The finalists have been announced for this year’s Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards
Here are the names of the finalists for the 2023 Appalachian Arts & Entertainment Awards aslisted with their respective categories: To purchase tickets to the ceremony go to www.macarts.com or call 1-888-MAC-ARTS.
Best High School Band:
Ricky Wells: VA
James Madison High School: VA
Dobyns Bennett High School: TN
Best High School Choir:
Christian County High School: KY
Franklin County High School: KY
Juliet High School: TN
Best Music Educator:
Route 60: West Virginia
Amy Conley: KY
Clyde and Steve Porter: KY
Best Acting/Drama/Speech Educator:
The school for creative and performing arts: Ohio
Youth Performing Arts Center, KY
The Barter Theatre, VA
Best Dance Educator:
Jody Shepherd: Dance Etc.- KY
Carla Gover: Appalachian Flatfooting & Clogging Academy – KY
Morristown School of Dance Arts – TN
Best Art Educator:
Joshua Spencer: KY
The school for creative and performing arts: Ohio
Queen City Clay: Ohio
Written Works
Best Author/Writer:
Amanda Turner, Kentucky
Robyn Chapman, Ohio
Treyton Blackburn, Kentucky
Best Poet:
Crystal Wilkinson: KY
George Ecklund: KY
William S. Tribell, Tennessee
Visual Arts
Best Digital/Mixed Media Artist:
Payton Martin: KY
Cheyenne Smith: KY
Chris Burkhardt: KY
Best Graphic Designer:
Jimbo Valentine: WV
Jessalynn Bowman: KY
Frida Gonzalez: KY
Best Painting:
Curtis Eades: KY
Gabe Lewis: NY
Tiffini Scherbing: KY
Best Sculpture/Pottery:
Bob Barinski, SC
Payton Martin, KY
Link Henderson, KY
Best Tattoo Artist:
Michael Wilcox: WV
Carmelo: OH
Laura Saadati Kepper: TN
Best Photography:
Lisa Morrow: Mississippi
Larry Epling: KY
Sarah Cahill: KY
Best Cartoonist/Illustrator:
Chris Burkhardt: KY
Frida Gonzalez: KY
Kayla Freeman: KY
Best Textile:
Eugene Swafford: KY
Tiffany Miller: KY
New Frontier: KY
Best Jewelry Design:
Kathy Stout: WV
Anne Vaughan: VA
Cummings Jewelry Design: AL
Music and Film:
Best Social Media Influencer:
Taylor Hughes: Tennessee
Kentucky Music Mafia: Kentucky
Appalachian Forger (Whitney Johnson): KY
Best Original Movie/Short Film/ Documentary:
Greg Austin: The Austin City Saloon Years: Kentucky
Shaped by Fire: Kentucky
Returns: BY William S Tribell: TN
EP of the Year:
Burn BY No Deceit: KY
Nothing to Lose BY Luke Trimble: KY
The Opening Act BY Jayce Turley: KY
Album of the Year:
Appalachian Dream BY Cody Howard: KY
Let Me Know, BY Corduroy Brown, West Virginia
Branden Martin, Kentucky
Industry
Best Radio Personality:
Beer Man with 92.1 WBVX Classic Rock FM: KY
Brittany Rowe with Mountain Top Media: KY
Dennis DillonWith WBVX Classic Rock 92.1 FM: KY
Best Podcast:
Austin Shuck: KY
Bryan Combs: KY
Steel Magnolias Podcast: TN
Best Small Live Music Venue (500 seats or fewer):
Twisted Cork: KY
Bluegrass Barrel House: KY
The Alley on Main: KY
Best Large Live Music Venue (501 seats or greater):
Paramount Arts Center: KY
Appalachian Wireless Arena : KY
Riverbend Ohio
Best Luthier:
John Ryster: KY
Panzer Guitars, OH
Eric Schaefer Guitars: PA
Best Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer:
Kyle Manner: TN
6oh6 entertainment, KY
Jonathan Goodwin, KY
Best Music Festival:
Manchester Music Festival, KY
Blue Ridge Rock Festival, VA
Carolina Country Music Fest, SC
Festival of The Red: KY
Best Television Host/Personality:
Chad Hedrick with WKYT: Lexington, KY
Julie Newman with PBS Appalachia: Abbington, VA
Lynda Fontaine with Holsten Valley Broadcasting: Kingsport ,TN
Genre:
Best Americana:
Mama Said String Band, KY
Nolan Taylor, KY
Trippin Roots, KY
Best Bluegrass:
Coaltown Dixie: Kentucky
The Goodwin Brothers: Kentucky
Bobby Maynard and Family: West Virginia
Best Blues:
TeeDee Young, Kentucky
David Brown Wayward Blues, NC
Best Country:
Cody Lee Meece & The Poor Excuses: Kentucky
Kentucky Music Mafia: Kentucky
Twitty and Lynn: Tennessee
Eight Daze Sober: KY
Best Funk/R&B/Reggae:
Big Black Cadillac: KY
Joslyn & The Sweet Compression: Kentucky
Jessie Laine Powell: Kentucky
Best Religious/Worship/Spiritual:
Mel Lynn, Kentucky
My Brother’s Keeper: Ohio
Best Hip Hop/Rap:
Lil Jesse: Kentucky
Charlie Brown Superstar: WV
Bryson Tiller: Kentucky
Best Indie/Indie Folk:
Brett And Donnie, Kentucky
Corduroy Brown, West Virginia
Townsel Turner, Kentucky
Best Jazz/Latin/Big Band /World:
Big Sugg and the Jazz FUNckers: Kentucky
Jessie Laine Powell: Kentucky
Gwen Hughes and the Retro Kats: GA
One Leg Up: NC
Best Metal/Punk:
What Drives the Weak, Kentucky
Mirrored Image, Kentucky
Best Original Song:
My Brother’s Keeper: Ohio
Cody Lee Meece: Kentucky
Brando Vanschoyck: Kentucky
Best Pop:
RAGS AND RICHES, Kentucky
Wicked Peace, Kentucky
Hailey Newman, Kentucky
Best Rock:
The Moon Dogs: Kentucky
Mel Lynn: Kentucky
Blacktop Rodeo: KY
Best Singer Song-Writer:
Zoe Howard & Yellow Line, Kentucky
Nolan Taylor, Ohio
Brando Vanschoyck, Kentucky
Performance
Best Bassist:
Trevor Litteral, KY
Mike Anglin, KY
Oliver Sayani, TN
Best Cover Band/ Variety Act:
Eight Daze Sober: KY
The Allman Butter Band, KY
Nathan and Chesi Arnett: KY
Best Drummer/ Percussionist:
Jeremy “Wood” Roberts: WV
Honey: KY
Jeremy Toler: KY
Best Guitarist:
David Prince: KY
Oliver Sayani: TN
Jonathan Goodwin: KY
Best Strings (Non-guitar/bass):
Titus Luckhaupt: Ohio
Jr. Williams: KY
Corbin Bentley: KY
Best Female Vocalist (Any style):
Bek Smallwood:KY
Taylor Hughes: TN
Hailey Newman: KY
Best Male Vocalist (Any style):
Brando Vanschoych: KY
Nolan Taylor: KY
Cody Lee Meece: KY
Landau Eugene Murphy Jr: WV
Best Wind and Brass
Trent Litteral: KY
Matthew Polashek: KY
Philip Summers: WV
