Once again, it was loud in Orlando this year. The results are in for our annual Best of Orlando® Readers Poll for local music: from Best Promoter to Best Record Label to Best metal, pop, rock, hip-hop, singer-songwriter and more.
Here are the winners of all the local music categories in 2025, chosen by you and your fellow local headbangers.
Dive into the rest of the Best of Orlando® 2025 results now.
Best Chamber Music Group
Winner: Violectric
Finalists: Mudita, Orlando Sings’ Solaria SingersBest Club DJ
Winner: Demi Korrin
Finalists: DJ Gay-Z, Sado Smooth Credit: Photo via @demikorrin/InstagramBest Country Act
Winner: Hayfire
Finalists: Sean Holcomb, The Bloody Jug Band Credit: Photo via Hayfire/FacebookBest Cover Band
Winner: The Groove Slayers
Finalists: Bar Fly, Speed Limit 70 Credit: Photo via The Groove SlayersBest Electronic Act
Winner: DJ Magic Mike
Finalists: KT Kink, Mother Juno Credit: Photo courtesy DJ Magic MikeBest Experimental Act
Winner: Bacon Grease
Finalists: Earth Fault, Thomas Milovac Credit: Photo by Matthew MoyerBest Hip-Hop Act
Winner: Why Rhyme
Finalists: E-Turn, Damez Credit: Photo via @whyrhyme.music/InstagramBest Jazz Act
Winner: Sanford Jazz Ensemble
Finalists: Jeremy Birdsall, Brown Bag Brass Band Credit: Photo via Sanford Jazz EnsemblePunk for Public Media benefit show at Will’s Pub Credit: Photo by Jim LeathermanBest Local Record Label
Winner: Smartpunk
Finalists: Popnihil, Circuit ChurchBest Local Concert Promoter
Winner: Montgomery Drive
Finalists: The Innovators Music Group, Lazer Focused BookingBest Local Music Festival
Winner: Sanford Porchfest
Finalists: Earthday Birthday, Florida Underground Fest Credit: Photo by Vanessa Simmons via Sanford Porchfest/FacebookBest Metal Act
Winner: Just Priest
Finalists: Meka Nism, Kings County Credit: Photo via Just Priest/FacebookBest Open Mic
Winner: The Alley
Finalists: Austin’s Coffee, Copper Rocket Credit: Photo via Google MapsBest Pop Act
Winner: Stereo FM
Finalists: Cat Ridgeway and the Tourists, Billy Mick Credit: Photo via Stereo FM/FacebookBest Punk Act
Winner: TV Generation
Finalists: Suck Brick Kid, Tommy Frenzy Credit: Photo via TV Generation/FacebookBest Recording Studio
Winner: Studio Live USA
Finalists: Red Lion Recording Studio, Bynx Cafe Studios Credit: Photo via Studio Live USA/FacebookBest Reggae Act
Winner: Kash’d Out
Finalists: Rising Lion, Oklahoma Stackhouse Credit: Photo via Kash'd Out/InstagramBest Rock Act
Winner: Ancient Sun
Finalists: Sound Theory, Sunset Rebellion Credit: Photo via Ancient Sun/FacebookBest Singer-Songwriter
Winner: Francesca T.
Finalists: Cat Ridgeway, Hannah Stokes Credit: Photo via Francesca T. MusicBest Solo Act
Winner: Thomas Watkins
Finalists: Shine, Zoya Zafar Credit: Photo via Thomas Watkins/FacebookBest Soul Act
Winner: Groove Slayers
Finalists: The Sh-Booms, Shay Butter Band Credit: Photo via The Groove Slayers
