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 Aug 13-19, 2003.