The San Diego Music Awards (SDMA) is celebrating 35 years of honoring local musicians and giving back to the community. This year’s ceremony will be hosted by Lou Niles, Timothy “TJ” Joseph and Tim Pyles, along with longtime announcer Rick Lawrence.
This year’s nominees include artists who have electrified San Diego with their creative sound. Two bands with KPBS connections appear on the nominations list: Slacker, featured on our Music Series, The Finest, and The Neighborhood Kids, who also appeared on The Finest.
The awards ceremony will be hosted at the Humphreys by the Bay. The performances will be streamed live on the official SDMA website, and on its YouTube and Facebook channels on May 6 at 7 p.m.
Proceeds from the ceremony aim to keep participatory music programs alive in local schools through the San Diego Music Foundation’s Guitars for Schools program.
Tickets are on sale for the San Diego Music Awards, and fans can cast their votes online for their favorite artists.
The Neighborhood Kids
Explore the full nominations list below:
2026 San Diego Music Awards Nominees
Dylan Razwick x Tavia – "Kaleidoscope"
Highline Trail – "When I Die"
Jeff Berkley – "Abracadabra"
Mark Montijo – "Apricot Moon"
Patch & Maggi – "Alive"
The Beard and the Bird – "My Dearest Eloise"
Virginia James – "730 Run"
Highline Trail – "When I Die"
Jeff Berkley – "Abracadabra"
Mark Montijo – "Apricot Moon"
Patch & Maggi – "Alive"
The Beard and the Bird – "My Dearest Eloise"
Virginia James – "730 Run"
Ed Kornhauser
Euphoria Brass band
Gilbert Castellanos
Irving Flores
Leonard Patton
Nathan Hubbard
Sacha Boutros
Euphoria Brass band
Gilbert Castellanos
Irving Flores
Leonard Patton
Nathan Hubbard
Sacha Boutros
Archie Thompson – "Makin the Scene"
Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine – "Unexpected Guests"
Irving Flores – "Armando Mi Conga"
Patrick Yandall – "Devocean"
Rob Thorsen and Paul Gabrielson – "Sonic Visions"
Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – "Gemini"
Victor Baker Quartet – "As the Crow Flies"
Ira B. Liss Big Band Jazz Machine – "Unexpected Guests"
Irving Flores – "Armando Mi Conga"
Patrick Yandall – "Devocean"
Rob Thorsen and Paul Gabrielson – "Sonic Visions"
Sure Fire Soul Ensemble – "Gemini"
Victor Baker Quartet – "As the Crow Flies"
Ben Powell
Black Market III
Chickenbone Slim
Manzanita Blues
Mercedes Moore
Whitney Shay
Zavala Sol
Black Market III
Chickenbone Slim
Manzanita Blues
Mercedes Moore
Whitney Shay
Zavala Sol
CC Blues Factory – "Look Me Over"
Earl Thomas – "Live in London"
Good Gravy – "Roux"
Johnny Vernazza – "Home By Christmas"
Low Volts – "Forbidden Frequency"
The Juke$ – "Salacious Stories"
Tracy Lee Nelson & The Native Blues Band – "Relocation"
Earl Thomas – "Live in London"
Good Gravy – "Roux"
Johnny Vernazza – "Home By Christmas"
Low Volts – "Forbidden Frequency"
The Juke$ – "Salacious Stories"
Tracy Lee Nelson & The Native Blues Band – "Relocation"
Alex Bergan
Ashley E. Norton
Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas
Cathryn Beeks
Jesse Ray Smith
Kimmi Bitter
Stucky Leigh
Ashley E. Norton
Ass Pocket Whiskey Fellas
Cathryn Beeks
Jesse Ray Smith
Kimmi Bitter
Stucky Leigh
Alex Bergan (with Ash Easton) – "Hair of the Dog"
Haisley – "The Good in Me"
Lissa Dee – "Chasing Whiskey With Whiskey"
Michael Dean Goodrich – "Get Back Home"
Miranda Ramos – "The Only Men I Need"
Sara Petite – "Jealous Heart"
ZB Savoy – "Out to Forgetting"
Haisley – "The Good in Me"
Lissa Dee – "Chasing Whiskey With Whiskey"
Michael Dean Goodrich – "Get Back Home"
Miranda Ramos – "The Only Men I Need"
Sara Petite – "Jealous Heart"
ZB Savoy – "Out to Forgetting"
Dave Preston – "Fly on a Wall"
Elizabeth Bowersox – "California Queen"
Jeff Berkley – "A Buffalo Trace"
MohaviSoul – "Encore"
Thea the Band – "Whiskey Revival"
Todd Higginson – "Highlights"
Whiskey & Burlap – "Milkman"
Elizabeth Bowersox – "California Queen"
Jeff Berkley – "A Buffalo Trace"
MohaviSoul – "Encore"
Thea the Band – "Whiskey Revival"
Todd Higginson – "Highlights"
Whiskey & Burlap – "Milkman"
Banish Habitual
Bozzzy
Brothers Burns
Daygo Smoove
Kahlee
Miki Vale
RMthePoet
Bozzzy
Brothers Burns
Daygo Smoove
Kahlee
Miki Vale
RMthePoet
Bloodstone the Street Preacher – "Know what I’m saying"
BounceCX – "Bounce Back"
Dazer Daze – "Lighting Treez"
DJ Who & Heat – "Burn It All Down"
Mike Holmes & Riston Diggs – "Auntisistercousin"
RMthePoet featuring Oside Lenz & Oldschool – "Hit N Run"
The Neighborhood Kids – "The World Is Worth Saving"
BounceCX – "Bounce Back"
Dazer Daze – "Lighting Treez"
DJ Who & Heat – "Burn It All Down"
Mike Holmes & Riston Diggs – "Auntisistercousin"
RMthePoet featuring Oside Lenz & Oldschool – "Hit N Run"
The Neighborhood Kids – "The World Is Worth Saving"
Audrey Callahan
Cassie B
Chloe Lou
Emilia Vaughn
Jessie Lark
Matthew Phillips
Trey Hill
Cassie B
Chloe Lou
Emilia Vaughn
Jessie Lark
Matthew Phillips
Trey Hill
Brianna Grace – "Playing With Fire"
David Spitzfaden – "Lost Hope"
Em Cable – "Feeling Me"
KaiLana Tomiko – "Indigo"
Sara Jade – "Hippies Raised a Cowgirl"
sullvn – "The Fighter"
Sweet Myths – "Still the Same"
David Spitzfaden – "Lost Hope"
Em Cable – "Feeling Me"
KaiLana Tomiko – "Indigo"
Sara Jade – "Hippies Raised a Cowgirl"
sullvn – "The Fighter"
Sweet Myths – "Still the Same"
Cheyenne Benton – "Corrupted"
Gregory Page – "100 Years Ago"
Hillandale Drive – "Love, Fear & Everything In Between"
Matthew Phillips – "Till It's Over"
Pip Lewis – "Growing Pains"
Sophie London – "Mindreader"
Tamar Berk – "ocd"
Gregory Page – "100 Years Ago"
Hillandale Drive – "Love, Fear & Everything In Between"
Matthew Phillips – "Till It's Over"
Pip Lewis – "Growing Pains"
Sophie London – "Mindreader"
Tamar Berk – "ocd"
Dusk Drama
Lioneer
miniaturized
Slacker
Sunbendr
The Film Company
Weatherbox
Lioneer
miniaturized
Slacker
Sunbendr
The Film Company
Weatherbox
Agent 51 – "Age of Validation"
Buck O Nine – "Cut Out The Noise"
Paradise Drive – "The Phenomenon"
Pleasure Pill – "Hang a Star"
The Film Company – "Starving Artist and the Holy Ghost"
Thee Allyrgic Reaction – "s/t"
The Reckless – "Who Are You"
Buck O Nine – "Cut Out The Noise"
Paradise Drive – "The Phenomenon"
Pleasure Pill – "Hang a Star"
The Film Company – "Starving Artist and the Holy Ghost"
Thee Allyrgic Reaction – "s/t"
The Reckless – "Who Are You"
Band of Gringos
Daring Greatly
Door 13
Misfire
Mistress 77
The Farmers
The Tourmaliners
Daring Greatly
Door 13
Misfire
Mistress 77
The Farmers
The Tourmaliners
Blame Betty – "Who's to Blame"
Daring Greatly – "Let It Ride"
Rhinoceros III – "Listen With Two Hearts"
Sun Room – "Ritual of Chaos"
Taz Taylor Band – "The Other Side of Midnight"
The Suede Grenades – "Flashbulb Memories"
Year of the Kid – "s/t"
Daring Greatly – "Let It Ride"
Rhinoceros III – "Listen With Two Hearts"
Sun Room – "Ritual of Chaos"
Taz Taylor Band – "The Other Side of Midnight"
The Suede Grenades – "Flashbulb Memories"
Year of the Kid – "s/t"
Beta7 – "So Long Ago"
Daring Greatly – "Lucid Ride"
Go Scarlet – "La Motorcyclette"
Half Hour Late – "Slow Motion"
Manganista – "Talking to Myself"
Mistress 77 – "It Ain’t Christmas Without the Mistress"
Three Legged Dog – "Left for Dead"
Daring Greatly – "Lucid Ride"
Go Scarlet – "La Motorcyclette"
Half Hour Late – "Slow Motion"
Manganista – "Talking to Myself"
Mistress 77 – "It Ain’t Christmas Without the Mistress"
Three Legged Dog – "Left for Dead"
Boostive
Israel Maldonado
Kekoa the Artist
Monette Marino
Quel Bordel
Sandollar
Slack Key Ohana
Israel Maldonado
Kekoa the Artist
Monette Marino
Quel Bordel
Sandollar
Slack Key Ohana
B-Side Players – "En Paz Dub"
Mitchum Yacoub, Lourdes Iri – "Métele Más"
Mix Mob – "Rock Star"
Safety Orange – "Castaway"
Sierra Marin – "Earth Child"
Skyler Lutes – "In My City"
Smoke & Mirrors Sound System – "Ain’t That Lovin' You"
Mitchum Yacoub, Lourdes Iri – "Métele Más"
Mix Mob – "Rock Star"
Safety Orange – "Castaway"
Sierra Marin – "Earth Child"
Skyler Lutes – "In My City"
Smoke & Mirrors Sound System – "Ain’t That Lovin' You"
Anthony Cullins – Lynmar"
Durell Anthony – "Meet Me in the Middle"
Hummingbird Hotel – "Close to You"
Kat Hall feat. Beebs – "Frequency"
Monica Larrea – "Mental"
Rebecca Jade – "Not Me No Way"
We the Commas – "in japan"
Durell Anthony – "Meet Me in the Middle"
Hummingbird Hotel – "Close to You"
Kat Hall feat. Beebs – "Frequency"
Monica Larrea – "Mental"
Rebecca Jade – "Not Me No Way"
We the Commas – "in japan"
Clinton Davis – "Ever Returning"
Grampadrew – "It's Getting Darker"
Salinas Road – "'25"
Seawall Prophet – "Hallowed Ground"
Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra – "Eight to the Bar!"
The Bastards – "Fall Risk"
Noël Tsoukalas – "I Still Hear You"
Grampadrew – "It's Getting Darker"
Salinas Road – "'25"
Seawall Prophet – "Hallowed Ground"
Sue Palmer and her Motel Swing Orchestra – "Eight to the Bar!"
The Bastards – "Fall Risk"
Noël Tsoukalas – "I Still Hear You"
Almost Monday – "enjoy the ride"
Cheyenne Benton – "Lessons"
Emilia Vaughn – "Rock Music, Girl Secrets T"
he Gravities – "Stuck In The Desert"
Eric Sage – "Rise Up San Diego"
KBong – "Good News"
Doah's Daydream – "Girls Girl"
Cheyenne Benton – "Lessons"
Emilia Vaughn – "Rock Music, Girl Secrets T"
he Gravities – "Stuck In The Desert"
Eric Sage – "Rise Up San Diego"
KBong – "Good News"
Doah's Daydream – "Girls Girl"
Doylestown
Jettee
Payback & Associates
Saint Misty
Tigers in Cairo
Vurv
You Can Call Me Sugar
Jettee
Payback & Associates
Saint Misty
Tigers in Cairo
Vurv
You Can Call Me Sugar
Obed Padilla
Pierce the Veil
Rebecca Jade
Slightly Stoopid
Swami John Reis
The Frights
The Schizophonics
Pierce the Veil
Rebecca Jade
Slightly Stoopid
Swami John Reis
The Frights
The Schizophonics
almost monday – "lost"
P.O.D. – "I Won’t Bow Down"
Pierce The Veil – "Kiss Me Now"
Shane Hall & Ash Easton – "Midnight Pine"
Slightly Stoopid – "Step Into the Sun"
Switchfoot (with Buddy Guy) – "Last Man Standing"
Thee Sacred Souls – "We Don’t Have to Be Alone"
P.O.D. – "I Won’t Bow Down"
Pierce The Veil – "Kiss Me Now"
Shane Hall & Ash Easton – "Midnight Pine"
Slightly Stoopid – "Step Into the Sun"
Switchfoot (with Buddy Guy) – "Last Man Standing"
Thee Sacred Souls – "We Don’t Have to Be Alone"
Agent 51 – "Age of Validation"
Anthony Cullins – "Inside Out & Backwards"
Buck-O-Nine – "Cut Out The Noise"
Obed Padilla – "Do You Still Love Me?"
Swami John Reis – "Time To Let You Down"
The Frights – "Ready When You Are"
Wavves – "Spun"
Anthony Cullins – "Inside Out & Backwards"
Buck-O-Nine – "Cut Out The Noise"
Obed Padilla – "Do You Still Love Me?"
Swami John Reis – "Time To Let You Down"
The Frights – "Ready When You Are"
Wavves – "Spun"
