PHOTOS: Electric City Music Conference announcement party at Thirst T’s in Olyphant, 07/15/18
Last night, the Electric City Music Conference held an announcement party at Thirst T’s Bar & Grill in Olyphant for the third year, revealing all the nominees for the 2018 Steamtown Music Awards, including those in new categories added this year.
ECMC producers Joe Caviston and Ken Norton read off all the nominees between live performances by Sweetnest, American Buffalo Ghost, J Merrick, and The Charming Beards, who were all nominated in various categories. Many of the other eligible artists were also in attendance cheering as all the names were called.
“We’ve found that people look forward to the announcement party almost as much as the ceremony anymore. In our busy lives, it’s an excuse for everyone to all get together in a room and appreciate local music. That’s what this whole thing is about anyway,” Caviston said.
“Every year, the announcement party, much like the conference and awards ceremony, continues to grow,” Norton added.
The nominees in 37 categories were announced on Sunday – the winners of the 38th category, the Lifetime Achievement Award, were already announced on NEPA Scene back in May.
All the winners will be announced at the fifth annual Steamtown Music Awards on Thursday, Sept. 13 at The V-Spot (906 Providence Rd., Scranton), honoring Northeastern Pennsylvania’s top musicians and music industry professionals. The rest of the conference, featuring live music in 13 venues throughout the Scranton area and free educational panels, will be held on Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept. 15. More details on the award ceremony, such as performers and award presenters, will be announced next week.
Winners are voted on by a committee that is comprised of 50 local music industry professionals, venue owners, promoters, sound engineers, and veteran (non-nominated) musicians, along with 50 music industry professionals from across the country who have no ties to the area.
A select few awards, indicated below, feature an online voting element. Online voting will take place via Facebook on the award ceremony’s official Facebook event page. Online voting will only comprise 50 percent of the vote. The other half will be determined by the committee.
And the nominees are…
Best New Artist (includes online voting)
Alex Key
Alpha Audio
Always Undecided
Lily Maiopolski
American Buffalo Ghost
Brighter Days
CYR/S
Ill Ray the Menace
J Merrick
JBØNAX
Joe Lombardo
Local Concern
Piece of Mind
Shamrock Duo
iEnvy
The Boastfuls
KP
Sweetness
The Holtzmann Effect
Acoustic/Solo Artist of the Year
Alex Key
Bret Alexander
Chris Shrive
Patrick McGlynn
Jay Luke
Sweetnest
Jordan Ramirez
Lily Maiopolski
Blues Act of the Year
Clarence Spady
Crossroad Duo
Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen
Ed Randazzo
JP Williams Blues Band
The Soul Shakers
Country Act of the Year
Big Country
Dani-elle
Flatland Ruckus
Mike Elward
The Wells River Band
The Tommy Guns Band
DJ of the Year
DJ Cryptic
DJ Quoth
JBØNAX
Wifimami
DJ Evil Bee
Jay Velar
Duo of the Year
Always Undecided
Dem Guyz
Erich & Tyler Music Co.
Tiffany & Johnny D
Shamrock Duo
The Frost
Electronic Act of the Year
8-Bit Panda Strike
Gary Goblins
Rouge Chimp
Concious Pilot
Folk/Americana Act of the Year
American Buffalo Ghost
The Charming Beards
Zayre Mountain
Black Sage Project
The Dishonest Fiddlers
Hip-Hop Act of the Year
AlphaAudio
J Merrick
Lucas Hex
Mercy Gang
iEnvy
KP
Indie Rock Act of the Year
University Drive
Black Hole Heart
Esta Coda
Jung Bergo
Kali Ma and the Garland of Arms
The Cryptid
Jam/Funk Act of the Year
Elephants Dancing
Half Dollar
Kluster Funk
Static in the Attic
Mother Nature’s Sons
Young Lion
Jazz/Classical/Big Band Act of the Year
East End Vipers
Mark Marcinko Jazz Band
Tyler Dempsey Electric Trio
West Third Street
Gary Rixner
Madd Kat
Metal Act of the Year
Behind the Grey
Dour
Earthmouth
The Aegean
Toothless
Traverse the Abyss
Pop/Top 40 Act of the Year
Black Tie Stereo
Flaxy Morgan
Light Weight
Vine Street
Nowhere Slow
Facing the Giants
Punk/Hardcore Act of the Year
Royal Hell
Talon Co.
Dreamers, Like Us
Stay Loud
Alma Mater
Death Wish Birdie
Rock/Alternative Act of the Year
E57
Eye on Attraction
Idol Hands
Graces Downfall
Three Imaginary Boys
Destination West
Tribute/Cover Act of the Year
Dance Hall Devils
Project 90’s
No Memories
Reach for the Sky
Drive
The Molly Pitcher Path
Male Vocalist of the Year
Chris Shrive
Stephen Murphy
Patrick McGlynn
Angelo Maruzzeli
Dom Vito
Ed Couzzo
Tony Malec
R.J. Scouton
Female Vocalist of the Year
Alecia Powell
Amanda Rogan
Cierra Cellerari
Jami Kali
Katie Kelly
Jen Fracas
Katie Blake
LeahBeth Evans
Guitarist of the Year
Dustin Douglas
Mark Yanish
Jesse Mower
Michael “Duds” McDonald
Neil Nicastro
Rob Husty
Mike White
Christian Gratz
Bassist of the Year
Aaron Kovalich
Grant Williams
James Simon
Joe Quincy
Mike Capwell
Lisa Dieterrich
Wayne Kopacz
Rob Santoro
Drummer of the Year
Andrew Merkle
Anthony “Shiny” Montini
Greg Lynch
Tyler Dempsey
David Sarday
George Pachucy
Greg Ewasko
Jules Borosky
Auxiliary Musician of the Year
Christian Gratz – piano
Edward “Eddie the Harp” Czarkowski – harmonica
Frank Gruden – keyboard
Patrick Cadden – keyboard/clarinet
Ryan Lamaroux – tuba
Shannon Marsyada – piano
Tom Martin – harmonica
Brandon Rodriguez – saxophone
Album of the Year
Aaron Fink – “Wolves & Butterflies”
Dani-elle – “Eleven”
Black Tie Stereo – “Do You”
The Charming Beards – “Out of the Valley”
JP Williams Blues Band – “Stolen Cadillac”
Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen – “Break It Down”
Jay Luke – “It’s About Time”
Drew Breeze – “Sermons”
Video of the Year
Black Tie Stereo – “The Artist”
Grant Williams – “The Flood”
Half Dollar – “Gettin’ By”
Nate Williams – “Black Sheep Freestyle”
Jay Like “Side Effects”
J Merrick – “Wilkes Burial”
Toothless – “Red”
Traverse the Abyss – “Dead Weight”
Song of the Year
Alma Mater – “Speechless”
Dani-elle – “Joke’s on You”
Black Tie Stereo – “Run Jamie Run”
The Charming Beards – “Shining Star”
Traverse the Abyss – “Dead Weight”
Mercy Gang – “Road to Hell”
The Cryptid – “I’m Just Tired”
Aaron Fink – “Wolves & Butterflies”
Recording Studio of the Year (includes online voting)
After Image Studios
JL Studio
Saturation Acres
SI Studio
Side B Studios
TwentyFiveEight Studios
Werley Bird Studio
Windmill Agency
Publication/Blog of the Year (includes online voting)
NEPA Scene
Better Than the Weekend
Direct Access World Wide
Electric City/Diamond City
The Weekender
BDP4Life
Music Journalist of the Year (includes online voting)
Alan K. Stout
Matt Mattei
Pat Kernan
Rich Howells
Patrice Wilding
Justin Adam Brown
Joey Graziano
Photographer of the Year (includes online voting)
Alex Seeley
Brittany Boote
Juliana Soroka
Keith Perks
Lisa Petz
Tom Bonomo
Radio Station of the Year (includes online voting)
Alt 92.1
88.5 Kings
91.7 VMFM Marywood Radio
97.9X
98.5 KRZ
105 The River
Rock 107
Podcast/Program of the Year (includes online voting)
NEPA Scene Podcast
Podder than Hell
TwentyFiveEight Studios Podcast
Music on the Menu
The Up and Coming Drummer Podcast
F’n Millenials Podcast
Alt-Natives
Radio Personality of the Year (includes online voting)
Alan K. Stout
Johnny Popko
Duffy
Freddie Fabbri
Hoover
Lissa & Rocky
Prospector
PK
Kennedy Kai
Virtual Performer of the Year (includes online voting)
Chris Langan
Mark Yanish
Ed Cuozzo
Patrick McGlynn
Jon Higgins
John Nasser
Live Performer of the Year
Graces Downfall
Traverse the Abyss
Lucas Hex
Black Tie Stereo
Tommy Guns Band
DJ Hersh
Artist of the Year
Black Tie Stereo
The Charming Beards
Eye on Attraction
Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen
University Drive
Tyler Dempsey
Steward of the Scene Award
Karl Hall
Lifetime Achievement Awards
Joseph “Wiggy” Wegleski
The Glass Prism
See NEPA Scene’s photos from the 2016 announcement party 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:
Photos by Keith Perks/1120 Studios/NEPA Scene
