Time to vote for your favorite local artists in the New England Music Awards

The nominees have been announced for the New England Music Awards
An awards ceremony is slated for Nov. 16, 2025 in Foxborough, MA
The public is welcome to the awards ceremony in November. Tickets can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com

New England boasts an abundance of musical talent.

In October, there a chance to recognize that local talent with the New England Music Awards (NEMA), an annual award system where the pulic votes on a curate list to name the top local acts. Over 100 artists and bands are nominated every year, spanning many different genres of music.

“The NEMA nominating committee consists of a variety of music industry experts including journalists from music publications, radio personalities, talent buyers, event planners, record label executives and more,” according to NEMA online. “This selection of professionals collectively represents all six New England states and every awards category.”

In addition to nominating the artists, the nomination committee also selects winners in three catefories representing outstanding achievement. But the majority of awards are selected by a public vote.

The winners of all these categories will be announced at the annual NEMA ceremony, which will be held on the evening of Sunday, Nov. 16, 2025 at Six String Grill and Stage in Foxborough, MA. Tickets are $37.51 and can be purchased at www.ticketweb.com.

How can people vote?

You can go online to nemusicawards.com/vote to pick your favorites.

People can vote once per day until Saturday, Oct. 11.

What are the categories and who are the nominees?

Here is the complete listing of nominees in each category:

Act of the Year
- Bermuda Search Party
- Copilot
- Crooked Coast
- Greg Freeman
- Hayley Reardon
- Kier Byrnes & the Kettle Burners
- Lainey Dionne
- Lily Fitts
- Mark Erelli
- Munk Duane
- Nate Perry and Ragged Company
- Nate Ramos Band
- One Time Weekend
- Roots of Creation
- The Far Out
- The Gravel Project
- The Mallett Brothers Band
- Will Dailey
Album of the Year
- Anne Stott “Watershed Synapse Experience”
- Chris Trapper “Watching Sparks Fly By”
- Collaborations “Songs From The Heart, Vol. 1”
- Dead Gowns “It’s Summer, I love you, and I am surrounded by snow”
- Frank Viele “The Trouble With Desire”
- Grace Morrison “Salt Water Country”
- Grip Bite “Grip Bite”
- Joey Batts “Joseph.”
- LuxDeluxe “LuxDeluxe”
- Nate Ramos Band “Lost Cowboy Sessions” (Acoustic)
- Nikki and the Barn Boys “Where Do We Go From Here”
- Old Tom & The Lookouts “Northeastern”
- Olivia Dolphin “Better”
- Rocking Horse Music Club “The Last Pink Glow”
- Ron’s Car “Whatever”
- Sam Robbins “So Much I Still Don’t See”
- Samantha Rae “The High Road”
- Shawn Taylor “The Last One”
- Space Cowboy Newt “Suffering”
- Steve Rondo “The Rudys”
- The Far Out “Greetings From The Far Out”
- The Freight “Tales of Maybe”
- The Gravel Project “Find What You Need”
- The Jake Wasson Malpractice “Everything is On Fire”
- The Mallett Brothers Band “Higher Up In The Hills”
Song of the Year
- 25 Pearl “Santa’s On His Way”
- Aldous Collins Band “Sunshine and Grass”
- American Ink “Before you Go”
- Ancient Vessel – Kala Farnham
- Battlemode “Just Pretend”
- Blue Light Bandits “Block Party”
- Class President “I’ll Come Around”
- Copilot “A Little Too Well”
- Danny Curtis “Quincy to Tennessee”
- Evan Greer (Featuring Eve 6) “$5”
- Hand Of The Tribe “Smile”
- Lainey Dionne “Wired”
- Major Spark “The Other Side”
- Mary McAvoy “Fools Errand”
- Nate Ramos Band “Meet You at the End of the World” (acoustic version)
- Nikki and the Barn Boys “Strawberry Hill”
- Preston Lydotes “The Critic in Me”
- Savoir Faire “Machine With A Dream”
- Smitt E. Smitty/Fezztones “#1 Most Likely”
- The Baxbys “In A Cage”
- The Far Out “Laurel”
- The Gravel Project “Love The Life”
- The Wolff Sisters “Where Am I (To Call Me Home)”
- Total Strangers “Return to Sender”
- Vanna Pacella “Wolf”
- Vudu Sister “Magic Powers”
- Winkler “Bazooka Baby”
Producer of the Year
- Brian Charles (Rare Signals)
- Brian Coombes (Rocking Horse Studio)
- Emma Newton (Big Nice Studio)
- Eric Lichter (Dirt Floor)
- Jeff Rosen (Cherrywood Records)
- Joe Clapp (Ultrasound Productions)
- Jon Ellis (Artisan Accoustics)
- Jon Evans
- Jonathan Wyman (Halo Studios)
- Mel Go Hard
- Mike Machaby (The Underground Recording Co.)
- Munk Duane
- Ryan Fremont-Smith (FS Studios)
- Sammy D’Ambruoso (Lucky Star Studios)
- Sean McLaughlin, 37″ Productions
- Shaqed Druyan
- Stephen Peter Rodgers (Tiny Bunker Recording Studio)
- Tracy Walton, On Deck Sound Studio
- Vic Steffens (Horizon Music Group)
- Warren Babson (Bang-A-Song Studios)
Songwriter of the Year
- Bill Bartholomew
- Breanna Elaine
- Brian Coombes/Justin Cohn
- Chris Trapper
- Dan DeCristofaro
- Erin Wilson
- Frankie White
- Greg Freeman
- Halley Elwell
- Hannah Frances
- Hayley Reardon
- Kala Farnham
- Lainey Dionne
- Liz Reed
- Madoc
- Malcolm Holmes – Mother Iguana
- Nate Ramos
- Neale Eckstein
- Olivia Dolphin
- Preston Lydotes
- Ryan Sweezey
- Sam Robbins
- Sarah Fard (Savoir Faire)
- Tyler Levs
- Tyler Nail
- Valerie Barretto
Performer of the Year
- Adam Sherman
- Aldous Collins
- Ali McGuirk
- Audrey Pearl
- Chase Jobe
- Drew Angus
- Grace Morrison
- Halley Elwell
- Hayley Reardon
- Jill McCracken
- Karen Grenier
- Katie Dobbins
- Kevin Herchen
- Mariah Rose
- Miss Julia Violet
- Munk Duane
- Olivia Dolphin
- Senie Hunt
- Steve Rondo
- The Hammer Party
- Tyler Allgood
- Tyler Levs
- Tyler Nail
- Valerie Barretto
- Ward Hayden and the Outliers
- Zak Jacobson
New Act of the Year
- Autumn Drive
- Ava Valianti
- Brady Dallas Jones
- Bricks of Boston
- Danny Curtis
- Don’t Tell Iris
- Eva Ricci
- Everfiner
- Gold Hoax
- High Pines
- Kaleb Cohen
- Larsen
- Luci Dead Limb
- Nate Ramos
- Nikki & The Barn Boys
- Overserved Again
- Renee Levesque
- Slim Volume
- The Jake Wasson Malpractice
- Vanna Pacellla
Live Act of the Year
- Adam Ezra Group
- Annie Brobst
- Copilot
- Crooked Coast
- Eddie Japan
- Grip Bite
- Happy Little Clouds
- Kooked Out
- Lainey Dionne
- Muddy Ruckus
- Nate Perry and Ragged Company
- Nate Ramos Band
- PINKLIDS
- The Carnivals
- The Far Out
- The Ghouls
- The Gravel Project
- The Hammer Party
- The Love Shamans
- The Mallett Brothers Band
- Total Strangers
- Vudu Sister
- Whiskey-6
Blues Act of the Year
- 21 Grams More
- All Night Boogie Band
- Anthony Geraci
- Bart Bryant
- Cannibal Ramblers
- Chris Monti
- Dan Lawson Band
- Danielle Miraglia
- GA-20
- Johnny A.
- Julie Rhodes
- King Kyote
- LeFever
- Matt Swanton Band
- Muddy Ruckus
- The Gravel Project
- The Namedroppers
- Willie J. Laws Jr.
Rock Act of the Year
- Baker Thomas Band
- Best Not Broken
- Brother Toaster
- Connor Cox
- Coral Moons
- Diablogato
- Exit 18
- Falsely Accused
- Jennifer Tefft and the Strange
- Jesse Taylor Band
- John Fox
- Kioea
- Lady Pills
- Milk St
- Mini Yellow Witches
- Robber Robber
- Robotic Hawks
- Showpony
- The Amplifier Heads
- The Dirty Truckers
- The Fatal Flaw
- The Freight
- Total Strangers
- Viruette
Punk Rock Act of the Year
- A Home Beneath
- Adulting
- Brown Apples
- Burly Girlies
- Burp
- Grip Bite
- JVK
- Komodo Rojo
- mallcops
- Megan From Work
- Shame Penguin
- Street Trash
- Sue
- T!LT
- Telamor
- The Chelsea Curve
Country Act of the Year
- 12OC
- Anna Daley Young
- Annie Brobst
- April Cushman
- Charlie Marie
- Chris Shelby
- Elisa Smith
- Frankie Justin
- Houston Bernard
- Jake Hunsinger & the Rock Bottom Band
- Jason Ingriselli & The Miles North
- Midnight Breakfast
- Lexi James
- Louie Bello
- Nick Bosse
- Nick Casey
- North County Band
- Overserverd Again
- Patrick Kearns
- Samantha Rae
- Stephanie Ryann
- Valerie Barretto
- Ward Hayden & the Outliers
- Whitney Doucet
Pop Act of the Year
- Air Traffic Controller
- Ali T
- Anne Stott
- Canyon
- Dakota Smart
- Gatch
- Hush Club
- Izzy Ivy
- Keiyana Marie Trinidad
- Lainey Dionne
- Layzi
- Lila Wilde
- Louisa Stancioff
- LuxDeluxe
- Mary McAvoy
- Olivia Dolphin
- Preston Lydotes
- Sarika
- sidebody
- The Far Out
- The Peppermint Kicks
Hard Rock/Metal Act of the Year
- Almighty Watching
- Anaria
- Axminster
- Bad Marriage
- Club9Ball
- Dead by Wednesday
- Falls of Rauros
- Girih
- Hollow Virtue
- Major Moment
- Pulsifier
- Scarecrow Hill
- Strawberry Coffin
- The Big Sun Band
- The Cherry Fog
- The Grey Curtain
- The Hammer Party
- The Maximilian Wentz Band
- Under The Horizon
- Village Idiots
- Violent Brides
- Zeneth
Roots Act of the Year
- Adam Frates
- Belle of the Fall
- Birch Swart
- Brian Sances
- Bryan Titus
- Forest Station
- Jacob Haller
- Jacob McCurdy
- Louisa Stancioff
- Low Lily
- Red Matter
- The Whiskey Treaty Roadshow
- The Wormdogs
- Undercover Cameo
- Wood & Bone
Americana Act of the Year
- Gnarly Darling
- Greg Hall
- Kier Byrnes & the Kettle Burners
- Kim Moberg
- Molly Pinto Madigan
- Nate Perry and Ragged Company
- Nate Ramos Band
- Old Tom & the Lookouts
- Polly Bessette
- Rakish
- Sado-Domestics
- Saints and Liars
- Sarah King
- Shawn Taylor
- Tad Overbaugh & The Late Arrivals
- Tall Travis
- The Clements Brothers
- The High LowDowns
- The Moonrise Cartel
- The Wolff Sisters
- Tristan Israel
- Tyler Nail
Hip-Hop Act of the Year
- BoriRock
- Brandie Blaze
- Cakeswagg
- Chase Stebbins and The Only Known
- ECHO FINCH
- Fee the Evolutionist
- Jesse the Tree
- Joey Batts
- Kei
- King Polo
- Ladi R.o.c.k.
- Laroy Streat
- Maari
- Mighty Ceej
- Najee Janey
- Omega Jade
- Scamrock
- SeeFour
- Taija New
- The 50×50’s
Jazz Act of the Year
- 440
- Club D’Elf
- Evening Sky
- Ize Trio
- Jamie Saft Trio
- Jorgan Trio+1
- Savoir Fair
- Soggy Po’ Boys
- Tara Gozay
- The Craigtones
- Tobin Mueller
- Zeke Martin
Soul/R&B Act of the Year
- Debo Ray
- Dom the Composer
- Jennifer Hill
- Manny X
- Mighty Soul Drivers
- Miranda Rae
- Ruby Shabazz
- Sonya Rae Taylor
- TOBY.
World Act of the Year
- Chris Monti
- DakouDakou
- Eduardo Betancourt
- FM Collective
- Kotoko Brass
- Mikahely
- Nicolas Emden
- Soul Rebel Project
- Toussaint the Liberator
Rising Star: Connecticut
- Collaborations
- Dirt Pile
- Emo Kid Eating A Sandwich
- J Wils & Levitation
- Northfield
- Remedies
- Sober Bill
- The Moonrise Cartel
- Trench CT
- XENOS
Rising Star: Massachusetts
- Andrew Sue Wing
- berm
- Brother Steve
- Collin Snow
- Danny Curtis
- Dred Buffalo
- Eva Ricci
- Garden of Hedon
- Hotel Saturn
- Ivy Boy
- Jayden Westland
- Julia Hutchinson
- Nuclear Wolf
- Superchild
- The Implications
- Timothy James
- Tori Costa
- Wildfeuer
Rising Star: Rhode Island
- Casey Ruth Little
- Frederick and Chamberlain
- Highwater Haulers
- Meera Raphael
- Olivia Dolphin
- Taxidermy
- Told Not To Worry
Rising Star: New Hampshire
- Fun City Fan Club
- Horsefly Gulch
- Kevin Horan
- Konseptikor
- Lee & Doctor G
- Olivia Conway
Rising Star: Vermont
- Bloodroot Gap
- Embers in Umbra
- Lily Seabird
- Sheepskin
- Skrom
- Soft Sunries
Rising Star: Maine
- Alma June & The Persian Cats
- Bella Ann
- Cryin’ Out Loud
- Finger Food
- Grief Mop
- JEEZ.
- Matriarch
- Secret Work
Video of the Year
- Battlemode “Just Pretend”
- Class President “I’ll Come Around”
- Coral Moons “Made Up My Mind”
- Chris Trapper “Campfire Symphony”
- Crooked Coast “Natural”
- Dead Gowns “Wet Dog”
- Grip Bite “Skate to Annihilate”
- Hand Of The Tribe “Smile”
- Lila Wilde “Chasing the High”
- Major Spark “The Other Side”
- Rocking Horse Music Club “The Haunted Life”
- Savoir Faire “Hopeless Nostalgic”
- Scamrock “Crossbones”
- T!LT “Framed”
- The Baxbys “In a Cage”
- The Far Out “Laurel”
- Tyler Nail “Away From Home”