The Wooks walked away big winners at the third annual Lexington Community Awards on Sunday night, picking up victories for Song of the Year for the number “County Girl” and Album of the Year for their debut record ‘Little Circles.’ The Wooks also won the award for best country artist, leaving them with three trophies to lead the pack of all nominees.

Other nominees bringing home multiple awards included Tyler Childers, who won awards for best Americana/Folk artist and Best Singer-Songwriter. Miles Osland, a UK professor of saxophone and director of jazz studies at UK, won awards for Best Jazz/Latin/Big Band/World band and best wind/brass performance. Osland also performed during the awards with keyboardist Raleigh Dailey, who himself took home an award for Best Keyboardist, as part of the Osland/Dailey Jazztet. 

Willcutt Guitars, a local music and repair shop, also took home two awards, one for best music equiptment store and the other for best music repair. 

Among the award presenters were founder of Fark.com Drew Curtis, Executive Director at the Lyric Theatre Donald Mason and 92.1 WBVX FM radio DJ Max Corona.

The Lexington Music Awards were hosted by LEX 18 weatherman Bill Meck and anchor Angie Beavin.

Also earning hardware in the style categories were Tee Dee Young for Blues, Driftwood Gypsy for Funk/R&B/Reggae and Rhyan Sinclair, front-woman for All the Little Pieces for Best Pop artist.

Top female vocalist went to the renowned Gail Wynters, known for her performances with Tin Can Buddha. Wynters also won a lifetime achievement award at the event. Singer-songwriter Corey Cross won top honors for top male vocalist. 

In a stacked list of nominees for best strings artist in performance, Maggie Lander of The Landers walked away a winner over The Wooks’ fiddler Jesse Wells and banjoist Arthur Hancock, and cellist Ben Sollee. 

One of the evening’s highlights came when Avery Crabtree, a nominee for Best Country/Bluegrass artist, gave a rousing performance of fellow Kentuckian Chris Stapleton’s “Tennessee Whiskey,” leaving the crowd in awe, showing Crabtree a token of their appreciation with a loud, drawn-out standing ovation.

Also sharing a piece of the spotlight at the awards were others facets of Lexington’s music industry, including venues, recording studios, music shops, music teachers, radio hosts and more. In a toss-up category, Willie’s Locally Known came out on top for Best Venue over The Burl, Twisted Cork, and Austin City Saloon. 

Beth Dean Mankel was honored as Lexington’s best music educator for her work as the owner of Studio 88, a music school offering group and private lessons on a bevy of instruments. Mankel also gave a chilling and intimate piano performance during the awards.

Here’s the complete kist of winners, in order of presentation:

Best live music venue: Willie’s Locally Known

Best music store (instruments): Willcutt Guitars

Best music company: CD Central

Best recording studio/producer/engineer: Sneak Attack (Jason Groves)

Jay Flippin Music Educator Award: Beth Dean Mankel

Best live sound technician: Matthew Florez

Best DJ (radio): Kenny Cummings

Best instrument repair/builders/customization: Willcutt Guitars

Best American/folk act: Tyler Childers

Best blues act: Tee Dee Young

Best classical act: Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra

Best country/bluegrass act: The Wooks

Best funk/R&B/reggae act: Driftwood Gypsy

Best hip-hop/rap act: Hybrid-the-rapper

Best jazz/Latin/big band/world act: Miles Osland

Best pop act: Rhyan Sinclair

Best rock act: Brent Penny Band

Best singer-songwriter: Tyler Childers

Best cover band/variety act: Lexington Lab Band

Best female vocalist: Gail Wynters

Best male vocalist: Corey Cross

Best drummer/percussionist: Ryan McQuerry

Best guitarist: Ben Lacy

Best bassist: Robert Trott

Best keyboardist: Raleigh Dailey

Best wind/brass: Miles Osland

Best strings: Maggie Lander

Community service: WUKY-FM

Critic’s choice award: University of Kentucky Wildcat Marching Band