We are only on year 3 of hosting the BIG RED recognitions but each year has held some surprises and new names (even to me) and a couple of obvious choices that simply slayed the year. 2016 is no different.

While I wish we could include each and every single one of the folks who’s names were submitted as a nomination…the list for each category would be like 67 names long and lets face it, we need some semblance of democracy in 2016 and this is the best way I can see fit. For those curious, the process is: we solicit your feedback for nominees for the past 3 weeks, over 550 people responded to the calling, from that list we collate and rank the top 7 artists or venues or bands from each of the respective categories and there you have it…you get you 7 nominees for each of the categories.

So, without further adieu and babbling,  the 2016 nominees are: