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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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)
Best Theatre Show (National)
Hamilton
Runner Up: Come From Away
Best Visual Artist
Elizabeth Palmisano
Runner Up: Marcus Kiser
All categories
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