Wednesday night, Austin celebrated the best of the best in the world of local music.  The 25^th Austin Music Awards were held at the Austin Convention Center.

KVUE

Pete Townshend of The Who performs with Ian McLagan during the Austin Music Awards.

What makes the Austin Music Awards so special is the fact that the winners are chosen by thousands of readers of the Austin Chronicle. 

Amongst the winners were Asleep at the Wheel (Band of the Year), Patrice Pike (Song of the Year for “Beautiful Thing”),  Gary Clark, Jr. (Blues Band of the Year), Del Castillo (Album of the Year for “Brotherhood), Overlord (Hip-Hop Band of the Year), Powderburn (Metal Band of the Year), and the Hudsons (Folk Band of The Year).

The awards ceremony opened with a performance by Bobby Whitlock and his wife, Coco.  Whitlock, a newly-transplanted Austinite, is most famous for his work with Eric Clapton (Derek & The Dominoes) and George Harrison (“All Things Must Pass”).

“Just to perform on this show is enough in itself, but to be asked to open SxSW is pretty much a big honor,” said Whitlock.

Over the past two decades, this showcase of Austin best music has grown larger in participation and prestige.

“It’s just a special altogether,” said Margaret Moser, with the Austin Chronicle.  “We're in a new location and we have all of these things that are different about this year, and I think some of the surprises will play themselves out on stage, literally.”

Another big named who performed Wednesday night was rocker Michelle Shocked.

But the real surprise for the crowd when rock legend Pete Townsend of The Who took to the stage to perform with Ian McLagan. 

McLagan, a longtime resident of Austin, has known Townsend for over 40 years, back when the keyboardist was in the Small Faces back in his native England.