Bass player
Tony Tarro, Brandy Kristin Band
facebook.com/BrandyKristinandTheRevival
Finalists: Jeff Cunningham, Bruce Williams, Tyler O’Brien, Trey Tholen
Choral group
Glenwood High School Titan Fever
1501 Plummer Blvd., Chatham
217-483-2424
Finalists: Rochester High School Madrigals, Springfield Choral Society, The Capitol City Men’s Chorus, The Lincoln Troubadours
Cover music band
Brandy Kristin Band
facebook.com/BrandyKristinandTheRevival
Finalists: Deja Voodoo, The 66 Ramblers, Sunshine Daydream, The Phantom Lordz
DJ
Yuri K. – DJ RIQ
facebook.com/RIQakaYURIK
Finalists: DJ Mikee – Curve Inn, David Hale III (DJ DH3), Butternut Hut First Fridays
DJ Wedding
Troy Armstrong DJ
642 White Oak Dr., Chatham
217-501-8137
Finalists: David Hale III – DJ DH3, Shawn Balint – Top Dog Productions, Brandon Austin – BCA Weddings + Events, Devaughn Travis – DJ DSC, Justin Ford – J Ford’s DJ Service
Drummer
Brandon Drew, Brandy Kristin Band
facebook.com/BrandyKristinandTheRevival
Finalists: Damien Kaplan, Robert Bryant, Lick Creek, Sean Tobin, Greg Harvey
Guitarist
Micah Walk
facebook.com/themicahwalk
Finalists: Bryan Ealy, Brandy Kristin Band, Andrew Sorenson, Matt Smegal, Brandy Kristin Band, Jeff Wheaton
Horn player
Dave Littrell
instagram.com/davelittrell
Finalists: Colin Deford, Frank Parker, Frank Trompeter, Kerri Donovan
Keyboardist
Tony Tarro, Brandy Kristin Band
facebook.com/BrandyKristinandTheRevival
Finalists: Damien Kaplan, Greg Owens, David Coonrod, Collective/Deja Voodoo, Roger Wainwright, Deja Voodoo
Live music venue – large
Levitt AMP Springfield
springfieldartsco.org/levittampspringfield
Finalists: Danenberger Family Vineyards, Sherman Village Park Amphitheater, Hoogland Center for the Arts
Live music venue – small
Route 66 Motorheads Bar & Grill
600 Toronto Rd.
217-679-7323
Finalists: Curve Inn, Dumb Records, The Blue Grouch, Weeble’s Bar & Grill, The Library Pizza and Sports Bar
Music festival
Levitt Amp Music Series
springfieldartsco.org/levittampspringfield
Finalists: Penny Lane Annual Joe Utterback & Jerry Garcia Tribute Festival, Lincoln’s New Salem Traditional Music Festival and Bluegrass Concerts, New Soil Music Festival, Logan’s Homegrown Cigar Music Festival
Open mic
Blue Grouch with Kortney Leatherwood
510 W. Maple Ave.
217-527-8395
Finalists: George Rank’s JB Open Jams, Midweek Music Meetings at Harvest Market, Roger & Mandy Open Mic, Trails End Saloon, Trading Post Saloon
Original music band
Lick Creek
lickcreekcountry.com
Finalists: The 66 Ramblers, NIL8, Unchained, Dysfunctional Family, OAT (Owen, Amy and Tom)
Overall band and genre
Brandy Kristin Band, Rock/Pop
facebook.com/BrandyKristinandTheRevival
Finalists: The 66 Ramblers, Classic and ‘Old-Time’ Rock and Roll; Lick Creek, Country Music Band; Deja Voodoo, 70s Rock; Dysfunctional Family, Metal
Place for karaoke
Clique
411 E. Washington St.
217-891-3288
Finalists: Curve Inn, Northern Lights Lounge, Goodfellas Pub, Dumb Records, Fluid Lounge
Place to dance
Clique
411 E. Washington St.
217-891-3288
Finalists: Curve Inn, Route 66 Motorheads Bar, Grill & Entertainment Complex, Weeble’s Bar & Grill, Fluid Lounge, The Library Pizza & Sports Bar
Songwriter
Tom Irwin
facebook.com/tom.irwin.351
Finalists: Micah Walk, Roger Smith, Keagan Cross, Kate Schwartz
Vocalist female
Brandy Kristin
facebook.com/BrandyKristinandTheRevival
Finalists: Amy Battles, Melanie Dennison, Olivia Smith, Mandy Rose
Vocalist male
Matt Smegal
Finalists: Micah Walk, Devin Williams, Steve Clark, Greg Owens
PET SERVICES
Dog-friendly bar or restaurant
Obed and Isaac’s Microbrewery & Eatery
500 S. Sixth St.
217-670-0627
Finalists: Scoop Du Jour, The Corner Pub & Grill, Jackson’s Handlebar
Mobile pet grooming
Fur-Ever Friends Mobile Grooming
217-801-2025
Finalists: June’s Grooms, Howl’s Pet Grooming, Jet n Pet Grooming, Somebody’s Kitty
Pet boarding
Kinner Kennels Dog Boarding
2315 Parkes Kinner Road, Pleasant Plains
217-626-1000
Finalists: Laketown Animal Hospital, Coble Animal Hospital, PawKamp, Petersburg, Yellow Dog Kennel and Daycare
Pet daycare
Kinner’s On 97
5965 IL-97, Pleasant Plains
217-626-1111
Finalists: Suds N’ Pups Pet Grooming & Doggie Daycare, KEEN on Petcare, Tail Command, Yellow Dog Kennel and Daycare
Pet grooming
Laketown Animal Hospital
1115 Adlai Stevenson Dr.
217-529-4211
Finalists: OH MY DOG Spa, Bark Side of the Groom, Suds N’ Pups Pet Grooming & Doggie Daycare, June’s Grooms, Coble Animal Hospital
Pet retail store
Wild Birds Unlimited
1930 S. MacArthur Blvd.
217-789-6468
Finalists: Pet Supplies Plus, Tails To Remember Pet Services, Treasures for Tails, Happy Scalez
Pet sitting
The Critter Sitter
217-836-5695
Finalists: KEEN on Petcare, Cuddlin with Canines Pet Sitting – Ann Gramlich, Pet Sitting Plus Farm, Canine Athletics
Pet training
Rediscover Your Dog
2161 Moffat Ave.
217-502-3885
Finalists: Joe Blankenship (Dog Class Pro Dog Training), Pawsitive Training Zone, Judy William’s Dog Training 101, Pup’s Paradis (Carol Gruwell)
Pet waste removal (pooper scooper)
Pain in the Grass LLC
PainintheGrassllc.com
217-803-POOP
Finalists: I’ve Got the Scoop, Doctor Doo, Happy Pet Waste Removal
Veterinarian clinic
Laketown Animal Hospital
1115 Adlai Stevenson Dr.
217-529-4211
Finalists: Petersburg Veterinary Clinic, Brewer Animal Hospital, West Lake Animal Hospital, Coble Animal Hospital
This article appears in October 29-November 4, 2026.
