Going on 35 years strong, the San Diego Music Awards this year announced its nominees for the first time in front of a live audience at the Music Box hosted by Rick Lawrence, Tim Pyles, Lou Niles and Timothy “TJ” Joseph.
Singer-songwriter Steve Poltz will receive this year’s lifetime achievement award. After Pyles delivered the news, he laughed and said about Poltz, “He’s still only 50 years old!”
Slightly Stoopid, Swami John Reis, The Frights, Daring Greatly and Obed Padilla were among the artists who received multiple nominations.
The event also unveiled the performers at this year’s San Diego Music Awards show, on May 6 t Humphrey’s Concerts by the Bay. The Frights, Young Lions Jazz Conservatory, Steve Poltz, sullvn, San Diego Blues Allstars, Agent 51 and Obed Padilla will all play at the show.
The winners will be chosen partially through a public vote and partially through the academy’s consideration. Online voting begin at noon on Wednesday, Feb. 25, and continues until 5 p.m. March 31, at sdmusicawards.com.
To be considered for nomination performers must be based in San Diego and must have done one live show in San Diego in 2025. Recordings must have been released between Jan. 1, 2025 to Dec. 31, 2025, and be available for purchase either in a record store or online to be considered.
Tickets go on sale at noon Wednesday on the award show’s website for the May 6 ceremony. Proceeds from the tickets will go to the San Diego Music Foundation, which aims to fill the gaps in music education in local schools through initiatives like providing guitars.
There will also be pre-award show showcases, the first of which will be at the Center for Performing Arts in Escondido on April 10. More of those will be announced next Monday.
Now, on to the nominees:
Album of the Year
Agent 51 – Age of ValidationAnthony Cullins – Inside Out & Backwards Buck-O-Nine – Cut Out The NoiseObed Padilla – Do You Still Love Me?Swami John Reis – Time To Let You DownThe Frights – Ready When You AreWavves – Spun
Song of the Year
almost monday – lostP.O.D. – I Won’t Bow DownPierce The Veil – Kiss Me NowShane Hall & Ash Easton – Midnight PineSlightly Stoopid – Step Into The SunSwitchfoot (with Buddy Guy) – Last Man StandingThee Sacred Souls – We Don’t Have to Be Alone
Artist of the Year
Obed PadillaPierce the VeilRebecca JadeSlightly StoopidSwami John ReisThe FrightsThe Schizophonics
Best New Artist
DoylestownJetteePayback & AssociatesSaint MistyTigers in CairoVurvYou Can Call Me Sugar
Best Video
Almost Monday – enjoy the rideCheyenne Benton – LessonsEmilia Vaughn – Rock Music, Girl Secrets The Gravities – Stuck In The DesertEric Sage – Rise Up San Diego KBong – Good News Doah’s Daydream – Girls Girl
Best Folk or Acoustic Song
Dylan Razwick x Tavia – KaleidoscopeHighline Trail – When I DieJeff Berkley – AbracadabraMark Montijo – Apricot MoonPatch & Maggi – AliveThe Beard and the Bird – My Dearest EloiseVirginia James – 730 Run
Best Jazz Artist
Ed KornhauserEuphoria Brass bandGilbert CastellanosIrving FloresLeonard PattonNathan HubbardSacha Boutros
Best Jazz Album
Archie Thompson – Makin The SceneIra B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine – Unexpected GuestsIrving Flores – Armando Mi CongaPatrick Yandall – DevoceanRob Thorsen and Paul Gabrielson – Sonic VisionsSure Fire Soul Ensemble – GeminiVictor Baker Quartet – As the Crow Flies
Best Blues Artist
Ben PowellBlack Market IIIChickenbone SlimManzanita BluesMercedes MooreWhitney ShayZavala Sol
Best Blues Album
CC Blues Factory – Look Me OverEarl Thomas – Live in LondonGood Gravy – RouxJohnny Vernazza – Home By ChristmasLow Volts – Forbidden FrequencyThe Juke$ – Salacious StoriesTracy Lee Nelson & The Native Blues Band – Relocation
Best Country or Americana Artist
Alex BerganAshley E. Norton Ass Pocket Whiskey FellasCathryn BeeksJesse Ray SmithKimmi BitterStucky Leigh
Best Country or Americana Song
Alex Bergan (with Ash Easton) – Hair of the DogHaisley – The Good In MeLissa Dee – Chasing Whiskey with WhiskeyMichael Dean Goodrich – Get Back HomeMiranda Ramos – The Only Men I NeedSara Petite – Jealous HeartZB Savoy – Out to Forgetting
Best Country or Americana Album
Dave Preston – Fly On A WallElizabeth Bowersox – California QueenJeff Berkley – A Buffalo TraceMohaviSoul – EncoreThea the Band – Whiskey RevivalTodd Higginson – HighlightsWhiskey & Burlap – Milkman
Best Hip Hop/Rap Artist
Banish HabitualBozzzyBrothers BurnsDaygo SmooveKahleeMiki Vale RMthePoet
Best Hip Hop/Rap Song
Bloodstone the Street Preacher – Know what I’m sayingBounceCX – Bounce BackDazer Daze – Lighting TreezDJ Who & Heat – Burn It All DownMike Holmes & Riston Diggs – AuntisistercousinRMthePoet featuring Oside Lenz & Oldschool – Hit N RunThe Neighborhood Kids – The World is Worth Saving
Best Pop Artist
Audrey CallahanCassie BChloe LouEmilia VaughnJessie LarkMatthew PhillipsTrey Hill
Best Pop Song
Brianna Grace – Playing With FireDavid Spitzfaden – Lost HopeEm Cable – Feeling MeKaiLana Tomiko – IndigoSara Jade – Hippies Raised a Cowgirlsullvn – The FighterSweet Myths – Still The Same
Best Pop Album
Cheyenne Benton – CorruptedGregory Page – 100 Years Ago Hillandale Drive – Love, Fear & Everything In BetweenMatthew Phillips – Till It’s OverPip Lewis – Growing PainsSophie London – MindreaderTamar Berk – ocd
Best Indie/Alternative Artist
Dusk DramaLioneerminiaturizedSlackerSunbendrThe Film CompanyWeatherbox
Best Indie/Alternative Album
Agent 51 – Age of ValidationBuck O Nine – Cut Out The NoiseParadise Drive – The PhenomenonPleasure Pill – Hang a StarThe Film Company – Starving Artist and the Holy GhostThee Allyrgic Reaction- s/tThe Reckless – Who Are You
Best Rock Artist
Band of GringosDaring Greatly Door 13MisfireMistress 77The FarmersThe Tourmaliners
Best Rock Album
Blame Betty – Who’s to BlameDaring Greatly – Let It RideRhinoceros III – Listen With Two HeartsSun Room – Ritual of ChaosTaz Taylor Band – The Other Side of MidnightThe Suede Grenades – Flashbulb MemoriesYear of the Kid – s/t
Best Rock or Indie/Alternative Song
Beta7 – So Long AgoDaring Greatly – Let It Ride Go Scarlet – La MotorcycletteHalf Hour Late – Slow Motion Manganista – Talking to MyselfMistress 77 – It Ain’t Christmas Without The MistressThree Legged Dog – Left for Dead
Best World Music Artist
BoostiveIsrael MaldonadoKekoa the ArtistMonette MarinoQuel BordelSandollarSlack Key Ohana
Best World Music Song
B-Side Players – En Paz DubMitchum Yacoub, Lourdes Iri – Métele MásMix Mob – Rock StarSafety Orange – CastawaySierra Marin – Earth ChildSkyler Lutes – In My CitySmoke & Mirrors Sound System – Ain’t That Lovin’ You
Best R&B, Funk or Soul Song
Anthony Cullins – LynmarDurell Anthony – Meet Me in the MiddleHummingbird Hotel – Close to YouKat Hall – FrequencyMonica Larrea – MentalRebecca Jade – Not Me No WayWe The Commas – in japan
Best Local Recording
Clinton Davis – Ever ReturningGrampadrew – It’s Getting DarkerSalinas Road – ‘25Seawall Prophet – Hallowed GroundSue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra – Eight to the Bar!The Bastards – Fall RiskNoël Tsoukalas – I Still Hear You
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