EXCLUSIVE: Steamtown Music Awards announce 2018 venue, performers, and presenters in Scranton on Sept. 13
From a press release:
The fifth annual Steamtown Music Awards will return to The V-Spot in Scranton on Thursday, Sept. 13 to pay tribute to Northeastern Pennsylvania’s many musicians and music industry professionals, officially kicking off the Electric City Music Conference weekend in venues throughout the Scranton area on Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15.
This year’s event will see 40 awards distributed in various categories. Announced in May on NEPA Scene, the annual Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to the Glass Prism and Joseph “Wiggy” Wegleski.
New for 2018, organizers will also present a “Steward of the Scene” award to Karl Hall for opening a much-needed all-ages music venue in Wilkes-Barre.
As always, special “local celebrity” guests will present the awards. This year’s presenters include comedian Ted Hebert, Camp Rattler’s James Callahan, comedian Dan Hoppel, George Pachucy of Black Tie Stereo, photographer Jesse Faatz, cultural and art influencer Jess Meoni, Juggalo wrestler Carver Cross, Dave Kline of The Aegean, Rich Howells of NEPA Scene, Melissa Krahnke of 98.5 KRZ, local radio personality Freddie Fabbri, Chef Gene Philbin of Peculiar Slurp Shop, musician Chris Hludzik, photography Bill Lester, Pat Kernan of The Weekender, Joey Graziano of BDP4Life, candidate for state representative Kyle Mullins, Justin Adam Brown of Better Than the Weekend, local radio personality Kennedy Kai, John Popko of “Alt-Natives” on Alt 92.1, Steve Wright of the Podder than Hell Podcast, PK of Alt 92.1, Mike Duffy of 97.9X, viking comedian Thomas the Red, Tom Tell and Gina from Thirst T’s Bar & Grill, Brad Beneski of Great Lakes Brewing, Kris Jones of Special Guest App, local musician Steve Werner, John Canjar and Rick Gillette of Nowhere Slow, local musician Abby Vail, Max Robbins, and more.
DJ Hersh will return as the event’s official DJ for the fifth consecutive year, alongside ECMC organizers Joe Caviston and Ken Norton, who will again host the event.
The award ceremony will feature live performances by Half Dollar; AlphaAudio; Dreamers, Like Us; University Drive; The Charming Beards; the Russello Project; J Merrick; Lucas Hex; Graces Downfall; Nowhere Slow; and Black Tie Stereo.
The parking lot in front of The V-Spot (906 Providence Rd., Scranton) will be utilized again this year with tents. For the first time ever, a performance will also take place outside on the red carpet.
The red carpet will begin at 6 p.m. and feature live-streamed interviews, photographs and a performance by Half Dollar. The event is free to all nominees and only $5 for the public to attend.
Caviston and Norton have also been raising money for charity through a weight loss competition since April. A final weigh-in will take place on the red carpet, and checks will be presented to their respective charities.
As the largest event of its kind in Northeastern Pennsylvania, this celebration of the diverse local music scene is much more than a music festival, bringing hundreds of artists and music industry professionals together annually to meet and network while recognizing and showcasing established and up-and-coming musicians.
See NEPA Scene’s photos from the 2018 Electric City Music Conference announcement party here and a full 2018 schedule here. See photos from the 2017 Steamtown Music Awards here and the entire Electric City Music Conference here. Stream or download last year’s panel discussions as free podcasts here and listen to Caviston and Norton talk about the conference and the awards in depth in Episode 26 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:
