The Austin Music Awards Return

The Austin Chronicle, SXSW, and Austin City Limits Live at the Moody Theater recently announced the performance lineup for the 37th annual Austin Music Awards (AMAs) taking place on Wednesday, February 27, 2019, with proceeds benefiting the SIMS Foundation and HAAM. Tickets for the event are available now at acl-live.com and austinmusicawards.org.

Without fail, legendary performers, guests, and presenters like Robert Plant, Fiona Apple, Fab 5 Freddy,  Bruce Springsteen, and many more have taken the stage at the Austin Music Awards. For 36 years, the event has celebrated the Austin musicianship that the city is known for the world over. This year’s roster follows suit, featuring genre-spanning talent that includes singer-songwriter Jakob Dylan, Bob Dylan’s son most known for his years as frontman for rock band The Wallflowers; buzzworthy Austin-based psychedelic soul outfit Black Pumas; Tomar Williams from soul group Tomar & the FC’s; the foremost provocateur of tango in Austin, Glover Gill, of Glovertango; Jon Dee Graham, former member of the True Believers with Alejandro Escovedo and three-time Austin Music Hall of Fame inductee; Austin’s youthful soul, funk, blues, and jazz outfit The Peterson Brothers; India-born, Austin-based rapper Abhi the Nomad on the cusp of releasing his debut album, Marbled; and the renowned DJ Mel, recognized as “Obama’s DJ” after performing at the 57th Presidential Inauguration.

RtoL: Charlie Sexton, Celeste Quesada, Chronicle Staffers, Louis Black, Sarah Wolfe and Kevin Curtin on bottom row. Courtesy photo

Additionally, there will be a tribute to the late MC Overlord, known as Austin’s hip-hop pioneer. Donnell Robison, aka MC Overlord, was the recipient of nine Austin Music Awards throughout his career and passed away in 2018 at age 49. His legacy will be honored at this year’s event via a special tribute by Smackola and DJ Crash of Dirty Wormz, Tee Double, Traygod Tha MC, Bavu Blakes of Hip-Hop Hump Day, the MC Overlord Collective, and Grooveline Horns. The AMAs will announce a special guest performance day of. The full list of artists performing at the 2019 Austin Music Awards can also be found below.

Full 2019 Austin Music Awards Performance Lineup:

• Jakob Dylan

• John Doe

• Black Pumas

• Tomar Williams

• Rosie Flores

• Glover Gill

• Jon Dee Graham

• Tosca

• The Peterson Brothers

• DJ Mel

• Abhi the Nomad

• Special tribute to MC Overlord with Smackola and DJ Crash of Dirty Wormz, Tee Double, Traygod Tha MC, Bavu Blakes of Hip-Hop Hump Day the MC Overlord Collective and Grooveline Horns

To honor the continued success and significance of this annual event and further solidify its importance in this community, the City of Austin has proclaimed February 27 as Austin Music Awards Day.

"What has always truly and uniquely defined the Austin music scene is the work those in it put in. More than critics, industry honchos, scene makers, or even music fans, so many musicians work so hard in this extraordinary community to impress the audience they regard as the most important — other musicians," said Louis Black, co-founder of The Austin Chronicle, SXSW, and the Austin Music Awards. "Once a year,  the community comes together to honor our own at the Austin Music Awards and to honor the winners of The Austin Chronicle Music Poll. It is a great night, a true gathering of talent, a reunion and homecoming, and a celebration. And then, because of who we are and what we do, we get up the next morning and get back to work."

The Austin Music Awards will celebrate the winners from The Austin Chronicle Music Poll, managed by the locally owned and operated alternative newsweekly that reflects the heart and soul of Austin, Texas. The awards will reveal the winners for 52 different categories, including winners of “Best of the Year” categories for Austin band, musician, song, album, and best new band. Other winners include “Best Performing Band” in a variety of genres and “Best Austin Musician” selections, including the categories of female and male vocalist, guitar player, bass player, keyboards, strings, horns, other instrument, and the “Songwriter of the Year” award.

For more event updates, visit www.austinmusicawards.org.