2021/2022 Austin Music Awards Winners

On Tuesday, March 8, the four-decades-running tradition of the Austin Music Awards returned to celebrate the best and brightest locally-sourced music of the past year.

Presented by the Society for the Preservation of Texas Music, The Austin Chronicle, and Capital Metro, the storied show’s first time on the Emo’s stage fundraised for essential artist-serving nonprofit the SIMS Foundation. Between performances by Money Chicha, Carolyn Wonderland, Greyhounds, Deezie Brown, Sir Woman and more, we rolled out the highest vote-grabbers in categories across artists, albums, and instrumentalists.

Find all the winners from the 40th Annual Austin Music Awards below:

BEST OF THE YEAR

Band of the Year: Heartless Bastards

Nominees (listed alphabetically throughout):
BLK ODYSSY
Nané
Sir Woman
Sun June

Best New Act: Pussy Gillette

Nominees:
Alexalone
Animals on TV
Chief Cleopatra
Nuevo

Musician of the Year: Charley Crockett

Nominees:
Akina Adderley
Dayglow
Sam Houston (BLK ODYSSY)
Mobley

Songwriter of the Year: James McMurtry

Nominees:
Abhi the Nomad
Amigo the Devil
Molly Burch
Erika Wennerstrom

Album of the Year: BLK ODYSSY - BLK VINTAGE

Nominees:
Deezie Brown & Jake Lloyd, Geto Gala
Alejandro Escovedo, La Cruzada
Glassing, Twin Dream
Go Fever, Velvet Fist
Money Chicha, Chica Summit
Strand of Oaks, In Heaven
Sun June, Somewhere
Tele Novella, Merlynn Belle
Jackie Venson, Love Transcends

Song of the Year: Sir Woman - "Blame It on the Water"

Nominees:
Hovvdy, "True Love"
Zach Person, "Can't Stop Running”
Spoon, "The Hardest Cut”
Van Mary, "Connie Converse"

Music Video of the Year: Sir Woman - "Party City" (Dir. Barbara FG)

Nominees:
Calliope Musicals, "Dr. Pepper" (Dir. Kate Blaising)
Harry Edohoukwa, "Zombies" (Dir. Peter L)
Golden Dawn Arkestra, "I Deserve Success" (Dir. Ben Blanchard)
Mobley, Young & Dying in the Occident Supreme (Dir. Mobley)

BEST BY GENRE

Best Blues: Carolyn Wonderland

Nominees:
Sue Foley
Little Elmore Reed Blues Band
Eve Monsees
Buffalo Nichols

Best Country: Charley Crockett

Nominees:
Croy & the Boys
Kathryn Legendre
Mike & the Moonpies
Jonathan Terrell

Best DJ: DJ Mel

Nominees:
DJ Chorizo Funk
DJ Shani
Joaqu.n
uLovei

Best Electronic: p1nkstar

Nominees:
Botany
Henry Invisible
Paul Oakenfold
Qrion

Best Experimental: Glasshealer

Nominees:
Blank Hellscape
Future Museums
More Eaze
USA/Mexico

Best Folk/Bluegrass: David Ramirez

Nominees:
The Deer
Natalie Jane Hill
Tony Kamel
Little Mazarn

Best Hip-Hop/Rap: Magna Carda

Nominees:
Chucky Blk
Deezie Brown
Mama Duke
J Soulja

Best Jazz: Ephraim Owens

Nominees:
Elias Haslinger
Nori
Altin Sencalar
Red Young

Best Latin: Gina Chavez

Nominees:
El Combo Oscuro
Money Chicha
Shiela
Kiko Villamizar

Best Metal: We Don't Ride Llamas

Nominees:
Glassing
Portrayal of Guilt
Spirit Adrift
Witchcryer

Best Pop: Molly Burch

Nominees:
Dayglow
Primo the Alien
Kady Rain
TC Superstar

Best Punk: Sailor Poon

Nominees:
Big Bill
Hotmom
Pocket Fishrmen
Pussy Gillette

Best Rock: The Dead Coats

Nominees:
Alexalone
Go Fever
Zach Person
Nolan Potter’s Nightmare Band

Best Soul/R&B: BLK ODYSSY

Nominees:
Jake Lloyd
Eimaral Sol
Aaron Stephens
Tomar & the FCs

Best World: Golden Dawn Arkestra

Nominees:
Atash
Ley Line
Nemegata
Zoumountch

BEST AUSTIN MUSICIANS

Best Vocalist: TIE - Ruthie Foster & Kelsey Wilson (Sir Woman)

Nominees:
Molly Burch
Daniel Sahad (Nané)
Eimaral Sol

Best Drummer/Percussionist: J.J. Johnson

Nominees:
Stephen Bidwell
Gregory Clifford
Daniel Dufour
Masumi Jones

Best Guitarist: Carolyn Wonderland

Nominees:
Cat Clemons III
Willie Pipkin
Alejandro Rios
Nay Wilkins

Best Horns: Ephraim Owens

Nominees:
Big Wy's Brass Band
Jason Frey
Elias Haslanger
Andre Hayward

Best Pianist/Keyboardist: Emily Gimble

Nominees:
Henri Herbert
JaRon Marshall
Micah Motenko
Dr. James Polk

Best Miscellaneous Instrument: Sweet Gary Newcomb - pedal steel

Nominees:
Birdlegg, harmonica
Jeff Johnston, saw
Mobley, audience member drum
Sadie Wolfe, cello

Best Strings/Fiddle: Warren Hood

Nominees:
Beth Chrisman
Alvin Crow
Dennis Ludiker
Blake Whitmaire

Best Bassist: Sarah Brown

Nominees:
Kinseli Baricuatro
Marcus Bell
Sam Pankey
Kevin Smith

We had an even more intimate awards ceremony for the Austin Music Industry Awards earlier this month. You can find that list of winners on its own page. They deserve it!