Orlando’s growing prominence on the national music scene has sharpened not only the performers but also the ear of the audience. When asked to pick the best bands in Central Florida, more than 2,000 readers of Orlando Weekly and orlandoweekly.com who voted in September picked the following.

1999 Orlando Music Awards winners

Bluegrass/Country Blues
   

The Hindu Cowboys

Funky Blues Messiahs Riverbottom Nightmare Band Mark Hodgson Terri Binion & the Longhaulers

Noble “Thin Man” Watts

    DJ Electronic     Andy Hughes Fluorescent Pea Pod DJ Leony

Prophecy

DJ Sandy

Q-Burns Abstract Message Q-Burns Abstract Message   Remark       Experimental Folk/Acoustic     Eyelight

Amy Steinberg

Numb Right Thumb Joseph Martens

Obliterati

Roger Docking   Terri Binion     Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Hardcore    

Gargamel

Carlisle JoJo

Fortitude

The Kill Song of Kerman     Hip-hop Jazz   Blind Alley CocoJazz Da Few Jacqueline Jones

Nature Kids

Sam Rivers Trio

    Latin Lounge/Swing/Rockabilly     Adalberto Bravo y su Orquesta Identidad Blue Flame Combo

Cuco Reyes y su Orquesta Vibración

Rocket 88 La Banda Tuya

Swingerhead

    Pop Rock Punk     Darling Backhand

VonRa

Shyster

Wellville The Hamiltons     World Rock     Exodus

Blue Meridian

Umöja

Bughead

  Nutrajet   Precious   Sidecar     Rock en Español Ska     Combustión Espontanea

Skif Dank

Parafanelia

Spitvalves Raza India The Coldspot Eight     Soul/Funk/R&B Best club for local music    

Kow

Barbarella SoFluid Go Lounge   House of Blues  

Sapphire

  Will’s Pub     CD of the year Live act of the year    

“Millennium” by Backstreet Boys

Gargamel “In Pod We Trust” by Fluorescent Pea Pod

VonRa

“12” by Kow Umöja Spirit of ’99” hardcore compilation   “Happier Girl” by Wellville  

This article appears in Oct 13-19, 1999.