Best Local Country Band/Artist

Singer and guitarist Nikki Speake established herself as a songwriter with a capital S while performing as a member of psych rock trio Midnight Larks. With the Phantom Callers she proves you can take a woman out of a psych rock group, but you can?t take the psych rock out of a woman. With the Phantom Callers, backed by bass player Anna Kramer, lead guitarist Aaron Mason, and drummer Russell Owens, the group traverses a dazzling rural landscape. Songs such as Prodigal Daughter, from their debut 7-inch, bring a singular rocking honky-tonk sound that delivers beautiful vocal harmonies with a profound message of identity. less...