Arts & Entertainment Readers’ Picks 2020

Readers’ Picks were chosen exclusively by readers through a two-month nomination process followed by a two-month voting process. The nominations were not tampered with by Queen City Nerve staff at all — save for removing ourselves from a few categories to proactively dispel any notions of favoritism. In other words, if you disagree with these ones, that’s on your fellow reader, not us.

All categories


Best Actor

Jermaine Gamble
Runner Up: Jonathan Pritchard

 

Best Actress

LeShea Nicole
Runner Up: Keya Hamilton

 

Best Art Gallery

Goodyear Arts
Runner Up: Petra’s

Goodyear Arts XOXO
XOXO rehearses in front of Goodyear Arts. (Photo by Grant Baldwin)

Best Blues/Jazz/Soul Band

Quentin Talley & the Soul Providers
Runner Up: Ghost Trees

 

Best Comedian

Don Garrett
Runner Up: Brian Mitchell

 

Best Concert Venue

Neighborhood Theatre
Runner Up: Snug Harbor

Neighborhood Theatre
Neighborhood Theatre hasn’t hosted an in-person  concert since March 7, but continues to host virtual shows. (Photo by Ryan Pitkin)

Best Country/Folk Band

Sinners & Saints
Runner Up: Kelsey Ryan

 

Best Display Of Public Art

Black Lives Matter Mural
Runner Up: Camp North End

 

Best DJ

DJ Smitty
Runner Up: DJ Red



Best Drag Performer

Riley Malicious
Runner Up: Onya Nerves

 

Best Exhibit

Goodyear Arts, Making Arrangements
Runner Up: Bree Stallings, To Be Seen and Celebrated

 

Best Experimental Musician/Band

Dylan Gilbert
Runner Up: Ghost Trees

Dylan Gilbert
Always the performer: Dylan Gilbert. (Photo by Amy Herman)

Best Improv Troupe

Now Are The Foxes
Runner Up: Robot Johnson

 

Best Indie Rock Band

Junior Astronomers
Runner Up: Pullover

 

Best Live Performer(s)

Dylan Gilbert
Runner Up: Hipgnostic

 

Best Livestream Performance

The Flamingo Revue, Lockdown Throwdown
Runner Up: One Voice Chorus of Charlotte

Flamingo Revue (Photo by Josh Taggart)

Best Local Album

Hungry Girl, ‘Rip Currents’
Runner Up: Dylan Gilbert, ‘I’ll Be the Lakebed’

 

Best Local Show Of The Past 12 Months

LadyfestCLT 2020
Runner Up: Pullover Album Release at Snug Harbor

 

Best Movie Theater

The Manor
Runner Up: Cinemark Movie Bistro

Management at Regal Manor Twin announced the theater would be shutting its doors for good on May 20. (Photo by Ryan Pitkin)

Best Muralist

Bree Stallings
Runner Up: Matt Moore (Puck McGruff)

 

Best Museum

Mint Museum
Runner Up: Harvey B. Gantt Center

 

Best Music Festival (in state)

MerleFest
Runner Up: Hi Lites Fest at Goodyear Arts



Best Music Festival (out of state)

Austin City Limits
Runner Up: Bonnaroo

 

Best National Show Of The Past 12 Months

Cirque De Soleil Ovo
Runner Up: Iron Maiden

 

Best New Band

Pluto Gang

 

Best Open Mic Night

The Evening Muse
Runner Up: Shannon Lee Open Mic-Jam

The Evening Muse in NoDa
The Evening Muse in NoDa. (Photo by Justin LaFrancois)

Best Performing Artist(s)

The Flamingo Revue
Runner Up: Onya Nerves

 

Best Photographer

Bobby Kerns
Runner Up: Alvin C. Jacobs Jr., Logan Cyrus (tie)

 

Best Place To Hear Country Music

Thirsty Beaver Saloon
Runner Up: Coyote Joe’s

 

Best Place To Hear Jazz

Petra’s
Runner Up: Middle C Jazz

 

Best Place To Hear Spoken Word

The Evening Muse
Runner Up: Petra’s



Best Place To See Comedy

The Comedy Zone
Runner Up: Petra’s

 

Best Producer

Justin Aswell
Runner Up: Frankie Dynamite

 

Best R&B Singer

Anthony Hamilton
Runner Up: Quentin Talley

 

Best Rapper

Elevator Jay
Runner Up: Wiggi

Elevator Jay (Photo by Jayme Johnson)

Best Singer/Songwriter

Dylan Gilbert
Runner Up: Ian Pasquini

 

Best Solo Performer

Dylan Gilbert
Runner Up: Lisa De Novo

 

Best Street Artist

Osiris Rain
Runner Up: Arko & Owl



Best Tattoo Artist

Elisa Sanchez
Runner Up: Dallas Davis

 

Best Theatre Company

Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte
Runner Up: Brand New Sheriff Productions

 

Best Theatre Show (Local)

Theatre Charlotte, The Odd Couple
Runner Up: Three Bone Theatre,  ‘Protective Custody: PRISONER 34042’ (tie)

‘The Odd Couple’ (Photo by Chris Timmons)

Best Theatre Show (National)

Hamilton
Runner Up: Come From Away

 

Best Visual Artist

Elizabeth Palmisano
Runner Up: Marcus Kiser

All categories