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