Winners of the 2025 Hamilton Readers' Choice Awards

The winners of the 2025 Hamilton Readers' Choice Awards were recently announced.

Below is a complete list of music-related winners. Click here for the full list.

D=Diamond; P = Platinum; G=Gold

Best Local Musician or Band

• D: The Arkells
  
  
  
  Links: Arkells, More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of Boy Band Break
  
  
• P: Dundas Valley Orchestra
  
  
  
  Links: Dundas Valley Orchestra, Video above courtesy of Dundas Valley Orchestra
  
  
• G: Cameron Michael Caton (COVID Elvis)
  
  
  
  Links: Cameron Michael Caton, More CMC Stories, More Tom Jones Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Elvis Cameron Michael Caton

Best Concert Venue / Live Entertainment Facility

• D: FirstOntario Concert Hall (formerly Hamilton Place)
• P: Theatre Aquarius
• G: Bridgeworks

Best Live Music Bar / Lounge

• D: The Casbah
• P: Tracie's Place Restaurant and Karaoke
• G: Clifford Brewing Company

Best Live Theatre

• D: Theatre Aquarius
• P: Theatre Ancaster
• G: The Westdale

Best Local Entertainment

• D: The Westdale
• P: House of Adam and Steve
• G: Dundas Valley Orchestra

Best Local Event

• D: Hess Village
• P: Hess Winter Village & Market
• G: House of Adam and Steve

Best Local Festival

• D: Supercrawl
• P: Festival of Friends
• G: Winona Peach Festival

Best Music Instruction

• D: Hamilton Music Collective
• P: Dundas Conservatory of Music
• G: Tabone Academy of Music

Best Music Instructor

• Diamond: Adam Scott - Guitar Lessons with Adam Scott
• Platinum: Paula Tessaro - Tabone Academy of Music
• Gold: Dianne Velasco - Bravo Music Studio

Best Overall Business Arts, Culture & Entertainment

• D: Brott Music Festival
• P: Ringside Hamilton
• G: Stoney Creek School of Art

Best Radio Station

• D: Bounce Radio 102.9
• P: Y-108
• G: 93.3 CFMU

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Community Votes Hamilton 2025 - Deadline is May 18

From April 16 to May 18, citizens of the Hammer can cast a ballot in Community Votes Hamilton 2025.

Below are the music-related nominees.

Local Band

• Alfie Smith
• Andre Bisson Band
• Boomtown Band
• Born in The 80s
• Freedom Train
• Goddess
• The Hammer Tones
• Hollow Core
• The John Atlee Band
• Midnight Hombres
• Pulse X
• Slap Entertainment and Productions

Entertainer

• Cameron Michael Caton AKA Covid-Elvis
• Christopher Bull (Eelev8 Dance)
• Danielle Viola - Curtain Call Performing Arts Company
• Dustin Jodway - Hamilton Theatre Inc - Something Rotten
• Eshe YıLdıZ - Dance Instructor
• Hexe Noire - Drag Queen
• Karma Kameleon, Drag, Comedy
• Matthew Moore - Hamilton Theatre Inc  
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Sister Act Jr
• St. John Boy - Drag
• Will Gillespie

Live Entertainment

• Baby Butcher
• Cameron Michael Caton AKA Covid-Elvis
• Chasing Shadows Productions
• Curtain Call Performing Arts Company
• Danielle Viola - Curtain Call Performing Arts Company
• Freedom Train
• Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts
• Hamilton Theatre
• HäUs of The Holy Spirit
• Hexe Noire - Drag Queen
• It's Your Festival
• Olivia Jodway - Red Tree Performance Academy
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Sister Act Jr

Night Club

• Club 54
• Embassy Club
• Goddess House
• Hush
• Mint Restaurant & Lounge
• NYX Lounge
• Play Bar
• Poor Folks Deli
• The Casbah
• The Well

Radio Stations

• 93.3 CFMU
• 101.5 The Hawk
• 95.3 Fresh Radio
• Bell Media Radio GP
• Bounce 102.9
• Byrnes Media
• Hot Country 93.9
• JOY 1250
• KLCA
• KX947 New Country FM
• Lite 92.1 FM 
• Riderradiorocks.Com
• Roger's Radio Broadcasting
• The Shooting Eye Corp
• Y108

Music Lessons

• Picks & Sticks Music (One of our Sponsors!)
• Ancaster Music Academy
• Ania Fritch Music Studio
• Aurora Benedicto - Red Tree Performance Academy
• Celine's Voice Studio
• Curtain Call Performing Arts Company
• Danielle Viola Private Vocals
• Davie Brideau - Red Tree Performance Academy
• Dundas Conservatory Of Music
• Elev8 Dance Inc
• Emerson Arts Theatrical Productions
• Emilee Cuthbert - MC² Music
• Footprints Music Hamilton
• Guitar Lessons With Adam Scott
• Hamilton Academy Of Music
• Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts
• Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
• Mason Micevski Vocal Lessons
• Michael Cuthbert - MC² Music
• Mr. Ben's Music
• Nicole Christian
• Red Tree Performance Academy
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Dustin Jodway/ Vocal Coach
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Luis Arrojo - Piano
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Special Needs Services
• Studio E
• Tabone Academy Of Music

Youth Music Lessons

• Ania Fritch Music Studio
• Aurora Benedicto - Red Tree Performance Academy
• Curtain Call Performing Arts Company
• Danielle Viola Private Vocals
• Davie Brideau - Red Tree Performance Academy
• Emilee Cuthbert - MC² Music
• Michael Cuthbert - MC² Music  
• Red Tree Performance Academy
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Dustin Jodway/ Vocal Coach
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Luis Arrojo - Piano
• Red Tree Performance Academy - Special Needs Services

Music Retailer

• Picks & Sticks Music (One of our Sponsors!)
• Dr. Disc
• Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
• Mountain Music
• Musicians Webstore
• Records On Wheels
• Revolution Records
• Second Chance Records
• Stardust Records
• Sunrise Records
• The Beat Goes On
• The Music Stand
  

Musical Instruments

• Picks & Sticks Music (One of our Sponsors!)
• Cithara Guitars Inc.
• Long & McQuade Musical Instruments
• M.E.S. Music Equipment Sales Ltd
• Mojo Music
• Mountain Music
• Musicians Webstore
• Penny Pinchers Costume & Party Store
• Second Chance Records
• The Acoustic Room
• The Guitar World
• The Music Stand

We'd also appreciate a vote for one of our incredible sponsors, Judy Marsales Real Estate

Links: Community Votes, More Community Votes Stories

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Vote for the 2023 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards

Below is a complete list of music-related nominees. Please click the picture above for the complete listings. Deadline to vote is August 21, 2023)

Click here for the winners.

Local Musician or Band

• Brad Soucie
• Cameron Michael Caton (COVID Elvis)
• Gareth Inkster
• John Atlee Band
• Justine Fischer
• Lowdown Dirty Mojos
• Ryan Vivian
• Steve Oros
• The Poster Boys
• Ty Price

Live Entertainment Facility

• Binbrook Little Theatre
  
• Bridgeworks
• Drury Lane Theatre Productions Inc.
• FirstOntario Centre
• FirstOntario Concert Hall
• Hamilton Theatre Inc.
• Levity Comedy Lounge
• Players' Guild Of Hamilton
• The Casbah
• The Mule Spinner
• The Westdale
• Theatre Ancaster
• Theatre Aquarius
• Tracie's Place Restaurant and Karaoke

Live Music Bar / Lounge

• &Then You
• Club Absinthe
• Coach & Lantern
• Doors Pub - Taco Joint & Metal Bar
• Iron Horse Saloon
• Merk Snack Bar
• Pub Fiction Gasbar & Grill
• The 1515 Brown Barrel Tap & Grill
• The Casbah
• The Corktown
• The Endzone Bar & Grill
• Tracie's Place Restaurant and Karaoke

Local Festival

• Brott Music Festival
• Burlington Sound Of Music
• Dundas Cactus Festival
• Festival of Friends
• Hamilton Fringe Festival
• It's Your Festival
• Locke Street Festival
• Music in the City
• Sew Hungry
• Supercrawl
• Winona Peach Festival

Radio Station

• 101.5 The Hawk
• 92.9 The Grand
• 93.3 CFMU
• 93.5 Jukasa Radio
• Arise Christian Radio AM1380
• CBC Radio
• Hot Country 93.9
• Jewel 92.1
• K-Lite FM 102.9
• KX 94.7 New Country
• LITE 92.1

Best Music Instruction

• Adam Scott
• Ania Fritch Music Studio
• Big Johnny Blue
• Blossom Musik
• Capstone Music
• Crystal Lee
• Dundas Conservatory of Music
• Hamilton Academy of Music
• Impact Percussion
• Long & McQuade - Hamilton
• Melody Man Studios
• Mr. Ben's Open Door Music
• Tabone Academy of Music

Music Instructor

• Adam Scott
• Ania Fritch
• David Brideau
• Dustin Jodway
• Erin Ronnigen
• Jennifer Budd
• Loralee McGuirl
• Matt Dunlop
• Steven Collett
• Theresa Noon-Hunter

Musical Instruments Store

• All Star Music Canada
• Birchway Sound
• Cithara Guitars Inc.
• Long & McQuade - Hamilton
• Long & McQuade - Burlington
• M.E.S Music Equipment Sales Ltd
• Mountain Music
• Picks and Sticks ONE OF OUR SPONSORS!
• The Acoustic Room
• Tundra Music

As a favour, we'd also like to ask you to vote for:

• St. Charles Adult & Continuing Education Centres (Lou, our blogger's workplace) for Best Adult Education 
• Sean Dawson (Judy Marsales Real Estate Ltd. Brokerage - One of our sponsors) for Best Real Estate Agent

Links: Readers' Choice Awards, More Spec Readers' Choice Awards Stories

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2023 Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Winners!

The 2023 Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards were announced on Thursday, April 6, 2023.

Here's a full list of winners from the music-related categories.

D = Diamond, 1st Place

P = Platinum, 2nd Place

G = Gold, 3rd PLace

Children's Entertainment

• D: Mr. Ben's Music / Zacada Circus School
  
  
  
  Video above courtesy of MrBensMusic
  
  
• P: Lion's Heart Family Martial Arts
• G: NJADS - Not Just Another Dance Studio

Guitar Teacher

• D: Big Johnny Blue
  
  
  
  Links: Big Johnny Blue, More Big Johnny Blue Stories, Video above courtesy of Big Johnny Blue - Topic
  
  
• P: Andre Bisson
• G: Anthony Goodine - Picks & Sticks (an HBL Sponsor)

Live Entertainment Facility

• D: FirstOntario Centre
• P: FirstOntario Concert Hall
• G: Theatre Aquarius

Live Music Bar / Lounge

• D: Stonewalls
• P: Powerhouse
• G: 33 Bowen / 1515 (Brown Barrel)

Local Entertainment

• D: Cameron Michael Caton a.k.a. Covid-Elvis
  
  
  
  Links: COVID Elvis, More Elvis Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Elvis Cameron Michael Caton
  
  
• P: Rob Leonard (Acoustically Yours) / Mike Woods
• G: Chris Newman (Keep The Faith) / Sarah Smith

Local Event

• D: Side Hustle Events
• P: Winona Peach Festival
• G: Hamilton Tiger-Cats / Dundas Cactus Festival

Local Festival

• D: Dundas Cactus Festival / Winona Peach Festival
• P: Ancaster Fair / Supercrawl
• G: Festival Of Friends

Music Instructor

• Alyssa Michalsky - Divine Harp
• D: Anita Hiripi - Cricket Chamber Orchestra / Mate Szigeti - Cricket Chamber Orchestra
• P: Kaz Chrapka - The Music Stand / Ben Bowen - Mr. Ben's Music
• G: Crystal Lee - Crystal Sound Music / Paula Tessaro - Tabone Academy of Music Inc.

Musical Instruments Store

• D: Long & McQuade
• P: Music Stand
• G: Mountain Music

Also, our blogger's workplace, St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres won Diamond in the Adult Education category.

CONGRATS EVERYONE

Links: Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards, More HCN Awards Stories

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Vote for the 2023 Hamilton Community News Readers' Choice Awards

It's time to get out and vote for the 2023 Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards.  Deadline to get your vote out is Monday, February 27, 2023.

Here's a list of nominees from the music-related categories.

Children's Entertainment

• Andy G and Friends
• Binbrook Little Theatre
• Giggles The Clown
• Lion's Heart Family Martial Arts
• Messy Play Studio
• Mr. Ben's Music
• NJADS - Not Just Another Dance Studio
• Telling Tales Festival
• Zacada Circus School

Guitar Teacher

• Anthony Goodine - Picks & Sticks (an HBL Sponsor)
• Andre Bisson
• Big Johnny Blue

Live Entertainment Facility

• Ancaster Memorial Arts Centre
• Binbrook Little Theatre
• Burlington Performing Arts Centre
• Dundas Little Theatre
• FirstOntario Centre
• FirstOntario Concert Hall
• Hamilton Convention Centre By Carmens
• Spice Factory
• Theatre Aquarius
• Westdale

Live Music Bar / Lounge

• 1515 (Brown Barrel)
• Powerhouse
• Stonewalls
• 33 Bowen

Local Entertainment

• Andre Bisson Band
• Big Johnny Blue
• Cameron Michael Caton a.k.a. Covid-Elvis
• Carl Jennings - Freedom Train
• Chris Newman (Keep The Faith)
• Daryl Gray
• Ian Wood
• Jay Askee (Rock City The Band)
• Mike Woods
• Paula Tessaro Band
• Rob Leonard (Acoustically Yours)
• Rob Reed (Rock City The Band)
• Sarah Smith

Local Event

• Ancaster Lifestyle Fall Home Show
• Dundas Buskerfest
• Dundas Cactus Festival
• Festival Of Friends
• Hamilton Boat, Fishing & Outdoor Show
• Hamilton RV Show
• Hamilton Tiger-Cats
• Northern Heat Rib Series (Hamilton/Hamilton Mountain Ribfest)
• Side Hustle Events
• Soupfest
• Supercrawl
• Telling Tales Festival
• Winona Peach Festival

Local Festival

• Ancaster Fair
• Ancaster Heritage Days
• Dundas Cactus Festival
• Festival Of Friends
• gritLIT: Hamilton's Readers and Writers Festival
• It's Your Festival
• Locke St Festival
• Mountain Kidz Klub Easter Egg Hunt
• Northern Heat Rib Series (Hamilton/Hamilton Mountain Ribfest)
• Supercrawl
• Winona Peach Festival

Music Instructor

• Alyssa Michalsky - Divine Harp
• Anita Hiripi - Cricket Chamber Orchestra
• Ben Bowen - Mr. Ben's Music
• Crystal Lee - Crystal Sound Music
• Danielle Musgrave-Bond - ECE Music Program, NJADS - Not Just Another Dance Studio
• Dave Simpson - Long & McQuade
• Kaz Chrapka - The Music Stand
• Marta Greda-Kicek - Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts
• Mate Szigeti - Cricket Chamber Orchestra
• Paula Tessaro - Tabone Academy of Music Inc.
• Rosemary Hale - Long & McQuade,Garden City Orchestra
• Sean McAllister
• Steve McRae
• Sylvia Nieboer - Ontario Conservatory Of Music

Musical Instruments Store

• Long & McQuade
• Mountain Music
• Music Stand

Also, our blogger's workplace, St. Charles Adult and Continuing Education Centres is nominated in the Adult Education category and he'd appreciate a vote.

Links: Hamilton Community News Reader's Choice Awards, More HCN Awards Stories

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CONGRATS! 2022 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards Winners

The 2022 Hamilton Spectator Readers' Choice Awards were recently unveiled. The special supplemental section featured the best that Hammertown has to offer, including our wonderful music community. 

Here's a list of all the music-related winners.

D = Diamond (1st place)

P = Platinum (2nd place)

G = Gold

Everything else is in the top ten.

Local Musician or Band

• D: Steve Oros
  
  
  
  Links: Steve Oros, More Steve Oros Stories, More Elton John Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Steve Oros
  
  
• P: Michael Caton aka COVID Elvis
  
  
  
  Links: COVID Elvis, More Elvis Covers/Stories, Video above courtesy of Elvis Cameron Michael Caton
  
  
• G: Arkells / Steal Kitty
  
  
  
  Links: Arkells, More Arkells Stories, Video above courtesy of Arkells Music
  
  
  
  Links: Steal Kitty, Video above courtesy of Steve MacLeod

Concert Venue

• D: FirstOntario Concert Hall
• P: FirstOntario Centre
• G: Burlington Performing Arts Centre

Festival

• D: Supercrawl
• P: Winona Peach Festival
• G: Festival of Friends

Live Entertainment Facility

• D: Theatre Aquarius
  
• P: Tracie's Place
• G: Players' Guild of Hamilton

Live Music Bar/Lounge

• D: Casbah
• P: Pub Fiction / Iron Horse Saloon
• G: Corktown / Coach & Lantern 

Night Club

• D: The Powerhouse
• P: Sous Bas
• Gold: Radius/Sizzle NightClub

Music Instructor

• D: Adam Scott
• P: Ania Fritch
• G: Paula Tessaro

Musical Instrument Store

• D: The Acoustic Room
• P: Crash Landing Music Store / Picks N Sticks
• G: Mountain Music / Cithara Guitars Inc.

Music School

• D: Guitar Lessons with Adam Scott
• P: Melody Man Studios
• G: Ania Fritch Music Studios

Radio Station

• D: KX94.7 New Country
• P: BOOM 97.3 / Bounce 102.9
• G: K-Lite FM 102.9

Local Podcast

• D: Brian Melo - Beyond the Melody
• P: In My Opinionation

CONGRATS EVERYONE!

Links: Readers' Choice Awards, More Spec Readers' Choice Awards Stories

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