By Jeff Maisey

Indie-pop group Feral Conservatives took home three trophies in Veer Magazine’s annual Music Awards program held at the Naro Expanded Cinema in Norfolk. The band’s “Here’s to Almost” was named Album of the Year, while their hooky, melodic “Last Light” earned “Song of the Year” honors. They were also top choice in the Indie Pop genre category.

Winners were selected as a result of a 50/50 mix of popular vote conducted online and a panel of judges that included an impressive array of local music industry professionals: Paul Shugrue (Host of WHRV-FM’s “Out of the Box”), Kyle Bloom (Producer of Fox 43’s “Hampton Roads Show), Crizti Walsh (Host of 96X’s “The 757 on 96X”), Dr. Barry Graham (Host, WHRV-FM’s “Acoustic Highway”), Jerome Langston (Veer Magazine pop culture writer), Jim Newsom (Veer Magazine music writer/musician), Jeff Maisey (Veer Magazine), Shannon Jay (Veer Magazine pop culture writer), Cristin Pond (Norfolk Festevents, Director of Programming/Entertainment), Josh Coplon (LAVA Music Festival), Tyler Warnalis (Musician/TBA Productions), Josh Whitener (Veer Magazine urban music writer), Mitch Kirsner (Owner, Fantasy), Bobby Philips (Electroganic) and Mike Hotzclaw (Reporter, The Daily Press).

A bonus to this year’s winners: Festevents will be producing an outdoor festival/concert on Thursday, May 11 at Town Point Park featuring 20-minute sets from Veer Magazine Local Music Awards category winners. It’ll be a live sampler of some of the region’s finest bands and musicians.

Following is the list of this year’s winners by category.

Album of the Year

Feral Conservatives, “Here’s to Almost”

EP of the Year

Roosterfoot, “Roosterfoot”

Song of the Year

Feral Conservatives, “Last Light”

Music Video of the Year

K’bana Blaq, “Black Trash”

Producer of the Year (2016)

Jacki Paolella

IndiePop

Feral Conservatives

Metal/Industrial

Heretics in the Lab

Rock

Demons

Garage/Punk

Flax & The Heart Attacks

Psychedelic

Galaxy Dynamite

Jazz

Russell Scarborough Trio

R&B

The Fuzz Band

Hip Hop

Masego

Americana

Brackish Water Jamboree

Country

Gina Dalmas and The Cow Tippin’ Playboys

Acoustic/Folk

Dustin Furlow

Blues

Anthony & the Conqueroos

Electronic

DJP & MrT

Experimental

Night Shark

Cover Band

The Deloreans

World Music

Buddha Council

Gospel

The Chosen Few

Open Mic Night

Cozzy’s w/Vaughn Deel

Live Performer

Anthony Rosano & the Conqueroos

DJ/MC

CanRock

Online Source

Altdaily.com

Media Program (TV/Radio)

Out of the Box, WHRV-FM

Local Music Venue

Shaka’s Live

Outdoor Festival featuring Local Music

Stockley Gardens Arts Festival

Local Music Series

Sunsets on the River @ Hermitage Museum

Music Instrument Retailer

Russell’s Music World

Local Music Photographer

Beth Austin