The 2025 RI Music Awards are off and running! You can vote now at the survey link above. Every year, a typo surfaces as soon as this goes out, despite our best efforts. If you’re the lucky band we’ve misspelled, we apologize and hope you’ll let us know so we can fix it as quickly as possible!
Meanwhile, please vote for your local favorites, and save the date for our free event announcing the winners on Monday, Mar 24 at Fête Music Hall in PVD. This is an industry night that celebrates local music of every genre. The process, as ever, is that we approach all the local venue bookers, owners, labels, music writers and music radio shows we can to elicit their favorite local bands of all kinds. We synthesize that, tally the votes, take out the ones that aren’t really from around here or broke up, and boom, there are the nominees. This year we approached over 120 sources and heard back from over 40.
You may also notice a few names missing – last year we started a Legends program that has acts that have won three times in a row sitting out for a year. DJ Pauly Danger, Karaoke Night at the Parlour, and electronica act Artist Jackie and the Wizard are all sitting out this year to give others a shot, while past legends Steve Smith and the Nakeds, Neal & the Vipers, The Parlour’s Open Mic, and The Rhode Island Gay Men’s Chorus are back in the fray after a year off. •
AMERICANA
Favorite Americana Act
Consuelo’s Revenge
Dusty & The Brakes
Ghost Cat Rodeo
Highwater Haulers
How’s About Charlie
The River Provides
Tyler Nail
World Music
Club D’Elf
Cory Pesaturo
DakouDakou
Museum Legs
Sidy Maiga
Turas
Winds of Alluria
Yacouba Diabate
Latinx
Colombian Riddim
Comó Qué Wao
G Honey La Jefa
Maria Rose
Robertico Arias
Favorite R&B Act
Alexus Lee
The Autocrats
Hennessy
Slim Goody
Steve Smith and the Nakeds
Paul Sweet P Williams
Favorite Live Americana Act
The Beth Barron String Band
Bird & Augur
Consuelo’s Revenge
High Planes
Highwater Haulers
How’s About Charlie
The Whelks
Favorite Country Act
Ghost Cat Rodeo
Jake Hunsinger & the Rock Bottom Band
The Soapbox Saints
Tyler-James Kelly
Favorite Open Mic
Acoustic Java Jam
Myrtle Monthly Open Mic
The Parlour
Stone Soup Coffeehouse Open Mic
Symposium Records
The Tap in Cumberland
Wednesday Acoustic Lounge by Matt Fraza at Pump House Music Works
Favorite Singer/Songwriter
Allison Rose
Beth Barron
Bill Cole
Courtney Swain
Jay Rabbit
Justin Arena
Keith McCurdy
Leah Popovic
Molly O’Leary
Natalie Paige
Olivia Dolphin
Tyler-James Kelly
Tyler Nail
Favorite Americana Vocalist
Bethany Killian
Jay Rabbit
Jo Celine
John Faraone
Julie Rhodes
Maddie Cardoza
Mary McAvoy
Meera Raphael
Nicole Gauthier
Paula Claire
Polly Bessette
Favorite Jazz Act
Ben Shaw
Daniel Hill
Dan Morretti
Evening Sky
John Allmark Jazz Quintet
Leland Baker
Paper Moon Jazz Band
Thomas White Trio
Favorite Concert Photographer
Evil Robb
Gwen Kavanaugh
James Lastowski
Jenn Lombari
Ken Abrams
Lawless Concerts
Richard McCaffery
Rick Farrell
Small Frye Photography
Favorite Blues Act
Ash and Bone
Bob Angell
Cannibal Ramblers
Cee Cee and the Riders
Corinne Southern & the Constellations
Julie Rhodes
Kim Trusty Trio
Neil and the Vipers
Ryan Lee Crosby
Favorite Choral Act
Carrilon Women’s Choir
Chorus of Westerly
Collegium Ancora
Ensemble Altera
Providence Rock Voices
Providence Singers
Quahog Quire
RI Gay Men’s Chorus
Favorite Bluegrass Band
Squirrel Hunters
The Vox Hunters
The Whelks
Four Bridges
High Planes
Favorite Folk Act
Bird and Augur
Dim Lights
Jacob Haller
Number One Babe
Polly Bessette
Princess June
Undercover Cameo
The Vox Hunters
Street Band/ Brass Band/ Marching Band (Mobile)
Black Out Drum Squad
Catnip Junkies
Coyote Brass Band
Extraordinary Rendition Band
Kickin’ Brass Band
Providence Drum Troupe
Large Instrumental Ensemble (Stationary)
The American Band
Aurea Ensemble
Guilded Age Orchestra of Newport
Narragansett Bay Symphony
Community Orchestra
Providence Community String Orchestra
RI Wind Ensemble
Westerly Town Band
Favorite Americana Festival
Bristol PorchFest
Providence Porch Fest
Rhode Island Folk Festival
River Bend East Festival
Schiavone Fest
Warren Folks Festival
Favorite Americana Album
Dan Moretti – “Dan Moretti & Brazillia: Live at the Pump House Music Works”
Greg Sherrod – “Providence”
Hemlok – “Witch King”
High Planes – “Sweet Vacancy”
J. Michael Graham – “Stuck”
Polly Bessette – “Pocketful of Melodies”
Tyler-James Kelly – “Dream River”
Favorite Small-Med Venue
193 Coffee House
Alchemy
AS220 Blackbox
Galactic Theatre
Java Madness
The Knickerbocker
Lost Bag
Myrtle
Narragansett Café
Nick-A-Nees
The Parlour
PumpHouse Music Works
ALTERNATIVE
Favorite Alt-Rock Act
92 Winona
Brown Apples
Devil’s Twins
Dred Buffalo
Eclectic Electric
Jake Wasson Malpractice
Lookers
The Quahogs
Starbath
Wool
Favorite Jam Band
Appala’s Eclipse
Ghost Mojo
Guess Method
Jabbawaukee
Older Brother
Slurp
The Xtet
Indie Rock
Cool Beverages
Matt Fraza Band
Meridian
Pondering
Prior Panic
Sue’s Garage
Sun Urchins
Twin Foxes
Wool
Favorite Pop Act
Derek Carvalho
Dust Ruffles
Heather Rose In Clover
Mary McAvoy
Viana Valentine
Yonks
Favorite Alt/ Rock Live Act
Artist Jackie and the Idiots
Brown Apples
Dred Buffalo
Eclectic Electric
Ravi Shavi
Ski Bunny
Sourpunch
StarBath
The Benjis
The Quahogs
Ruff Feechers
Favorite Reggae Act
Clatta Bumboo
Dudemanbro
JahRiffe
Natural Element
Professor Roots
Roots Government
Sunshine Melodies
Favorite SKA Band
The Agents
Brunt of It
Jungle Dogs
Soulshot
Sweet Babylon
They Were Robots
Favorite Garage Band
92 Winona
Atlantic Thrills
Brown Apples
Detroit Rebellion
Gamma Rage
Harvey Garbage
Nymphidels
Six Star General
Favorite Noise Act
Baylies Band
Gl_tchcraft
Harpy Minibeast
Psychic Graveyard
Slepting
THERE
Favorite Pop-Punk Act
All Along
The Callouts
Heather Rose In Clover
Serious Goose
Stubborn Hearts
The War In Kids
Favorite Punk Act
Blood Feeder
Jackie and the Idiots
Jake Wassons Malpractice
Klaxon
Leatherrax
McGunks
Patsy Decline
Sourpunch
Structure Sounds
Typhoid Mary
Favorite Hardcore Act
A Dying Breed
Goblin Brain
The Hammer Party
Human Hunting Tactics
Told Not to Worry
The Traverse
Favorite Metal Act
Ancient Torment
Burr
Car Girlfriend
Coma Hole
Demon Chrome
Infernal Occult
Teazer 2000
XpressO
Favorite PROG Act
Bean
Geomancer
Hemlock
Luciform Quartet
People Eating Plastic
Strip Mall
Favorite Emo Act
Delko
Loudsounds
Professor Caffeine
Scaffolding
Secret Cigarette
Two Boys Kissing
Favorite Cover Band
Blaster
Amber Rose and the Renegades
The Carson Daily
The Mary Janes Collective
Midnight Metaphor
Nickel Jukebox
Nothing Personal
Playing Mantis
Purple Honey
Rory and The Blues Hounds
Swamp Yankee
Tanya McIntyre and the Professors
Wicked Rhode
Witzend
Favorite Tribute Band
19th Nervous Breakdown (Rolling Stones)
David Tessier’s The Monkees (The Monkees)
Funky Submarine (Beatles)
Green Sabbath (Green Day / Black Sabbath)
King Jeremy (Pearl Jam)
Looks that Kill (Mötley Crüe)
Lotus Land (Rush)
Malice In Chains (Alice in Chains)
Oblivious Fools (Phish)
Rob Davis (Pink Floyd)
The Robert Black Band (Creedence Clearwater Revival)
Sunday Girl (Blondie)
Violin River (Grateful Dead)
The Winehouse Project (Amy Winehouse)
Favorite Alt/Rock Vocalist
Alerisa Rose (Dred Buffalo)
Beth Killian (How’s about Charlie)
Malyssa Bellarosa (Gamma Rage)
Maryssa Morse (The Benji’s)
Muggs Fogarty (Lookers)
Nicole Coogan (Devil’s Twins)
Paul Everett (Hope Anchor)
Rafay Rashid (Ravi Shavi)
Rick Corbett (Paranoid Android)
Roz Raskin (NOVA One)
Steve Delmonico (The Quahogs)
Tori Hall (Dogs on Shady Lane)
Tracey Chevrolet (Ski Bunny)
Breakthrough Alt Act
92 Winona
Cindy7
Dakou Dakou
Marble House
St. Joe & the Dorms
THERE
Favorite Rock Album
Appala’s Eclipse – “Appala’s Eclipse 2”
Burn Herm and Gasoline Monk – “Hermit and the Monk”
FINE. – “W(H)OLE”
Gamma Rage – “Self-Titled”
Grizzlies – “Love in Short Paragraphs”
Minky Starshine – “Boozers Gloom and a Pinch of Anxiety”
Moss Boy’s – “Throw Me A Bone”
Olivia Dolphin – “Better”
Favorite Alt Festival
Daytrill
Fuck the Fourth Fest
Pronkfest
Punks for Pets
PVD Fest
Schiavone Fest
Scurvy Dog Mega Show
Wooly Fair
Favorite Sound Person
Brian Cabral
Erik Gharahee
Greg Bass
Jerome O’Neal
Pat Gilbert
Sammy D’Ambruoso
Skylar Batz
Vinnie Bellows
WS Monroe
Favorite Promoter
Aaron Jaehnig
Danielle Tellier
Jess Salemi
John Difruscio
John-Francis Quiñonez
Mark D’Arezzo
Michael Panico
Natalie Vanlandingham and Tommy Allen
Nick Lowney
Rob Duguay
Favorite Music Video
Dred Buffalo – “Say So”
Hemlock – “Witch King”
Polly Bessette – “Sane Baby”
Hawk in the Nest – “Don’t Leave Me This Way”
John Larson and The Silver Fields – “Guilty by Association”
Lastself – “Past Lives”
Favorite Videographer
Alex Watrous
Asim Barakzai
Clymene A Fox
Dana Tarr
Nadine Ballantyne
Rich Ferri
Vinnie Bellows
ELECTRONIC
Favorite Hip-Hop Act
Chach
Chachi Carvahlo
Dirty Durdie
Drent The Hate Street Dialogue
Jesse The Tree
Nino Francis
Ronald Raygun
Toad & The Stooligans
Favorite Hip-Hop Album
Jessie the Tree – “Not Fade Away”
NAHreally –“Secret Pancake”
Nino Francis – “Demo”
The Hate Street Dialogue – “The Hate Tape”
Breakthrough Hip-Hop Act
NAHreally
Nel Fuoco
NNE Michael
Young Dough (Dorian Amado)
Favorite DJ
Arden Antes
DJ Faust
DJ Venom
Greenwood HiFi
Matt Carey
Providence Deep Underground
Dan Rourke
Ty Jesso
Where’s Nasty
YooNorlan
Favorite Dance Night
Bootscootin’ Bougie at Myrtle
DiscoTech PVD at the Parlour
Dyke Night at the Salon
Fly Fridays at The Dark Lady
Foundation Monday at the Parlour
Planeta at Machines with Magnets
Procession at Alchemy
Sabado Gigante: A Latin / International Dance Night at the Salon
Soul Power at Alchemy
Tight Crew Twerk Fridays at Ego
Favorite Burlesque Performer
Acadia
Belle Gunz
BettySioux Tailor
Dahlia Strack
Guilted Lily
Audacious
Gwenitalia
Jane Doe
Lopez la Lopez
Luv Bytes
Maiden X
Odette Goode
Zon Legacy Phoenix
Favorite Dance Venue
Alley Cat
Black Sheep
Colosseum
Ego
The Event Factory Kitchen and Stage
Medici
Mirabar
Platforms
The Red Door
The Salon
Sport & Leisure
Favorite Electronic Act
Baby Baby…
Caloric
Droplets
Dusknight
Expresso
Favourite
Gl_tchcraft
Orion
Snowbeasts
Gothic / Post – Punk Act
Allysen Callery
Hemlok
Hope Anchor
Luci Dead Limb
Olivia Dolphin
Silver Dagger
Vudu Sister
Experimental
Animal Face
Bill Bartholomew
Claire Annette
Electric Paisan
Gabriela Rassi
Gyna Bootleg
