Welcome to the 2015 San Antonio Music Awards, the San Antonio Current’s annual voter-driven review of SA’s music scene. Over 23,000 votes were cast this year, determining the finest musicians and venues that the city has to offer.
With a quick cross-examination of the 2014 issue, there’s a good number of returning champions (with a three-year sweep, it looks like Grupo Texas Heat has a secure reign as Best Tejano Band). But there’s also a good deal of turnover, too, representing the rapidly growing landscape of San Antonio music.
Most importantly, we’re proud to say that we finally got Best Accordionist in the running, in one of the few cities in America where that title means something.
San Antonio Current Critic's Picks
Alyson Alonzo
COMPUTER JESUS REFRIGERATOR
Ellis Rendon
P2THEGOLDMASK
Ritual Art Gallery
San Antonio Music Awards 2015 Winners

BEST ACCORDIONIST
1. Alvaro del Norte
2. Bobby Garcia (Grupo Texas Heat)
3. Flaco Jiménez
BEST GUITARIST
1. Nick Valdez (Elora & Gasoline Alley)
2. Ryan Ortiz (The Ranch Road Band/Grupo Texas Heat)
3. Granvil Poynter
BEST VOCALIST
1. Elora Valdez (Elora & Gasoline Alley)
2. Ryan Ortiz (The Ranch Road Band/Grupo Texas Heat)
3. Cayman Robinson (Aliens WITH Halos)
BEST KEYBOARDIST
1. Eloy Espinoza (The Ranch Road Band/Grupo Texas Heat)
2. Elena Lopez (Octahedron)
3. Rob Cockfield (Dev Soul)
BEST BASSIST
1. Nick Williams (Elora & Gasoline Alley)
2. Rudy Flores, Jr. (AUDIOMOUTH)
3. Alan Golden, Jr. (Ty Dillon & The Wilde Fire)
BEST DRUMMER
1. Elise Garcia (Elora & Gasoline Alley)
2. Andrew Rodriguez (The Ranch Road Band/Grupo Texas Heat)
3. Raul Garcia (Granvil Poynter)
BEST SONG
1. “Hotel Lobby” (Michael J. & The Foxes)
2. “The Source” (Aliens WITH Halos)
3. “Broken Promises” (A1 Pusha)
BEST ALBUM
1. Desert Sons (Lonely Horse)
2. The Door into Summer (Gary Davenport)
3. Sunsets & Pickups (Ty Dillon & The Wilde Fire)
BEST VIDEO
1. “Strong” (Kae Hache)
2. “Back to San Antone” (Felix Truvere & The Open Road Band)
3. “Find Me” (Twigutta)
BEST INDIE ROCK BAND
1. Deer Vibes
2. Octahedron
3. The Morning Owls
BEST NEW BAND
1. PeanutGallery
2. Doral Club
3. Creciendo Fuerte
MOST UNDERRATED ARTIST
1. Elora & Gasoline Alley
2. Sire FNS
3. PeanutGallery
BEST TEJANO/CONJUNTO BAND
1. Grupo Texas Heat
2. Son Latino Show Band
3. Ricky Valenz
BEST ALT-LATINO BAND
1. Creciendo Fuerte
2. TIE Grupo Frackaso, Piñata Protest
3. Los De Esta Noche
BEST HARD ROCK/METAL BAND
1. Remanon
2. Celeste’al Descent
3. Jessikill
BEST PUNK BAND
1. FEA
2. Kill Liberal
3. Haunter
BEST INSTRUMENTAL BAND
1. Verisimilitude
2. Bright Like The Sun
3. GRANITE
BEST HIP-HOP ARTIST
1. Richie Branson
2. PeanutGallery
3. Reek Savage
BEST R&B ARTIST
1. Niki Symone
2. Nubia Emmon
3. The Azul Experience
BEST SINGER/SONGWRITER
1. Dylan Tanner
2. Ila Minori
3. Niki Symone
BEST COUNTRY/AMERICANA BAND
1. The Ranch Road Band
2. Michael J. and The Foxes
3. Bret Mullins Band
BEST BLUES ARTIST/BAND
1. Smokehouse Guitar Army
2. Granvil Poynter Band
3. The Disciples
BEST JAZZ BAND
1. The Azul Experience
2. The Spiders
3. David Villanueva & DV Jazz
BEST DJ
1. DJ EPSR
2. DJ Galexy
3. DJ Memph
BEST ELECTRONIC ARTIST/BAND
1. Aliens WITH Halos
2. Femina-X
3. SubCulture Collective
BEST HIP-HOP PRODUCER
1. Andrew FNS Johnson
2. Southeast Six
3. Bryan Hamilton
BEST RECORDING STUDIO
1. Timewheel Studios
2. Edit Point Studios
3. FireWave Productions
BEST RECORDING ENGINEER
1. Donnie Meals
2. BH Koonce
3. Chris Davalos
BEST LOCAL RADIO SHOW
1. KRTU Live and Local Jeannette Muniz
2. Street Dreamz Radio
3. Friday’s Fresh Air with John Morgan (KRTU)
BEST PROMOTER
1. Tim Slusher
2. Michael Anthony Fernandez
3. Die Happy Productions
BEST RECORD LABEL
1. Dreamland Collective
2. Gondwanaland Records
3. Npire Music Ent
BEST MUSIC VENUE
(SMALL, UNDER 250 CAPACITY)
1. Imagine Books & Records
2. 502 Bar
3. Hi-Tones
BEST MUSIC VENUE
(LARGE, OVER 250 CAPACITY)
1. The Falls
2. Paper Tiger
3. Alamo City Music Hall
BEST DIY VENUE
1. Imagine Books & Records
2. Riff House
3. K23 Gallery