BEST RECORDING STUDIO / ENGINEER
BEST FUNK / R&B ARTIST / GROUP
Walter Westinghouse
Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band
Walter Westinghouse is an audio engineer for Higher Ground, Signal Kitchen and for the band NEKTones. He’s engineered albums for local and national bands alike, including Rough Francis and Marco Benevento.
Other finalists: • Ryan Cohen, Robot Dog Studio: 25 Omega Dr., Williston, 355-7926, robotdogstudio. bandcamp.com • Dave DeCristo, Signal Kitchen: 71 Main St., Burlington, 399-2337, signalkitchen.com • Andre Maquera, West Street Digital: 1444 West St., Fairfield, 524-1150, weststreetdigital. com • Colin McCaffrey: P.O. Box 58, East Montpelier, 454-1313, colinmccaffrey.com • Rob O’Dea & Chris Collette, The Tank: 274 North Winooski Ave., Burlington, 448-2655, tankstudio.org
COURTESY OF JOSIE LEAVITT
A+E
The Burlington band is aptly named, and front woman Kat Wright leads it with a sultry croon. Beginning as the house band for Radio Bean, Wright and co. have grown to be one of the Queen City’s most dynamic and popular groups. (katwrightsoulband.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
Dave Grippo Band: grippofunkband.com Funkwagon: funkwagon.com Gang of Thieves: thegangofthieves.com Grundlefunk: grundlefunkmusic.com
BEST JAZZ / BLUES ARTIST /GROUP
Kat Wright & the Indomitable Soul Band
Yes, they’re technically a soul band. But the lineup boasts some of the area’s finest jazz players, including keyboardist Shane Hardiman and horn players Luke LaPlant, Jake Whitesell and Dave Purcell. Oh, and Kat ain’t so bad herself. (katwrightsoulband.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
Paul Asbell: paulasbell.com Dwight & Nicole: dwightandnicole.com Jenni Johnson: jennijohnson.net Vorzca: myspace.com/vorcza
BEST ROCK ARTIST / GROUP
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals
BONUS BEST-DRESSED MAN
Andrew Cliff Burlington
BEST AMERICANA ARTIST / GROUP
SEVEN DAYSIES 2014
Waylon Speed
30
If we had to predict the next Vermont band to make national waves, our money would be on Waylon Speed. These local road warriors continue to draw larger and larger crowds far and wide. Sure, they like to spike their twang with a little metal now and then. But, hey, it’s worked pretty well for Hank3, right? (waylonspeed.com)
Other finalists: • Burlington Bread Boys: soundcloud.com/ burlington-bread-boys • Brett Hughes: reverbnation.com/bretthughes • Rev. Ben Donovan and the Congregation: Facebook • Tallgrass Getdown: Facebook
The Waitsfield-born rock diva, backed by the Nocturnals, is Vermont’s second-most-famous musical export after Phish. But Potter and co. haven’t forgotten their homies. The band launched the Burlington music festival Grand Point North, held in September. (gracepotter.com)
BEST STANDUP COMIC
BEST ELECTRONIC MUSIC DJ /GROUP
Craig Mitchell
Multiple Daysies winner Craig Mitchell is a Burlington house favorite in the DJ booth, making his own music or playing a wild mix of others’. Now also DJing at Planet 96.7, Mitchell brings the party to the podcast, dance floor and radio dial. (soundcloud.com/djcraigmitchell)
Other finalists: • Rough Francis: rock-n-rollvictim.blogspot.com • Josh Panda and the Hot Damned: joshpanda.com • Vaporizer: vaporizermetal.com • Waylon Speed: waylonspeed.com
BEST HIP-HOP ARTIST / GROUP
The Lynguistic Civilians
Hip-hop in Vermont? There’s no longer any doubt, in large part thanks to Walshie Steeze, LC, Mike Fulton and Mr. Burns. This quartet brings integrity and ingenuity to the party, along with “gargantuan beats.” (thelynguisticcivilians.com)
Other finalists: • • • •
A2VT: a2vt.com The Aztext: theaztext.com Bless the Child: blessthechild802.com VT Union: Facebook
DJ A-Dog
DJ A-Dog
Special posthumous honors go to beloved Burlington DJ A-Dog, aka Andy Williams, who succumbed to cancer in late 2013. (soundcloud. com/djadog)
Other finalists: • DJ Disco Phantom: djdiscophantom. wordpress.com • DJ Llu: djllu.com • DJ Rekkon: Facebook
Josie Leavitt
Josie Leavitt is the matriarch of Vermont’s burgeoning standup comedy scene. In fact, were it not for her efforts, the state might not have a standup scene at all. The New York City transplant and Flying Pig Bookstore co-owner is not only one of the funniest people around; she’s a great teacher, too. Her comedy classes through FlynnArts in Burlington have churned out more talented local comics than we can count. A few of them now rank as members of Vermont’s longestrunning standup crew, the Vermont Comedy Divas, which Leavitt founded. josieleavittcomedy.com