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2026 Veer Music Awards Nominees
1.
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”
Other (please specify)
2.
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”
Other (please specify)
3.
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”
Other (please specify)
4.
Album of the Year
Brian Grilli, “Great Big Sky”
BJ Griffin, “Elements”
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”
Other (please specify)
5.
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”
Other (please specify)
6.
Music Video of the Year
BJ Griffin, “This Good”
Luh Mar1, “I Gotta Problem”
The Revamps, “Fever” (posted on Youtube by Nick Albertson
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”
Other (please specify)
7.
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”
Other (please specify)
8.
Holiday Release
Edolus: “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”
Shez Treble: “Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas”
Jennifer Gammill: “Silver & Gold”
Good Shot Judy: “A Crooner’s Christmas Vol 1”
Aniela Salinas: “Santa Baby”
Roberta Lea: “Too Much of Me”
The JD3 Band: “A Blue Christmas For Me”
Jennifer Gammill & Roberta Lea: “First Christmas With You”
Louissa: “The Christmas Song”
(rOw: “Wishlist”
Ashleigh Chevalier: “Mary, Did You Know”
Mink & Cheef: “Drunken Christmas Volume 6”
Jerad Alan: “The Grinch Sole My Eggnog”
Vernon Lee Holloman Jr: “Merry Christmas I Love You”
Jim Bulleit, “Not Another Christmas Song”
Other (please specify)
9.
Hip Hop
TeezySoDope
Snailz 76
Octavia the Great
Twonesse
Chuck Black
Stu Money
Tookie Da Topic
Big Torrin
Ghetto Chris
Seven Cities Syndicate
CYFFA Leyenda
Pound Wallace
Edison Av & Sik Sense
Jahl3el
Junky Musik Babies Ent
Six Speed Nicky
Other (please specify)
10.
R&B
La’Nique
Dezzae
Artel Carter
Richard Perkins
T-Rifik
NVTION
Wilk$
SHANN
YSN Cap
Raspy Soul
Shuntell Diverse
Devecia Mack
FGE TAAE
Rachel Rocheleau
Chloe Youtsey
Other (please specify)
11.
Jazz
Chloe Youtsey, Chris Brydge, John Toomey
Jae Sinnett
Chris Brydge/Tim Seibles
The Virginia Experiment
John Toomey
Jimmy Masters
Other (please specify)
12.
Smooth Jazz
Dion Langley
J Staton
Talton Manning
Matt Willard
Other (please specify)
13.
Gospel
Voices of Fire
Reformed
Gifted Hands
CXDIE
Other (please specify)
14.
Country
Brian Grilli
Celeste Kellogg
Roberta Lea
The Bill Miles Band
Robbie Bradshaw
Troy Breslow
Hrvy Dent
Patrick Luley
Aniela Salinas
Other (please specify)
15.
Experimental/Electronic
Nested For Rest
Roger Spacebucks
Blvckhndz
Reptile Tile
Hindu Pez
Jon Schuemaker
Spiral Static
Killerboots Collective
Other (please specify)
16.
Dance
TIARA & His Precious Gems
Vivian Valentine
Jenasis
Apollo
Other (please specify)
17.
Ambient/Soundtrack
Stephen Peppos
Otis Brooks
Ryan Farish
Other (please specify)
18.
Pop
Louissa
BJ Griffin
Emily Fraser
Otis Brooks
Ann Gray
Shaolinn
Akeylah Simone
Goldi
Jennifer Gammill
Sunny Moonshine
Shez Treble
Daniel Rodenfarb
Tyler Donavan
Shormey
Clementine
Erica Payne
LDG
Mrs Leakeye
Lavender Fire
Times New Roman
Other (please specify)
19.
Indie Pop
Shower Cry
Emerald Beach
The Last Bison
Broken Beaches
Berries
Step Pets
The Dharma Initiative
ghostStar
Rickshaw Derby
Pearloid
Coffee Resin
Maxwell LeVan
Hippie Love Party
LetteRDead
The Lazy Dangers
Wyatt Baldwin
Tim the Wzrd
Connor Kingston
Other (please specify)
20.
Punk/Garage
False Cape
Community Witch
RHDP
The Dual Gravitons
ALPHA
High Ideals
Spikepit
Other (please specify)
21.
Rockabilly/Retro
Katie and Billy Daniel
Mr Fang & the Dark Tones
Lucky 757
The Futuros
The Moats Dogs
Other (please specify)
22.
Metal
Magg Dylan
Cannabis Crypt
Death Harvest
Ursus Maximus
Deconflixion
Frakture
Por Vida
Croatan
Roccaforte
Edolus
Yeet Cleaver
Divided
Other (please specify)
23.
Alternative Rock
Knives Down
Jared Farrell
Turncoat Syndicate
Those Without a Name
Audiostrobelight
Suburban Key Party
Lori Creek
Torn By Fate
Jarrett Beeler
Madd Francis
Half Past Dead
Deep Creeker
Arms Bizarre
Starving Artists
Other (please specify)
24.
Rock
Daniel Clark
LeSabre
TA Gatling
Superfang
Exploding Sun
Bennett Wales & the Relief
T.S.A.F.
John Michael
A Man To Cook For
The Ramblers
Other (please specify)
25.
Classic Rock
The Folly
Secret Ingredients
Mike & Amy Aiken
Anthony Rosano
The Annie Johnson Band
Joel English
Shannon & The Reunion
Dean Kohler
Jim Bulliet
Peppos-Jones Band
Richard Spano
Donnie Kepley
Band of Consenting Adults
Jerad Alan
The Clue
Vernon Lee Holloman Jr
Cowboy Pirate Mafia
Other (please specify)
26.
Blues
Bluzhammer
Tina Micula
The Jason Cale Band
Paul Urban
No Agenda
The JD3 Band
Rob Oliver
The James Henry Morgan Gang
Bobby Black Hat Walters
Other (please specify)
27.
Folk/Acoustic
Jim Masters
Dan Pellegrino
Storyweavers
John Baldwin
(rOw
Jacob Vanko
Kadence
Dan Nash
Ben Phelps
Fox and The Bear
The Hookz
Stella Haile
Forest Flynn
Timothy Jernigan
Yes Now Is
Ashleigh Chevalier
Brian Gray
Teddy Krol
Aaron Firestone
Other (please specify)
28.
Jam/Psychedelic/Reggae
The Bread Collectors
Clay Benjack
One Culture
Ganjacat
Other (please specify)
29.
World Music
Tidewater Pipes & Drums
Amalita
Siren City Pipe Band
The Dunkirk Riots
Other (please specify)
30.
Live Band
Community Witch
Bobby Black Hat Walters
BJ Griffin
The Last Bison
Thee Nux Trio
Cultivated Mind
B Michelle
Celeste Kellogg
Mean Jesus
The Chong Band
Por Vida
The Fuzz Band
Anthony Rosano & The Conqueroos
Other (please specify)
31.
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
Other (please specify)
32.
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
Other (please specify)
33.
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
Other (please specify)
34.
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
Other (please specify)
35.
Classical Music Performance (Local soloists)
Christopher Kypros
Rebecca Gilmore
Stephen Coxe & Friends
Alexis Colner
Tidewater Classical Guitar Orchestra
The Invencia Piano Duo
Other (please specify)
36.
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
Other (please specify)
37.
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
Other (please specify)
38.
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
Other (please specify)
39.
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
Other (please specify)
40.
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
Other (please specify)
41.
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
Other (please specify)
42.
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
Other (please specify)
43.
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
Other (please specify)
44.
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”
Other (please specify)
45.
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”
Other (please specify)
46.
Music Instrument Retailer
Winter Sound
Music Go Round
Alpha Music
Russell’s Music World
AL&M
Guitar Center
Olde Towne Arts & Music
Other (please specify)
