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On Sunday, Feb. 26, 2023, the four-decades-running tradition of the Austin Music Awards returned to celebrate the best and brightest locally sourced music of the past year. See complete winners list. -
The evening began with the Austin Music Industry Awards. Pictured here: Rock n Roll Rentals, accepting the award for Best Equipment Rental -
Billie Buck, Industry Awards emcee -
Known for snapping gorgeous photos of the many corners in Austin’s live music scene, Samantha Tellez won the Best Music Photographer award for the first time. The shutterbug thanked local promoters Resound Presents, for whom she frequently shoots shows. -
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians (HAAM) (Best Music Nonprofit, Most Creative Event) -
Trish Connelly walked away with both hands full. Not only did her work with Hotel Vegas and Chess Club win her Best Booker, she also accepted Best Festival for Levitation – whose social media she runs – on behalf of Rob Fitzpatrick. “He wants to say thank you for all the support for 15 years. Austin Psych Fest and Levitation are going strong!” -
KUTX deejay Laurie Gallardo won for Best Radio Personality -
Eve Monsees & the Bucks, with special guests Steve Doerr, Dominique Davalos, and Kathy Valentine -
With his co-owner Jake Garcia overseas touring with the Black Angels, Nick Yaklin represented the 13th Floor, which relocated in August to the former Beerland space, for Best New Club. “Instead of actually playing shows and just going through them, hosting has been [an honor],” said Yaklin. -
South Austin Music (Best Instrument Repair) -
Spaceflight – revamped with a nonprofit model last year to represent artists like Big Bill, Christeene, and Urban Heat – took home Best Record Label. “We’ve only been around for three years. This is great. We’re trying something new with the music industry and it’s really fantastic that you enjoy us,” said Chief Marketing Officer Sam Wainwright Douglas. -
Billie Buck (Best Poster Artist) -
The Mohawk Bear and Billie Buck -
First-time setting of the AMAs, Mohawk also took home Best Live Music Venue. With a bartender dressed as the venue’s taxidermied mascot (also on theme for the Cocaine Bear release) roaring by his side, venue manager Zach Teesdale said: “Thank you to the musicians who made the choice to be an entrepreneur and take this path in life and bring people to our venue.” -
End of an Ear won Best Record Store for the first time ever, ending a decades long run by fellow vinyl emporium Waterloo Records. Surprised EOAE co-owners Blake Carlisle and Dan Plunkett accepted onstage, where the latter said, “We couldn’t do it without our staff and they’re not here. They’re all working.” -
HAAM -
Arlyn Studios (Best Recording Studio) -
KUTX (Best Radio Station) -
Austin drag queen and performance artist Brigitte Bandit acted as the evening’s unstoppable host: “Especially right now with everything that’s happening in the Texas Legislature, they’re trying to ban drag here in Texas, and I’m so here to be loud and queer and represent drag on this stage tonight.” -
Eve Monsees (pictured) and Mike Buck led the house band for the Austin Music Industry Awards. -
Walter Daniels, player in the house band for the Austin Music Industry Awards -
Billie Buck -
Como Las Movies kicked off the show, celebrating a year of electro-cumbia excellence like “Café” and “La Tiendita.” Packing the stage with instrumentalists, the band invited guest powerhouse vocals from Sabrina Ellis of A Giant Dog and Sweet Spirit. -
Como Las Movies -
Como Las Movies -
Como Las Movies -
Como Las Movies & Sabrina Ellis -
Como Las Movies & Sabrina Ellis -
Como Las Movies & Sabrina Ellis -
Blank Hellscape’s core trio took home Best Experimental. Ethan Billips said, “Keep money in the hands of musicians. Don’t take it from them. If you keep bands paid, the culture’s better, the sound is better.” To which Max Deems added, “I hate Ronald Reagan.” Andrew Nogay concluded, “I’m going to use this award to beat Elon Musk’s brain in.” -
Austin Chronicle Music Editor Rachel Rascoe -
Geena Spigarelli (Best Bassist) -
Michael Hale (Best Jazz) -
Best Hip-Hop nominee Blakchyl, ringing in 2022 records G.E.N.I.U.S. and broken communications from the outer rim, led the crowd alongside DJ Otto Beats. -
Blakchyl -
Blakchyl -
Blakchyl -
Blakchyl -
Congressman Greg Casar acted as special guest to induct KUTX deejay Laurie Gallardo into the Austin Music Industry Hall of Fame. Recapping his time in Washington, he said, “It’s the spirit of you guys that keeps me going and keeps me fighting for this city and our values.” -
“Seriously, Austin, what the fuck?” asked beloved KUTX host Laurie Gallardo after earning both Best Radio Personality and a spot in the Austin Music Industry Hall of Fame. “All ears and eyes are on Austin. We have KUTX listeners all over the world who say, ‘Thank you for introducing us to Urban Heat, Pleasure Venom, Die Spitz! Thank you for introducing us to Cheer Up Charlies, Continental Club, Mohawk!’” -
The Deer (Best Folk/Bluegrass) -
Good Looks (Best Rock) -
Mike Flanigin (Best Miscellaneous Instrument) -
Sue Foley matched her awards for Best Guitarist and Best Blues in her trademark hot pink. Remembering her introduction to Austin as a 21-year-old by blues legend Clifford Antone, she said: “At that time, there was a sound coming out of Austin that was completely unique. It was a new blues sound and a new reinvention of an old art form. That sound resonated up to Canada, where there was a little girl who wanted to play blues guitar.” -
Highlighting local record label Keeled Scales, the Keeled Scales Family Band worked in members of Good Looks (winners of Best Rock), the Deer (winners of Best Folk/Bluegrass), and Sun June. -
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Joey Hunt accepting the award for Music Video of the Year: BLK ODYSSY feat. Benny the Butcher & George Clinton, “Benny’s Got a Gun” (Dir. Joey Hunt & Juwan Elcock) -
Coming off a huge year of two solo records, Black Pumas’ Adrian Quesada swept Musician of the Year, Best Latin, and Best Producer. “I’ve been in Austin for about 25 years now, and it’s not always changing for the better, but I look around and see more diversity and inclusion than ever,” he said. “I see more opportunities and chances being taken than ever. I mean, look at this stage tonight.” -
Adrian Quesada -
Urban Heat earned Song of the Year for their Jonas Wilson-produced track “Have You Ever?” “To be seen, to be appreciated, to be recognized by this Austin community is just such an incredible honor,” said bandleader Jonathan Horstmann. -
Urban Heat -
Britt Daniel of Spoon accepting the award for Album of the Year -
Speaking on Spoon’s Album of the Year-winning Lucifer on the Sofa, Britt Daniel remarked on “moments where we just got really lucky… just those moments where something would happen that was unforeseen, you couldn’t have planned for, that was pretty magical. Those strokes of luck. That’s what I live for, and I feel very lucky tonight.” -
Britt Daniel of Spoon -
Lisa Cameron (Best Drummer/Percussionist) -
Accepting Best Drummer/Percussionist, Lisa Cameron (ST 37, Suspirians) detailed moving to Austin to play with Roky Erickson in 1983. “It’s like a sea of music,” she said. “The songs, the people, the culture. It’s just an amazing place, and I’m so blessed by the goddess to be here.” On Instagram, Cameron celebrated being “the first gender variant drum winner,” as well as a gig with new combo Misfit Gamelan. -
Big Wy’s Brass Band (Best Horns) -
Big Wy’s Brass Band -
Golden Dawn Arkestra (Best World) -
Deezie Brown accepts the award for Best Hip-Hop/Rap, with VHS camera in hand -
Deezie Brown -
Deezie Brown -
Flora & Fawna (Best Pop) -
Stacie Agnew (Best Pianist/Keyboardist) -
Continental Club owner Steve Wertheimer (right) presented Best Strings reigning champ Warren Hood with an induction into the Hall of Fame. “What an honor to be joining my dad [Champ Hood] in the Austin Music Hall of Fame, and to be born and raised in this amazing town,” said Hood. “I feel like every meaningful relationship in my life has come through music in one way or another. It’s up to all of us to keep this going – Austin is a special place.” -
Donning colors from the Trans Pride flag by Austin designer Franky L’Amour, Brigitte Bandit led a crowd chant of “Fuck Greg Abbott! Fuck Ted Cruz! Support local art!” -
Brennen Leigh (left) and Melissa Carper (right), both nominated for Best Country, traded songs as a trio with Kelly Willis (center). The swinging set included Leigh-and-Carper-penned track “Billy & Beau.” -
Brennen Leigh and Kelly Willis -
Melissa Carper -
Kelly Willis -
Following his unexpected death in April 2022, Daniel Sahad of Nané was inducted into the Hall of Fame with a large group of family and bandmates onstage. Sahad’s mother (left) emotionally thanked the crowd. “I know Daniel is looking down and smiling,” she said. “This is a moment of light in the middle of everything we’re going through. We are happy, and we’re going to sing very loud for him.” -
After their first year of bandhood, triple winners Die Spitz took home Best New Act, Best Punk, and Best Residency for their July 2022 Hotel Vegas run. Entering with her pants around her ankles, Ellie Livingston remarked: “I’d like to thank God and Lana Del Rey.” Kate Halter added, “Thank you to anyone that booked us, believed in us at any point, and anyone who’s ever moshed at our shows.” Later, as the band swirled up an excited crowd at Mohawk with selections from 2023 EP Teeth, bandmember Ava Schrobilgen said: “Moshing at the AMAs?! You crazy little bastards.” -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Sir Woman (Band of the Year) -
Sir Woman -
Jackie Venson and drummer Rodney Hyder closed out the evening with soaring blues rock following a huge musical year, wrapped by a sold-out January residency at Antone’s. -
Jackie Venson -
Jackie Venson -
Jackie Venson -
Kevin Curtin of The Austin Chronicle hosted a live interview setup on Mohawk’s inside stage with winners and performers. -
Kevin Curtin & Brigitte Bandit -
DJ Chorizo Funk -
Blank Hellscape -
Henry Invisible -
Mike Buck -
Geena Spigarelli -
Lisa Cameron -
Golden Dawn Arkestra -
Flora & Fauna -
Como Las Movies & Sabrina Ellis -
Sabrina Ellis -
Kevin Curtin -
Warren Hood -
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol -
Tomar and the FCs -
Tomar and the FCs -
Die Spitz -
Die Spitz -
Greg Casar -
Sue Foley -
Laurie Gallardo -
Mike Flanagin -
Good Looks -
Adrian Quesada -
Urban Heat -
Sir Woman -
Warren Hood -
Sir Woman -
Geena Spigarelli -
Sue Foley -
DJ Chorizo Funk -
Lisa Cameron -
Henry Invisible -
Rock n Roll Rentals -
Blank Hellscape -
Deezie Brown -
Big Wy’s Brass Band -
South Austin Music -
Trish Connelly -
The Mohawk Bear -
Amanda Justice -
Rickshaw Billie’s Burger Patrol -
Mike Flanagin -
HAAM -
Samantha Tellez -
Die Spitz -
The 13th Floor -
Stacie Agnew -
Flora & Fawna -
Laurie Gallardo -
KUTX -
Tomar and the FCs -
Arlyn Studios -
Spaceflight Records -
End of an Ear owners Dan Plunkett (left) and Blake Carlisle -
Good Looks -
Golden Dawn Arkestra -
HAAM Day -
Adrian Quesada -
Music Video of the Year: BLK ODYSSY feat. Benny the Butcher & George Clinton, “Benny’s Got a Gun” (Dir. Joey Hunt & Juwan Elcock) -
Urban Heat
Photos From 2022-2023 Austin Music Awards
