NEPA Scene Staff

EXCLUSIVE: 2017 Steamtown Music Award nominees announced, with new categories added

EXCLUSIVE: 2017 Steamtown Music Award nominees announced, with new categories added
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Last night, the Electric City Music Conference held an announcement party at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant that revealed all the nominees for the 2017 Steamtown Music Awards, including those in several new categories added this year.

Live music during the party was provided by local rock bands E57 and Blind Choice, who were nominated for Rock/Alternative Rock Act of the Year and Best New Artist, respectively.

NEPA Scene announced in May that the 2017 Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Nanticoke hardcore band Strength for a Reason.

The fourth annual ECMC will kick off on Thursday, Sept. 14 with the SMAs at the “new and improved” The V-Spot (906 Providence Rd., Scranton), which is currently undergoing renovations and expanding its footprint. As was the case last year, The V-Spot will be non-smoking for the night of the event.

The event will kick off at 6 p.m. with a red carpet entrance that will feature photographs by local music publications and video interviews with nominees. The first awards will be presented around 7:15 p.m. A majority of the award winners will be chosen by a panel of judges selected by the ECMC, though some will be decided by the public voting online. Voting is now open here.

The rest of the conference, which will feature a multi-venue music festival throughout the Scranton area and panels with music industry professionals, will be held on Friday, Sept. 15 and Saturday, Sept. 16.

See NEPA Scene’s photos from last year’s announcement party here and check out photos from the 2016 Steamtown Music Awards with the list of winners here. Photos from the entire 2016 conference are here, and you can stream or download last year’s ECMC panel discussions as free podcasts here.

Lifetime Achievement Award
Strength for a Reason

Best New Artist
Any Time Soon
Ber Lynn
The Aegean
City of Ember
Give Up
Inner Temple
Just Blush
Kali Ma and the Garland of Arms
Little Star Run
Stay Loud
We the People
Alma Mater
Blind Choice

Acoustic Solo Act of the Year
Bret Alexander
Jackson Vee
Patrick McGlynn
Katie Evans
Riley Loftus
Bradly Parks
Adam Bailey
Robb Brown

Blues Act of the Year
Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen
Ed Randazzo
StingRay Delpriore
The Soul Shakers
The Barn Cats
Teddy Young

Country Act of the Year
Big Country (formerly Licker’d Up)
Flatland Rukus
Dani-elle
Jump the Train
RJ Scouton
Them Boys

DJ of the Year
DJ Famous
DJ Hersh
DJ Cryptic
DJ Quoth
Jay Velar
Kenton

Duo of the Year
Erich & Tyler Music Company
See See Duo
See You Next Tuesday
The Frost
Walau-Eh
Tiffany & Jonny D

Electronic Act of the Year
Gary Goblins
Men-Ji
Kyle Burton
Newpy Hundo
Penpal
Isobe

Folk/Americana Act of the Year
Dishonest Fiddlers
I Am Buffalo
Umbriel
Doghouse Charlie
The Charming Beards
Tony Halchak

Hip-Hop Act of the Year
10griffy
Mercy Gang
Animal Planit
THEOFFICIALOD
Crimzn
Nsilo

Indie Rock Act of the Year
Permanence
The Cryptid
Give up
Family Animals
Rosary Guild
Mind Choir

Jam/Reggae/Funk Act of the Year
Elephants Dancing
Static in the Attic
Subnotics
Stronger Than Dirt
Klusterphunk
Half Dollar

Jazz Act of the Year
Alex Marino
East End Vipers
Ross LeSoine
West Third Street Band
Indigo Moon Brass Band
Rixner Quartet

Metal Act of the Year
Behind the Grey
Ervasa
The Hill You Die On
Traverse the Abyss
City of Ember
Threatpoint

Pop/Top 40 Act of the Year
Dance Hall Devils
Flaxy Morgan
LondonForce
Light Weight
Aim & Fire
Fiddy Shades

Punk/Hardcore Act of the Year
Pave the Way
Dreamers, Like Us
Heart Out
Moral Code
Stay Loud
Send Request

Rock/Alternative Rock Act of the Year
University Drive
E57
Inner Temple
Aaron Fink and the Fury
King Kidding
The Boneflowers

Tribute/Cover Act of the Year
Dead Giveaway
Grayson Drive
Halfway to Hell
Lost Dogs
No Memories
That 90’s Band

Male Vocalist of the Year
Angelo Marruzelli
Dom Vito
Ed Cuozzo
RJ Scouton
Stephen Murphy
Jeremy Burke
Rick Gillette
Chris Shrive

Female Vocalist of the Year
Kate Hearity
Cierra Cellerari
Riley Loftus
LeahBeth Evans
Jami Kali
Tiffany Mongiello
Shannon Wahling
LissaLou Krahnke

Guitarist of the Year
Allen Van Wert
Charles Russello
John Canjar
Mark Yanish
JP Williams
Jesse Mower
Mike Trishetta
Neil Nicastro

Bassist of the Year
Aaron Kavolich
Abby Vail
Brandon Cook
Grant Williams
Matt Redick
Wayne Kopacz
Zac Wilson
Dave Senecal

Drummer of the Year
Zhach Kelsch
Chris Langan
Brian Craig
Jeremy Pilney
Steve Kurilla
Mike Boniewicz
Matt Kester
Tyler Dempsey

Auxiliary Musician of the Year
Alexander Marino – Saxophone
Eddie the Harp (Edward Czarkowski) – Harmonica
Michaelina Trapane – Fiddle
Steve Werner – Handpan
Frank Gruden – Keyboard
Shawn Caden – Saxophone
Ryan Lamoreux – Tuba
Ragu – Bongos

Video of the Year
Aaron Fink – “Left It Alone”
Grant Williams – “Alpha Centauri”
Doghouse Charlie – “Party Song”
Send Request – “Anymore”
Lucas Hex – “Gold Soul”
Moral Code – “Déjà Vu”
Rosary Guild – “Crocodiles”
Jordan Ramirez – “Blood Red”

Song of the Year
Cierra Cellerari – “Far from Weak”
Ed Randazzo – “Be My Husband” (Hersh/Jay Velar Remix)
Black Hole Heart – “Greetings from Point Breeze”
Just Blush – “And Your Mother Too”
University Drive – “Only in the Way”
Fiddy Shades – “Raw Is War”
Michael Stec feat. Jordan Ramirez – “Mood Ring”
10griffy – “High by the Beach”

Album of the Year
Aaron Fink – “Galaxies”
Jung Bergo – “Everything Old Is New Again”
Patrick McGlynn – “Monsters”
Heart Out – “The Thirst”
Traverse the Abyss – “The Gamble of Life”
Kali Ma and the Garland of Arms – “Re: Done”
University Drive – “On/Off: Reset”
Permanence – “The Northeast EP”

People’s Choice Award
The Frost
Flatland Rukus
Behind the Grey
Toothless
Send Request
The Charming Beards
Grayson Drive
Riley Loftus
Blind Choice
Crimzn

Recording Studio of the Year
After Image Studios
Soundmine Recording Studios
Holland Sound Studios
JL Studios
Saturation Acres
SI Studios
Side B Studios
Windmill Agency
Tunefly Studio

Music Publication/Blog of the Year
Electric City/Diamond City
Highway 81 Revisited
NEPA Scene
The Weekender
WBSNightOut
BDP4Life

Music Journalist of the Year
Rich Howells
Matt Mattei
Bill Thomas
Mark Urichek
Patrice Wilding
Alan K. Stout

Photographer of the Year
Brittany Boote
Jason Riedmiller
Jesse Faatz
Juliana Soroka
Keith Perks
Tom Bonomo
Mike Lehman
Shane Evans

Local Radio Station of the Year
88.5 Kings
91.7 VMFM
Alt 92.1
97.9 X
98.5 KRZ
105 The River
Rock 107
Froggy 101

Local Radio Personality of the Year
Alan K. Stout
Mike Duffy of 97.9X
Lissa & Rocky of KRZ
Fast Freddie
PK of Alt 92.1
Prospector of Rock 107

Podcast of the Year
Misericordia Cougar Radio
NEPA Scene Podcast
A Freak Accident
Homegrown Music WVIA
Keep It Metal Show
The Adventures of Spitfire and Kickazz

Live Streamer of the Year
Riley Loftus
RJ Scouton
Ed Couzzo
Alicia Lynn
Dani-elle
Alex O’Brien
John Nasser

Fan of the Year
David Babetski
Joe Foley
Maria DiGiosa
Philly Bob Squires
Steve Eshelman
Katelyn Roche