originally published: 02/13/2026
(ASBURY PARK, NJ) -- The Asbury Park Music Awards return to The Stone Pony on Friday, February 20, 2026. For over two decades, the awards night brought the local music community together and shined a spotlight on the artists. This will be the first time the awards are presented since 2018. Jump to the nominations for: artists, new music, gap years, live performers, musicians, genres.
In addition to the regular awards, there are four special awards to recognize music released during the 2019-2024 period when no awards were presented. All total, there will be over 30 awards handed out this year.
The event is hosted by Taylor Allen and will include performances by Des and the Swagmatics, The Gay Blades, Sunshine Spazz Gods, Heather Mills, Blaise, Geenetica, Williams Honor, Emerson Woolf, Rachel Ana Dobken, Nick Francis, Renee Maskin, Soulfood, and Joseph Alton Miller.
Produced by the Asbury Park Music Foundation, proceeds from the event will support APMF’s mission to provide life-changing music education to under-resourced youth.
Tickets are $35.50 and are available for purchase online. The Stone Pony is located at 913 Ocean Avenue in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Founded in 1991 by Scott Stamper and Peter Mantas of The Saint, the Asbury Park Music Awards have long been a cornerstone of local music culture. Known as “the Heart of the Asbury Music Scene,” The Saint closed in 2022, and this year founder Scott Stamper has officially passed the torch to APMF, with his full support, to continue the tradition.
Now under the stewardship of APMF, the Asbury Park Music Awards celebrate the originality, creativity, and collaboration that define this community.
"I think it's great to have the AMAs return. It's the one time of the year when the entire music community is together," said Gary Wien, publisher of New Jersey Stage. "Congratulations to the nominees; we hope it is a great night for all. If you are a music fan, the night offers you a chance to see many of the top local artists perform live and the atmosphere is always terrific.
"It is a shame that some of the categories were not brought back, though," continued Wien. "Part of what makes Asbury Park a special music community is the support of radio, writers, photographers, bloggers, and media outlets. Back when I covered the scene, being nominated made me feel like I was part of it. I think it's important to shine a light on those folks as well. Categories for venues were not included this year, either. When you think about how many new venues have popped up over the last five years and how many have closed in that time period... having that category brought back may introduce music fans to some new places to go."
ARTISTS
Emerging Artist of the Year (Individual) - Debut release in 2023 or after
Carlotta Schmidt
International Superstar Robin
Monte Maybe
Ray Sheehan
Redbird
Songbird
Sophie Swanson
Space
Established Artist of the Year (Ensemble/Band) - Debut release in 2022 or earlier
Alexander Simone & WhoDat? Live Crew
Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band
Dogs In A Pile
Teen Idle
The Foes of Fern
Waiting on Mongo
Yawn Mower
Established Artist of the Year (Individual) - Debut release in 2022 or earlier
Arlan Feiles
Blaise
Jarod Clemons
Joe P
Kiersten Blue
Rachel Ana Dobken
Renee Maskin
NEW MUSIC
Album of the Year (5+ songs) - Released in 2025
Album of the Year finalists:
Arlan Feiles – Diaspora
Beauty – I’d Do Almost Anything For You
Brian Erickson – Everyday Forever (Brian’s Version)
Monte Maybe – Jersey Devil
Renee Maskin – Is It Real
Surfing For Daisy – Surfing for Daisy
Yawn Mower – I Just Can’t Wait To Die
EP of the Year (2 to 4 songs) - Released in 2025
Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band – Don’t You Dare
Emerson Woolf & The Wishbones – Too Easy To Kill
Jillian Ludwig – Mini Album
Kiersten Blue – Girl in the Mirror
Monkeys From Mars – Monkeys From Mars
Neon Rayon – Transmutation EP
Song of the Year - Released in 2025
Alexander Simone & WhoDat? Live Crew – We Working
Blaise – Tan Lines
Little Hag – Show Me Your Head
Not Yer Baby – soviet bloc party
Surfing For Daisy – Acrobat
Surfing For Daisy – Psychic
Teen Idle – Vampires
Music Video of the Year - Released in 2025
BACKHOUSE – Key of Orange
Blaise – Tan Lines
Bobby Mahoney – Smoke and Drive
Emerson Woolf & the Wishbones – A Corner Store Hymn
Renee Maskin – Wonderland
We’re Ghosts Now – Speaking In Tongues
Yawn Mower – New Years at The Airport
GAP YEARS
Album of the Gap Years - Released in 2019 - 2024
Dentist – Making A Scene
Emerson Woolf & the Wishbones – Everything Must Go
Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise – kəˈmyo͞ onədē
Little Hag – Now That’s What I Call Little Hag
Ryan Gregg – Hustling In Place
The Foes of Fern – Rerun
The Vansaders – Caught in the Light
EP of the Gap Years - Released in 2019 - 2024
American Stereo – The Gimmick
Big Boss Noff – The Rise
Bulletproof Belv – Mommas Boy
Emerson Woolf & the Wishbones – Not A Good Woman
Gab Cinque Band – Highway Junkie
Grasser – Later, Registration
Rick Barry – Ruminations from Barrydise During an Apocalypse
Song of the Gap Years - Released in 2019 - 2024
Alexander Simone & WhoDat? Live Crew – Even Now
Blush – Pocket
Emerson Woolf & the Wishbones – Not A Good Woman
Heather Hills – Bitch Like Me (w/Blaise)
Levy Okun – Something So Good
Sonic Blume – Aubrey
The Foes of Fern – The Ocean
The Mercury Brothers – Kill Me Again
LIVE PERFORMERS
Live Performer (Ensemble/Band)
Des and the Swagmatics
Dogs In A Pile
Emerson Woolf & The Wishbones
Ocean Avenue Stompers
Remember Jones
Surfing For Daisy
The Foes of Fern
Live Performer of the Year (Solo/Individual)
Blaise
Cranston Dean
Dana Why
Jarod Clemons
Monte Maybe
Renee Maskin
Ryan Gregg
MUSICIANS
Vocalist of the Year
Desiree Spinks (Des & The Swagmatics)
Emerson Woolf (Emerson Woolf & The Wishbones)
Jake Thistle
Liv Bec
Renee Maskin
Nick Foster (Surfing for Daisy)
Dan Apy (The Mercury Brothers)
Guitarist of the Year
Jules Drucker (Alexander Simon & WHODAT Livecrew)
Eric Vitoff (alors alors, solo)
Jarod Clemons (Jarod Clemons Band)
Matt Fernicola (Little Hag, The Foes of Fern)
James McCaffrey (Ocean Ave Stompers)
Paul Richie (Parlor Mob, gods, Drkhrt)
Erik Rudic (Parlor Mob, Armor For Sleep)
Mike Bernabei (Surfing for Daisy)
Drummer/Percussionist of the Year
Joshua Van Ness (Bryan Hansen Band, Jarod Clemons Band, The Wag)
Rich Seyffart (Connor Bracken & The Mother Leeds Band)
Craig Lawless (Des & the Swagmatics)
JM Cooks (Solo, Various Bands)
Sam Bey (Parlor Mob, gods)
Santo Rizzolo
Biff Swenson (Yawn Mower, Bristler, Dana Why, Grasser)
Bassist of the Year
Joy Morgan (Blush)
Kevin Stryker (Des & the Swagmatics, Alexander Simon & WHODAT Livecrew)
Joe Lucarelli (Great Oblivion, Dark City Strings)
Sara Wojo (Kiaura Rose, Teen Idle, Mischief Night)
Nigel Whitley (Monkeys from Mars)
Will Blakey (The Extensions, Bryan Hansen Band, Never the Name)
Matt Raspanti (Foes of Fern)
Multi-Instrumentalist of the Year
Cranston Dean (Cranston Dean Band)
Jason Portizo (Emerson Woolf & The Wishbones)
James Dalton (Solo, The Poc Fada, Kevin Hill & Secret Sound)
Cara Intocaso (Little Hag, Grasser, Dana Why)
Mar Frigoletto (The Hard Maybes, Foes of Fern, Mar Stellium)
Gordon Brown (Williams Honor)
Rudy Meier (Bristler, Yawn Mower, Tide Bends, Prop House, Dana Why)
Keyboardist of the Year
Jackie Flanders (Blush)
Dan Hogan
Jake Thistle (Solo)
Karlee Bloom (Solo)
Mark Masefield (Ocean Avenue Stompers, Rachel Ana Dobken, Dan Hause)
Ryan Gregg (Solo, Ocean Avenue Stompers)
Lisa LoVell (The Extensions, Never the Name)
Horn/Strings/Other Player of the Year
Tommy LaBella (Billy Hector Band)
Ian Gray (Ocean Avenue Stompers)
Joe Gullace (Ocean Avenue Stompers, Thank You Scientist)
Danny Clinch (Tangiers Blues Band, Danny Clinch & the Hitchhikers)
Andrew Ludwig (The Foes of Fern)
Spencer Peles (Foes of Fern, Third From the Sun)
Nicole Scorsone (Yawn Mower, Renee Maskin, The Vaughns)
Spoken Word Performer of the Year
Chris Rockwell
Ghetto Glory
Kim Obie
Kuf Knotz
Lindsey Marie
Aziz Finney (S0ulfood)
Shannon Ogden
Rapper of the Year
Big Boss Noff
Chris Rockwell
Heather Hills
King Ramses
Kuf Knotz
Lexx Banko
Token Genius
GENRES
Hip Hop Artist of the Year
Big Boss Noff
Chill Smith
Chris Rockwell
Drea
Heather Hills
King Ramses and Dopamine
Kuf Knotz & Christine Elise
Indie/Alt Rock Artist of the Year
Dentist
Echo Plum
Jake Thistle
Jarod Clemons
Joe P
Teen Idle
Yawn Mower
Jam/Groove/Funk/Psych/Surf Artist of the Year
Blush
Desert Jellies
Fungkshui
Johnny Nameless
Meraki
Monkeys from Mars
Space
Pop Artist of the Year
American Girlfriend
Blaise
Grasser
International Superstar Robin
Monte Maybe
Sam MacPherson
The Wag Band
Punk/Ska/Alt Artist of the Year
Dogfather
Meteor Police
Not Yer Baby
Pollyanna
Shut Up
The Amorphous Blob Orchestra
Third from the Sun
Rock/Hard Rock/Garage Artist of the Year
Bobby Mahoney
Connor Bracken and the Mother Leeds Band
Mischief Night
Sunshine Spazz
the dt’s
The Foes of Fern
The Mercury Brothers
The Weeklings
Soul / R&B Artist of the Year
Alexander Simone & WhoDat? Live Crew
Bryan Hansen Band
Never the Name
Quint Essence
Remember Jones
S0ulfood
Sensational Soul Cruisers
COLUMNS
This Week in Music: Previews for Concerts from March 3-9, 2026
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