PHOTOS: 2018 Steamtown Music Awards ceremony in Scranton (with winners list), 09/13/18
The fifth annual Electric City Music Conference began on Thursday, Sept. 13 with the biggest turnout for the Steamtown Music Awards yet, packing The V-Spot in Scranton and flooding its entire front parking lot with local musicians and their supporters that felt like both a family reunion and a massive party for music lovers of all kinds.
With red carpet interviews by NEPA Scene, video by Ionic Development, and music by DJ Hersh spinning all night, the SMAs featured local celebrity presenters giving out awards in 37 different categories and plenty of live performances, including Half Dollar and The Boastfuls outside under the tent and AlphaAudio; Dreamers, Like Us; University Drive; Nowhere Slow; Black Tie Stereo; Graces Downfall; The Charming Beards; Lucas Hex; and The Russello Project inside on the main stage.
2018 Steamtown Music Awards winners
Best New Artist: Tied vote – Always Undecided (online vote) and The Boastfuls (committee vote)
Acoustic/Solo Artist of the Year: Chris Shrive
Blues Act of the Year: Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen
Country Act of the Year: The Wells River Band
DJ of the Year: DJ Quoth
Duo of the Year: The Frost
Electronic Act of the Year: The Gary Goblins
Folk/Americana Act of the Year: American Buffalo Ghost
Hip-Hop Act of the Year: KP
Indie Rock Act of the Year: University Drive
Jam/Funk Act of the Year: Half Dollar
Jazz/Classical/Big Band Act of the Year: Tyler Dempsey Electric Trio
Metal Act of the Year: Traverse the Abyss
Pop/Top 40 Act of the Year: Light Weight
Punk/Hardcore Act of the Year: Stay Loud
Rock/Alternative Act of the Year: Three Imaginary Boys
Tribute/Cover Act of the Year: Project 90’s
Male Vocalist of the Year: Stephen Murphy
Female Vocalist of the Year: Jami Kali
Guitarist of the Year: Michael “Duds” McDonald
Bassist of the Year: Lisa Dieterrich
Drummer of the Year: Andrew Merkle
Auxiliary Musician of the Year: Edward “Eddie the Harp” Czarkowski – harmonica
Album of the Year: Dustin Douglas and the Electric Gentlemen – “Break It Down”
Song of the Year: Alma Mater – “Speechless”
Recording Studio of the Year: SI Studios
Publication/Blog of the Year: NEPA Scene
Music Journalist of the Year: Rich Howells
Photographer of the Year: Brittany Boote
Radio Station of the Year: Alt 92.1
Podcast/Program of the Year: Podder than Hell
Radio Personality of the Year: Hoover
Virtual Performer of the Year: Mark Yanish
Live Performer of the Year: Black Tie Stereo
Artist of the Year: Eye on Attraction
Steward of the Scene Award: Karl Hall
Lifetime Achievement Awards: Joseph “Wiggy” Wegleski and The Glass Prism
See NEPA Scene’s photos from the 2018 ECMC announcement party here. Listen to Caviston and Norton talk about the conference and the awards in depth in Episode 75 of the NEPA Scene Podcast:
Photos by Keith Perks/1120 Studios/NEPA Scene
