Winners - 2026 ATBC Awards

Over 700 ballots were submitted in this year's finals. Congratulations to each of the winners, and many thanks to everyone who voted! Your support for the Austin Tribute Band Community, and the Austin music scene, is vital and greatly appreciated. 

BEST NEW ARTIST

COLD HEART CASH

NOMINEES:

FAB!

Crystal Visions

Rule The World

Vital Signs

BEST COVER BAND

YACHT Z

NOMINEES:

LC Rocks

Skyrocket!

Dysfunkshun Junkshun

North Of Luck

fUNNER

BEST TRIBUTE BAND

THE DAMN TORPEDOES

NOMINEES:

Departure ATX

Hair Metal Giants

Crystal Visions

Mock Lobster

Reckless ATX

BEST LIVE SHOW / PRODUCTION

MOCK LOBSTER

Photo by David Brendan Hall for The Austin Chronicle

NOMINEES:

LC Rocks

Hair Metal Giants

fUNNER

Departure ATX

BEST FEMALE VOCALIST

JEN HASSELER

NOMINEES:

Amanda Chell

Charlotte Wise

Kimberley Wright

Jenna Trust

BEST MALE VOCALIST

HEATH ALLYN

NOMINEES:

Matt Bray

Paul Ross

Ryan Thomas Holley

Ty Hurless

Mike Heard

BEST PERFORMER

BILL HARRIS

NOMINEES:

Corbin Superion

Paul Ross

Matt Bray

Heath Allyn

BEST GUITARIST

TIM VEILLON

NOMINEES:

Paul Lidel

Jack Kittrell

Jesse Monaghan

John ("Basil") Kovach

BEST BASSIST

DAVID DRUXMAN

NOMINEES:

Leighton Laborde

Ken Carver

Nora Predey

Chris Nine

Bob Kennedy

BEST KEYBOARDS

RON D'ARGENIO

NOMINEES:

Chris Nine

Mark Ramsey

Matt Bray

Rich Doan

BEST DRUMMER

JUNGI PADILLA

NOMINEES:

Matt Patterson

Rob Schumacher

Drew White

Ben Mills

Kenny Sharretts

BEST MULTI-INSTRUMENTALIST

HEATH ALLYN

NOMINEES:

Rochelle Kraus

Phil "Alarmo" McJunkins

Paul Lidel

BEST MISCELLANEOUS INSTRUMENT

LEILA HENLEY

Saxophone

NOMINEES:

John Wise - Saxophone

Phil "Alarmo" McJunkins - Flute

BEST VENUE

HAUTE SPOT

NOMINEES:

Hanovers Draught Haus

Regal Rooms

3Ten ACL Live

Shooters 620

The Fieldhouse At The Crossover

BEST SPECIAL EVENT TRIBUTE SHOW

HAIR METAL GIANTS

One Night Only: Tribute to KISS

NOMINEES:

Band On The Run - Saxon Pub

George Harrison Birthday - Saxon Pub

Heat Of The Moment Asia Tribute - Hanovers, August 2025

Robert Wagner's Rock And Roll Fantasy

BEST LIVE SOUND ENGINEER

VINCENT BEALL

NOMINEES:

Curt Ganem

Dave Pfeiffer

Brandon Green

Todd Leach

ATBC HALL OF FAME

THE DAMN TORPEDOES