Music & Nightlife
Best Bar to Drink Alone
1st: Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
bottlerocketpgh.com
2nd: Kelly’s
3rd: R Bar
Best Bar to PreGame before The Game
1st: Ruggers Pub
40 S. 22nd St., South Side.
ruggerspub.com
2nd: Southern Tier
3rd: Mike’s Beer Bar
Best Bartender
1st: Dana - Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
bottlerocketpgh.com
2nd: Alex Gordon - Ruggers Pub
3rd: Scotty - Le Mardi Gras
Best Blues Artist/Group
1st: Miss Freddye
missfreddye.com
2nd: Soulful Femme
3rd: Megan Paullet
Best Bouncer
1st: Brandi - Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
bottlerocketpgh.com
2nd: Big Pete - Ruggers Pub
3rd: Justin - Gooski's
Best Club DJ
1st: DJ Jimmy
instagram.com/dj_jimmy412
2nd: Lemonline
3rd: Himboza
Best Country Artist/Group
1st: Appalachian Honey
appalachianhoneymusic.com
Singer-songwriter duo Appalachian Honey has yet to release an album, but still managed to win Best Country Artist/Group. Singer Krissy Jo and mandolin player Damon Dosch have already built a resume that includes recently opening for country artist Tracy Byrd, and performing at events like the Dayton Fair and The Band Jam Grass Roots Music Festival in Slippery Rock, Pa. Listeners of 97.7 The Rock may have already heard their single "You're Still Around,” a sweet, gentle track defined by plucking acoustics and Jo’s angelic vocals. Local country fans should look out for their first album, which they are “in the process of recording,” according to their website. - Amanda Waltz
2nd: Rocket Loves Blue
3rd: Morgan Gruber
Best Cover Artist/Group
1st: Flashback
facebook.com/FlashbackBandPGH
2nd: Steeltown Band
3rd: Pitt Floyd
Best Dive Bar
1st: Gooski's
3117 Brereton St., Polish Hill.
gooskis.restaurants-world.com
2nd: Belvedere's Ultra-Dive
3rd: R Bar
Best Electronic Artist/Group
1st: Weird Paul Petroskey
instagram.com/weirdpaulp
2nd: Quack Daddy
3rd: Hemlock for Socrates
Best Haunted Attraction
1st: Any Pittsburgh Basement
Inflation is up, and the world is full of horrors. There’s no need to head outside this spooky season when you can just walk down a flight of stairs to your Pittsburgh basement. Cobwebs? Check. Ancient standalone toilet? Check. A weird under-the-porch crawlspace perfect for hiding a body? Check. Water intrusion? You bet! Nothing conjures the grim atmosphere of a dank Medieval dungeon like the lower level of most Pittsburgh homes. All you need is some distant organ music or a fog machine and you’re ready to go. -Colin Williams
2nd: Hundred Acres Manor
3rd: Kennywood Fright Fest
Best Jazz Artist/Group
1st: Mary Ann Mangini
dancingqueen911.com
2nd: Phat Man Dee
3rd: Kenny Blake
Best Karaoke
1st: Greggy-Oke Karaoke - Mr. Smalls Cafe
400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.
mrsmalls.com/events/greggy_oke-karaoke-37
2nd: Blue Moon with Eddieokee
3rd: Lead Singer Wanted Live Band Karaoke
Best LGBTQ Bar
1st: Blue Moon
5115 Butler St., Lawrenceville.
bluemoononbutler.com
2nd: 5801 Video Lounge
3rd: P Town Bar
Best Local Album of the Year
1st: A Little More - The Shiners
shinersrock.com
2nd: Ford the River - Ferocious Ghosts
3rd: Rust on the Rocks - Dinnerbell Road
Best Metal Artist/Group
1st: Modern Fossils
facebook.com/ModernFossilsPGH
2nd: Amoeba Kneivel
3rd: Ancient Torture
Best Music Fest
1st: Millvale Music Festival
millvalemusic.org
2nd: Descendants of Crom
3rd: Rugg-a-palooza
Best Music Venue (City)
1st: Stage AE
400 N. Shore Dr., North Shore.
stageae.com
2nd: Thunderbird Cafe and Music Hall
3rd: Spirit
Best Music Venue (Suburbs)
1st: Mr. Smalls
400 Lincoln Ave., Millvale.
mrsmalls.com
2nd: Jergel’s Rhythm Grill
3rd: Preserving Underground
Best New Bar
1st: The Dog Penn
2614 Penn Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15222
thedogpenn.com
2nd: Jackworth Ginger Beer
3rd: Mary's
Best Pop Artist/Group
1st: Mary Ann Mangini
dancingqueen911.com
2nd: Franchise Band
3rd: Megan Paullet
Best Punk Artist/Group
1st: Fuck Yeah, Dinosaurs!
dinopunks.com
2nd: Submachine
3rd: Old Neon
Best R&B Artist/Group
1st: Franchise Band
franchisebandlive412.com
2nd: Bill Henry Band
3rd: Megan Paullet
Best Radio Personality or Duo (DJ)
1st: Mikey and Bob (96.1 KISS)
961kiss.iheart.com
2nd: John Ballistic's Underground Jukebox
3rd: Hot Lixx with Lily Sixx
Best Radio Station
1st: WYEP
wyep.org
I have a love/hate relationship with DJ X on Spotify. On one hand, I’m really indecisive about what music I listen to and am perfectly happy for Jesus to take the wheel. On the other, he’s a mediocre AI bot who plays the same stuff over and over, and is convinced I love Benson Boone even though I’m not so sure. When he frustrates me, that’s when I remember I can instead simply … listen to the radio? More specifically, Pittsburgh’s gem of a station that is WYEP. Over there, real-life DJs make all the decisions for me, serving up a variety of well-curated tunes from all genres and decades. To top it off, by listening (and donating! You should donate!) I’m standing with local public media as it’s ransacked by the federal government. It’s a win, win, win. -Ali Trachta
2nd: WDVE
3rd: 105.9 The X
Best Rap/Hip-Hop Artist/Group
1st: Lil Lenny
facebook.com/Lil.Lenny412
2nd: Aryana Kapree
3rd: M.E.L.T.
Best Rock Artist/Group
1st: Rocket Loves Blue
rocketlovesblue.com
2nd: Glitz
3rd: Broom
Best Social Club
1st: Bottlerocket Social Hall
1226 Arlington Ave., Allentown.
bottlerocketpgh.com
2nd: Pittsburgh Lesbiyinz
3rd: Club Pittsburgh
Best Sports Bar
1st: Ruggers Pub
40 S. 22nd St., South Side.
ruggerspub.com
2nd:Bigham Tavern
3rd: The Pitch on Butler
Best Strip Club
1st: The Real Luck Café (Lucky’s Bar)
1519 Penn Ave., Strip District.
2nd: Rick's Cabaret
3rd: Club 412 Gentleman's Club
Best Trivia Host
1st: 5801 with Trivia Jockeys
5801 Ellsworth Ave., Shadyside.
5801pgh.com
So many trivia nights to choose from, and Trivia Jockeys at 5801 Video Lounge and Cafe
emerges triumphant. Since 2014, Trivia Jockeys — described on its website as a “fully customizable quiz-show and trivia experience” for players of all ages — has delivered a modernized game that goes beyond pen-and-paper quiz sheets. Their weekly Tuesday appearances at 5801, one of Pittsburgh’s most well-known gay bars, promise prizes and “great fun,” as well as a chance for community and competition. For CP readers, Trivia Jockeys and 5801 make for a winning combination, where guests can show off their pop culture knowledge in a welcoming, queer-friendly environment. -Amanda Waltz
2nd: PGH Trivia
3rd: Drew’s Clues
Best Wedding Band
1st: Franchise Band
franchisebandlive412.com
2nd: Weird Paul Rock Band
3rd: Bachelor Boys Band
Best Wedding DJ
1st: DJ Loyal
djloyal.com
2nd: TJ Harris
3rd: Selecta
Best World or International Music Artist/Group
1st: Polkamaniacs
zomboco.com/the-polkamaniacs
2nd: Rusted Root
3rd: Bealtaine