 

-----

PERFORMANCE AWARDS 

Female Vocal of the Year 

Savannah Dean Reeves 

Male Vocal of the Year 

Jeremy Zeller 

Bassist of the Year 

Dave Medley 

Brass/Wind Player of the Year 

Jacob O'Donnell 

Drummer of the Year 

Jeff Frohlich 

Keyboardist of the Year 

Lee Carroll

String Player of the Year 

Lucy Becker 

Ben Lacy Award for Guitar Excellence

(tie)

Stephen Lynch 

Jim Gleason 

-----

STYLE AWARDS 

Americana/Folk of the Year 

Jeremy Zeller 

Bluegrass of the Year 

Mama Said String Band 

TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award

Rachel Crowe 

Classical of the Year

EKU Guitar Ensemble 

Country of the Year 

One More Round 

Funk/R&B/Reggae of the Year 

Boogie G and the Titanics

Hip-Hop/Rap of the Year 

Tony Wavy

Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World of the Year 

Bigg Sugg & the Jazz Funkers

Metal of the Year 

Graveyard Romeos 

Pop of the Year 

Rags and Riches 

Punk of the Year 

Sempervivi 

Rock of the Year 

Five Below Band

Singer-Songwriter of the Year 

Jeremy Zeller 

Cover/Variety of the Year 

Five Below Band 

-----

Song of the Year 

Its Hard to Be Young - Jeremy Zeller 

Album of the Year 

Love Ain't Worth the Trouble - Cody Lee Meece 

Critics Choice

RadioLex WLXU 

Community Service Award 

Five Below Band 

Lifetime Achievement Awards

Pam Perry 

Gene Brock 

Mark Girkey

Renee Collins-Cobb 

-++++--

See y'all next year!!

-- 

David M. McLean 

Lexi Music Awards 

Skinny Devil Music Lab

Nominees 11th Lexi Music Awards

For immediate release:

The nominees for the 11th Lexi Music Awards are listed below!

The winners will be announced at the event on March 9, 2025, 6pm-8pm at UK's beautiful Singletary Center!

Upcoming announcements include LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENTS, performers list, after-party details, and more!

And here are your nominees:

All "....of the Year":

(Industry Categories)

Venue

Bluegrass Barrel House 

Manchester Music Hall

The Burl

Twisted Cork

Music Store

Doowop Shop Lexington 

Drum Center 

Willcutt Guitars 

Willis Music 

Music Company 

Off the Cuff w/ Adam Banks 

Hollar N Kentucky 

Green Room Confessions

CD Central 

Engineer/Studio

Austin Jones / Burgundy Box

Jason Groves / Sneak Attack 

Danny Micoff / Mill Springs Studio

Tommy Shafer / Lazy Entertainment & Frazzell Studio

Live Sound Tech

Camryn Shaffer

Mike Hulliger

Matthew Florez

Tommy Shafer 

DJ

Adam Banks WLXU

Deadair Dennis WBVX

Loretta Friend WIRV

MistiDawn WLXO/WBVX

Instrument Repair 

Bob Davenport / RS Guitars

Don Brandenburg / Don's Guitar Salon

Frazzell Guitars

Willcutt Guitars 

Music Educator

Paulie Felice 

Vanessa Davis 

Trish Torline

Kevin Holm-Hudson 

---------

(Performance Categories)

Female vocal

Taylor Hughes 

Dolly Burnett

Savannah Dean Reeves

Abby Hamilton 

Male vocal 

Jeremy Zeller 

Shawn Black 

Tanner Whitt

Trey Bryant 

Bass

Cleveland Smith 

Dave Medley 

Justin Conn

Tristan Lambert 

Brass/Winds

Matthew Polashek

Paul Osborne 

Tommy Cate

Jacob O'Donnell 

Drums

Jeff Frohlich

Jerry Baker 

Ned Bellau

Peyton Whitt

Keys

Andrew Moore 

Steven Miller 

Raleigh Dailey 

Lee Carrol 

Strings

Ella Webster 

Seth Murphy 

Lucy Becker 

Dave Rich

Guitar 

Jim Gleason 

Colin Michael 

Connor Wilson 

Stephen Lynch 

--------

(Style Categories)

Americana/Folk

Jeremy Zeller 

John Thomas Moore 

Melissa Beth Deaton

Trippin' Roots

Bluegrass 

Adalyn Ramey

Goodwin Brothers 

Mama Said String Band

Pam Perry

Blues

Bryan Hines

Jaidon Smith 

Joshua Altier

Rachel Crowe

Classical 

Whit Whitaker 

Lexington Philharmonic 

EKU Guitar Ensemble 

Tedrin Blair Lindsay

Country 

Blacktop Rodeo

One More Round 

Trey Bryant 

Taylor Hughes

Funk

Boogie G & the Titanics

Honeychild

VSP Band

Deep Nourished Roots

Rap

Tony Wavy

Hybrid the Rapper 

Kevin Kross 

JK "JK-47" Wyche

Jazz/Latin

Bigg Sugg & the Jazz Funkers

Osbourne - Tolly

Univibes

No Rulez Banda

Metal

Crop

Gravel Switch

Graveyard Romeos

Taylor Road

Pop

Mom's Mad

Rags & Riches

Wesley Saylor

Vinyl Ritchie

Punk

Sempervivi

Small Steps

State Law

Molly's Midnight Villains 

Rock

Bedford Band

Five Below Band

Four Shots In 

Gravel Switch 

Singer-Songwriter

Jeremy Zeller 

John Thomas Moore 

Taylor Hughes 

Todd Campbell 

Cover-Variety

Five Below Band 

Canvas

Four Shots In 

Vinyl Ritchie 

---------

(Specials)

Song of the Year 

"Daywalker" - Unky Bones

"It's Hard to be Young" - Jeremy Zeller 

"Make it to Nashville" - Trey Bryant 

"Up to No Good" - Todd Campbell 

Album of the Year 

"Love Ain't Worth the Trouble" - Cody Lee Meece 

"Breakthroughs/Breakdowns" - Small Steps

"The Show" - Melissa Beth Deaton 

"Artists of the Moon" - Andrew Moore & Hooch

Critics Choice 

Tom Martin (WEKU)

Jeremy Zeller 

RadioLex (WLXU)

Savannah Dean Reeves 

Community Service 

Five Below Band 

Devine Carama

Michael Johnathon 

Ned Bellau 

--------

Public Ballot 11th Lexi Awards!

Here we go again....year number 11!

Y'all know the drill: Vote...and SHARE with your fans, customers, friends, family, and all music lovers!!

More exciting information soon!!

https://forms.gle/N6ifdgTXZkHbcq647

10th Lexi Music Awards Wrap-up!

CONGRATULATIONS, ALL!

Photos/Videos

I will edit this to include links to photos & videos of the event, so check back periodically.

What 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!

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 & graphics...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! 

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. As in our very first year, the incredible Miles Osland opened the show with a blistering version of the National Anthem!

Bob Brynt's Hair Band was next up playing a composition siply not of this earth, followed by a return of Phoebe White performing "Yodeling Cowgirl"! We were then treated to a beautiful guitar/vocal performance by the amazing Serena Hutchens, followed immediately by Tripp Bratton's M'Power Rythm All-Stars! 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!

10th Lexi Music Awards

March, 3, 2024

Industry Awards

Venue of the Year

Manchester Music Hall

Music Store of the Year

Doowop Shop - Lexington

Music Company of the Year 

TIE 

Indie Artist Booking & Management

Overtones/Listen Locally

Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer of the Year

Jason Groves - Sneak Attack

Live Sound Tech of the Year

Wallace "Gator" Harrison

Radio DJ of the Year

"Dead Air" Dennis Dillon WBVX

Gear Repair of the Year

Willcutt Guitars

Jay Flippin Music Educator Award

Paulie Felice

Performance Awards

Female Vocal of the Year

Taylor Hughes

Male Vocal of the Year

Jeremy Zeller

Bass Player of the Year

Dalton Rose

Brass/Wind Player of the Year

Matthew Polashek

Drums/Percussion Player of the Year

Tripp Bratton

Keyboard Player of the Year

Lee Carroll

Strings Player of the Year

Lucy Becker

Ben Lacy Guitar Excellence Award

Tanner Blevins

Style Awards

Americana/Folk Act of the Year

Jeremy Zeller

Bluegrass Act of the Year

Mama Said String Band

TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award

Treyvon King

Classical Performer of the Year

UK Symphony Orchestra

Country Act of the Year

Blacktop Rodeo

Funk/R&B/Reggae Act of the Year

Boogie G & the Titanics

Hip-Hop/Rap Act of the Year 

TIE

Kevin Kross

Tony Wavy

Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World

Big Sugg &The Jazz Funkers

Metal Act of the Year

Taylor Road

Pop Act of the Year

Rags & Riches

Punk Act of the Year

Sempervivi

Rock Act of the Year

Bedford Band

Singer-songwriter of the Year

Vanessa Davis

Variety/Cover Act of the Year

Vinyl Richie

Specials Awards

Song of the Year

"Jesus & Jail" - Taylor Hughes

Album of the Year

"The Triplets" - Vanessa Davis

Critics' Choice Award

Jeremy Zeller

Community Service Award

Devine Carama

Lifetime Achievement Award 

Tripp Bratton

Devine Carama

Lee Carroll

JK "JK 47" Wyche

ALERT: Lifetime Achievement Recipients, Performers, Tickets, After-Party Info!

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT RECIPIENTS: It is an honor to announce the following recipients of our annual Lifetime Achievement Award!

Tripp Bratton

Devine Carama

Lee Carroll

JK "JK 47" Wyche

TICKET INFO: Purchase your tickets (only $20 (including fees) direct from the Lyric Theatre here:

https://historiclyrictheatre.com/event/the-10th-annual-lexington-music-award/

PERFORMERS: Thrilled to announce this year's performers! 

Mojo Tones (house Band)

Miles Osland (anthem)

Bob Bryant Band

Serena Hutchens

Phoebe White

Tripp Bratton's M'Power Rhythm

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, including the Official Lexi Awards Beer! Exclusives include Ale-8 sodas, Highbridge Springs water, and Three Chord Bourbon.

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

All Performers at Lexi Music Awards by Year!

Below is a list of all performers at the Lexington Music Awards by year!

A complete list of all Lifetime Achievement Awards can be found HERE.

2024

Miles Olsand (anthem)

Bob Bryant Band

Serena Hutchens

Phoebe White

Tripp Bratton's M'Power Rhythm

house band: Mojo Tones

2023
The Wallace Sisters (national anthem)
Devine Carama & JK-47
Trippin' Roots

house band: The Mojo Tones

2022

Paul M. Osborne (national anthem)
Rags and Riches
The Wallace Sisters

house band: The Mojo Tones

2021

no music - private ceremony of only a few awards due to COVID

2020

Phoebe White
Liza Binford & Vanessa Davis
LaFayette HS Drum Line
Ivy Rye
Whit Whitaker was replaced by Kristy Kirsh due to illness

house band: The Mojo Tones

Kallie Settles (pre-show)

2019

La'Shelle Allen

Rachel Crowe (with Jonathan New & Kenneth Meredith)

Emily Woxihara

Taylor C. Hughes Herbert & Taylor Austin Dye (backed by Paulie Felice)

Lisa Osland & Michaelle Perros

miss Phoebe White 

house band: Ray's Music Exchange. 

preshow by miss Aisley Stuebs.

2018

COMPLETE LIST??? 

house band: Ray's Music Exchange

2017

Jessie Laine Powel (anthem)

Hip-Hop Summit: Devine Carama, Rayul, Hallelujah the Don

Osland/Dailey Jazztet

Avery Crabtree

Apotheosis Percussion Duo

Beth Dean 

Sara Holroyd Singers

house band: Twiggenberries

2016

Alan Robinson (anthem)

Sydney Cubit, Rhyan Sinclair, Jeana Pillion (w/ Thomas Suggs)

Blues Harp Summit: Ronn Crowder, David Harrod, G-Busy (Greg Thomerson), Goose Marshall

KY United Pipes & Drums

Hip-Hop Collab w/ Devine Carama, Hybrid the Rapper, Hendrick Floyd

House band: Twiggenberries

2015

Miles Osland

Ben Lacy w/ Alan McKenzie

Blakely Burger & Lucy Becker (w/Fred Kearns)

Heather Parrish w/ Palmer Tolly

Peter J Felice (pre-recorded theme music)

Donald Mason (pre-recorded style themes)

A List of All Lifetime Achievement Recipients by Year

A complete list of ALL the Lexi Music Award Lifetime Achievement Award recipients, by year!

List of performers by year is HERE.

2024
Tripp Bratton

Devine Carama

Lee Carroll

JK "JK 47" Wyche

2023

Les McCann
Jessie Laine Powell
Les Campbell
Ron Browning

2022

Dr. Kevin Holm-Hudson
Paul M. Osborne
Todd Copeland

2021

Les Taylor
Wallace "Gator" Harrison
Tom Martin
Walter Tunis

2020

LaFayette HS Marching Band
Tony Briggs (Vale of Tears, & more)
Ed Commons (Red Barn Radio)
Everett McCorvey (UK Opera)

2019

Greg Austin
William Harry Clarke
Jarrod Figgs
Caroll Hall
Jeff Hood

2018

Montgomery Gentry

Sara Holroyd

complete list????

2017

Dwight Yokem

Nick Lawrence

Homer Ledford

Gail Wynters

John Michael Montgomery

2016

J.P. Pennington
J.D. Crowe
Ricky Skaggs
McLain Family Band
Vince DiMartino

2015

Michael Johnathon
Jay Flippin
Bill Monroe
Loretta Lynn

...and the 10th 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, Feels Right, 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 10th Lexi Music Awards!

 
Looking forward to seeing you ALL at the gorgeous Lyric Theatre, Sunday, March 3, 2024, at 6pm!

NOMINEES - please send your email contact (with your name/band/org) to lexingtonmusicawards@gmail.com so you get all the info!


INDUSTRY awards nominees

Venue of the Year
Austin City Saloon 

The Burl

Manchester Music Hall

Proud Mary BBQ

Music Store
Doowop Shop - Lexington

Drum Center of Lexington

Earl Brooks Music Center (Somerset)

Willis Music - Lexington

Music Company
Black Mountain Management

CD Central

Indie Artist Booking & Management

Overtones/Listen Locally

Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer
Austin Jones - Burgundy Box

Chris Wheeler - Anagram Media

Jason Groves - Sneak Attack

April Edwards - Raven Records

Live Sound Tech
Mike Hulliger

Wallace "Gator" Harrison

Nolan Dunn

Matthew Florez

Radio DJ
Adam Banks - WLXU
Kenny C Cummings - TMV Cafe
"Deadair" Dennis Dillon 

Deidre Ransdell - WVLK

Gear Repair
Don Brandenberg

Frazzell Guitars

Isaac Bane 

Willcutt Guitars 

Jay Flippin Music Educator Award
Tripp Bratton 

Vanessa Davis

Trish Torline
Paulie Felice


PERFORMANCE awards nominees

Female Vocal
Dolly Burnett

Taylor Hughes

Trish Torline

Vanessa Davis

Male Vocal
Cam Davis 

Kevin Kross

Tanner Whitt

Jeremy Zeller

Bass Guitar
Justin Conn

Tom Covello

Jackson Ward

Dalton Rose

Brass/Wind
Kirby Davis

Jacob O'Donnell

Matthew Polashek

Jordan Robson

Drums/Percussion
Ned Bellau

Tripp Bratton

Blake Phelps

Peyton Whitt

Keyboard
Lee Carroll

Raleigh Dailey

Andrew Moore

Steven Miller

Strings (including pedal steel, madolin, etc)
Lucy Becker

Maggie Lander

Emily Miller

Logan Henry

Ben Lacy Guitar Excellence Award
Tanner Blevins

Gabe Crockett

Stephen Lynch

Connor Wilson


STYLE awards nominees

Americana/Folk
Katie Burkhardt 
Anthony Joe Highley

D. Boone Pittman & the Fugitives

Jeremy Zeller

Bluegrass
EKU Bluegrass Ensemble

Goodwin Brothers

Mama Said String Band

McLain Family Band

TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award
Rachel Crowe

Robert Frahm

Treyvon King

Dane Sadler

Classical
EKU Guitar Ensemble

Keith McCutchen

UK Symphony Orchestra

Whit Whitaker

Country
Blacktop Rodeo

Cody Lee Meece

Paint Creek

Taylor Hughes

Funk/R&B/Reggae
Boogie G & the Titanics

Honey Child 

Martia Gill

Rob Dread & the KMA

Hip-Hop/Rap

Slyme Bucci

Kevin Kross

StarBookie Msp

Tony Wavy

Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World
Big Sugg &The Jazz Funkers

Lee Carroll's C The Beat

Enrique Gonzales & No Rulez Banda

The MetroGnomes Big Band

Metal
Graveyard Romeos

Gravel Switch 

Storm Toker

Taylor Road

Pop
Andrew Moore & Hooch

Rags & Riches

Shantelly Lace 

Vinyl Richie

Punk
Ciggy Tuna

Sempervivi

Whalerus

Urameshi

Rock
Bedford Band

Five Below Band

Mojo Thunder

Wicked Peace

Singer-songwriter
Vanessa Davis

Anthony Joe Highley

Taylor Hughes

Kevin Kross

Trish Torline

Jeremy Zeller

Variety/Cover
Andrew Moore & Hooch

Five Below Band

Second Hand News

Vinyl Richie

SPECIALS awards nominees

Song of the Year
"Anxiety" - Kevin Kross

"B-List Celebrity" - Vanessa Davis

"Girl's Night Out" - Trish Torline

"Hey Dad" - Andrew Moore & Hooch

"Holiday" Rags & Riches

"Jesus & Jail" - Taylor Hughes

Album of the Year
"Anxious Always" - Kevin Kross

"I Need a Holiday" - Rags & Riches

"Resurrection Noise" - D. Boone Pittman & the Fugitives

"The Triplets" - Vanessa Davis

Critics' Choice
Cam Clark

Bryce Ernest Taylor

Garrick Howell & John McHugh

Jeremy Zeller

Community Service
Devine Carama

Ned Bellau/Canvas

Five Below Band

Renee Collins Cobb

Lifetime Achievement

TBA soon!!

Public Ballot is LIVE - Let's VOTE!

That's right, the public ballot for the 10th Lexi Music Awards is now LIVE and you can vote and share!

To review, the public ballot will be used to nominate 2 of 4 nominees for each category, while to pro panel will choose the other 2 of 4 nominees in each category!

Find the ballot HERE.

MUSICIANS - please vote and then share with other musicians plus friends, family, and fans!

MUSIC BUSINESSES - please vote and then share with peers & clients/customers!

MUSIC LOVERS - please vote and then share with family, friends, and other music lovers (and be sure to tell your favorite bands & musicians about it, too)!

The 10th Lexi Music Awards event will take place Sunday, March 3, 2024 at the historic Lyric Theatre in Lexington, KY!

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

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)

Devine Carama & JK-47

Trippin' Roots

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!

...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)

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!

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!

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!

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:

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.....

Dr. Kevin Holm-Hudson

Paul M. Osborne

Todd Copeland

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. Call (859) 280-2201 or go HERE.

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

3) Performers

Due to COVID restrictions (which include masking & 50% house capacity), we have had to drastically reduce the backstage staffing as well as the number of performers. However, we are happy to announce the return of our house band and several fabulous guests!

Mojo Tones (house band)

Paul M. Osborne (national anthem)

Rags and Riches

The Wallace Sisters

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 & Chris 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!

...And the 8th Lexi 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!

INDUSTRY

Venue of the Year

Austin City Saloon

The Burl

Manchester Music Hall

The Twisted Cork

Music Store

DooWop Shop Lexington

Drum Center of Lexington

Willcutt Guitars

Willis Music of Lexington

Music Company

Black Mountain Management

Chillin' With Kenny C

CD Central

Pops Resale

Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer

EKO Studio/Rick Osborne

Sneak Attack Studio/Jason Groves

Austin Jones Recording/Austin Jones

NitroSonic Studio/April Edwards

Live Sound Tech

Chris Wheeler

Matthew Florez

Matthew Polashek

Wallace "Gator" Harrison

Radio DJ

Deadair Dennis Dillon - Classic Rock 921 (WBVX)

Kenny C Cummings - TMV Cafe

Renee Collins Cobb - Listen Locally/Overtones (RadioLex WLXU)

Tony Twitch - Z-103 (WXZZ)

Gear Repair

Gideon Maki - Gideon Maki Guitar Repair

Mike Mankel - Bourbon Barrel Guitars

Scott Leedy - RS Guitarworks

Bob Willcutt - Willcutt Guitars

Jay Flippin Music Educator Award

Beth Dean - Studio 88

Paulie Felice - SDML Academy

Kevin Holm-Hudson - University of Kentucky

Vanessa Davis - Vanessa Davis Music

PERFORMANCE

Female Vocal

Maggie Lander

Maggie Noelle

Sydney Adams

Vanessa Davis

Male Vocal

Cody Morgan

D Boone Pittman

Wesley Saylor

Tanner Whitt

Bass Guitar

Brandon Johnson

Nicholas Tirlea

Steve Nall

Aaron White

Brass/Wind

Brady Atwood

Matthew Polashek

Paul M. Osborne

Miles Osland

Drums/Percussion

Ned Bellau

Peyton Whitt

Steve Richmond

Todd Copeland

Keyboard

Lee Carroll

Raleigh Dailey

Keith McCutchen

Ryan Allen

Strings

Blakeley Burger

Brooke Danielle Way

Ishi Wooten

Josh Propst

Ben Lacy Guitar Excellence Award

Greg Erwin

Patrick Gibson

Tanner Blevins

Todd Stricklin

STYLE

Americana/Folk

D Boone Pittman & the Fugitives

Donnie Bowling

Jordan Allen & the Bellwethers

Trippin' Roots

Bluegrass

Dark Moon Hollow

Kentucky Bourbon Trailers

Mama Said String Band

Restless Leg String Band

TeeDee Young Blues Excellence Award

D Jay Rice

Dane Sadler

Rachel Crowe

Jeremy Short & Company

Classical

Lexington Singers

Gregory Partain

Keith McCutchen

Kentucky Bach Choir

Country

D Boone Pittman

Josh Bogard 

Paul Groves

Zac Hart

Funk/R&B/Reggae

Brett Higgins

Bootsie & Funkabilly

Driftwood Gypsy

Rob Dread & the KMA

Hip-Hop/Rap

Brett Higgins

Devine Carama

Hybrid the Rapper

Lil Cartier & Rolls

Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World

Big Sugg & the Jazz Funkers

cAnde Girl

Osborne-Tolly Duo

Lee Carroll's C the Beat

 

Metal

All Saints Fade

Graveyard Romeos

StormToker

Taylor Road

Pop

Cody Morgan

Rags and Riches

Wesley Saylor

The Dreaded Laramie

Punk

Dead Letterman

Local Violence

NP Presley

Sempervivi

Rock

City Awake

Magnolia Boulevard

Rags and Riches

Manitoba Rock n Rolla

Singer-songwriter

Cody Morgan

Kevin Holm-Hudson

Vanessa Davis

Wesley Saylor

Variety/Cover

Eight Daze Sober

Five Below Band

Graveyard Romeos

Taylor Road

SPECIALS

Song of the Year

"939" Cody Morgan

"Black Thread" City Awake

"Love & Learn" Wesley Saylor

"Outlaw" Rags and Riches

Album of the Year

Emerge - D Boone Pittman & the Fugitives

Message from the Margins - Kevin Holm-Hudson & the Adjuncts

Pieces - Zac Hart

Pretty Little Cabin - Vanessa Davis

Critics' Choice

TBA (event day)

Community Service

Devine Carama - Believing in Forever

Renee Collins Cobb & Warren Cobb - Listen Locally/Overtones LIVE

Ted Messer

Woodsongs All Volunteer Crew

Lifetime Achievement

TBA (announced weeks before event)