Listen Up Awards 2026

The second night of the fifth annual Listen Up Awards was the Award Ceremony, honoring your favorites across a multitude of categories, as voted by you.

The 2026 favorites (we don’t have winners and losers here) were:

• Solo Artist (Male): Gus Unplugged
• Party Band: Hit -N- Run
• Country Artist: Whiskey Highway
• Cover Band: Brian Kane and the Beginning
• Americana Artist: Chris Sanders
• Pop Artist: Hailey Renee
• Rock/Hard Rock Band: Chris Busone
• Alt/Indie Artist: Elephant Back
• Folk/Bluegrass Artist: Northern Borne
• Jazz Artist: Marcus Benoit
• Punk/Garage Artist: Society High
• Metal/Hardcore Artist: Gozer
• Jam Band: Ky McClinton Band
• Blues Artist: Joe Roy Jackson
• R&B/Soul/Funk Artist: Ky McClinton Band
• Electronic/Experimental Artist: The Secret Fashions
• Performing/Recording DJ: DJ Fool
• Hip Hop Artist: Camtron 5000
• Progressive Rock Artist: The Phoenix and the Raven
• Best Hair and Makeup: Vincenzo Baldwin
• Most Likely to Fall Off Stage: Matty D
• Favorite Small Venue/Bar: The Kings Inn
• Reggae/World Music Artist: Hallelujah Hat Trick
• Solo Artist (Female): Shannon Roy
• Favorite Duo: Elephant Back
• Best Dressed: Joanna Peterson Palladino-Resnick
• Best Marketing/Social Media: The Rhythm Pilots
• Favorite Large Venue: Putnam Place
• Favorite Medium Venue: Hangar on the Hudson

and music was provided by 2025 Listen Up Award winners:

• Luke McNamee
• Chris Sanders and the Better Days
• Brother T and the Boys
• Ginger Geezus

Photography by Christopher Ebbs.

More coverage of the Listen Up Awards here …