On Thursday, June 23, the Flagpole Athens Music Awards show returns to the Morton Theatre downtown. The 18th annual awards show celebrates the artists who continue to make the Classic City an internationally recognized hotspot for new music, with a full evening of performances, award presentations and much more.

This year’s show features live music from Athens band Mothers, which has toured Europe and the U.S. over the last several months in support of a fantastic debut album that has earned the group praise from national outlets like NPR, Pitchfork and Stereogum—not to mention a Flagpole cover story in early March. The Pylon Reenactment Society, a tribute band led by Pylon singer Vanessa Briscoe Hay, will also perform a selection of classic Pylon tunes.

Electronic trio Yip Deceiver will appear, playing a set of its high-octane pop, and the Athens Cowboy Choir and Athens Tango Project round out the bill, with two tastes of something different sure to awe and entertain.

Throughout the evening, awards will be handed out in more than 20 categories. As usual, winners were decided by reader vote based on a ballot designed by yours truly, along with a panel of local-music experts.

Tickets for the awards show, which will be hosted by comedians Jake Brannon and Shaunak Godkhindi, are only $5 with an AthFest wristband (or $8 in advance, $10 at the door without one), and available at Flagpole HQ (220 Prince Ave.) or the Morton box office. It’s one of the most memorable nights each year in Athens music. Don’t miss it.