EXCLUSIVE: 2024 Steamtown Music Award winners announced in 35 categories in Scranton
Hundreds of Northeastern Pennsylvania musicians and music industry professionals came together with friends, family, and fans to celebrate their art and all the hard work that went into it over the past year at the 11th annual Steamtown Music Awards, held inside and outside The V-Spot in Scranton on Thursday, Sept. 12.
Handed out by local artists and presenters of all kinds, trophies shaped like tiny microphones were distributed in 35 categories in between a variety of live performances by Pucker Up!, Portland Frank, Retrovai, Methadonix, Ivy, Justin Bravo & The Kind, and the Gracie Jane Sinclair Trio, with DJ Hersh in the mix all night.
Meanwhile, NEPA Scene editor Rich Howells hosted “blue carpet” interviews (matching the color of NEPA Scene’s logo) in front of the glow of a massive video wall provided by Matt Kester Productions, live streaming every conversation for over four hours to meet demand from the nominees, a new record for this celebratory community event.
The SMAs committee chose Eddie Appnel to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award, recognizing his influential career spanning over three decades as a celebrated singer/songwriter and founding member of Pittston rock band Mere Mortals. To make the final decision in all the other categories as fair as possible, 50 percent of the vote was determined by the committee, while the other 50 percent was tallied up through online voting. Alongside each trophy, a “People’s Choice” certificate was given to those who won the public vote.
The Steamtown Music Awards were just the start of the Electric City Music Conference, which continued on Friday, Sept. 14 and Saturday, Sept 14 with panel discussions and nearly 100 artists performing in eight venues throughout Scranton – Backyard Ale House, The Bog, Harry’s, The Marketplace at Steamtown, Mutant Brewing, The Ritz Theater, The Shakes Space, and The V-Spot.
The full list of Steamtown Music Award winners is below, along with the blue carpet interviews and photos.
Lifetime Achievement Award: Eddie Appnel
Best New Artist: Pucker Up!
People’s Choice: Lost at the Rodeo
Acoustic Act of the Year: Jimmy Stranger
People’s Choice: Drew Loomis
Blues/Funk/Reggae Act of the Year: Matt Bennick
People’s Choice: Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen
Country Act of the Year: Wagner Road
People’s Choice: Gracie Jane Sinclair
Cover Band/Tribute Act of the Year: The 335
People’s Choice: Issues (Korn tribute)
DJ/Electronic/EDM Act of the Year: DJ Nived
People’s Choice: DJ Dapper Don
Duo/Trio of the Year: Gracie Jane Sinclair Trio
People’s Choice: Running in Flip-Flops
Folk/Americana/Jam Act of the Year: The Sorters
People’s Choice: Justin Bravo & The Kind
Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B Artist of the Year: Methadonix
People’s Choice: Dallas
Metal/Metalcore Act of the Year: No Fight No Victory
People’s Choice: Slapjaw
Pop/Top 40 Act of the Year: Burn the Jukebox
People’s Choice: Meet Me on Marcie
Punk/Hardcore Act of the Year: Pucker Up!
People’s Choice: The Mesos
Indie Rock/Pop Punk/Emo Act of the Year: Look Back Luna
People’s Choice: Gus the Savage
Rock/Alternative Act of the Year: Stay Loud
People’s Choice: University Drive
Female Vocalist of the Year: Abigail Chase
People’s Choice: Kelly Lord
Male Vocalist of the Year: Derek Nowak
People’s Choice: Lance Thomas
Guitarist of the Year: Aaron Fink
People’s Choice: Dustin Douglas
Bassist of the Year: Ben Roper
People’s Choice: Michael Iorio
Drummer of the Year: Richie Pierce
People’s Choice: Tanner Snyder
Auxiliary Musician of the Year: Derek Novak (piano/keys)
People’s Choice: Christine Attanasio (fiddle)
Song of the Year: Tatiana – “No Coincidence, Happy Birthday”
People’s Choice: Aaron Fink – “The Invisible Line”
Album/EP of the Year: Variant Season – “Vol. 1”
People’s Choice: So Much Hope, Buried – “I’d Be Lying to Say I’m Not Weak”
Video of the Year: Portland Frank – “Buck”
People’s Choice: 2Humble – “Shiesty”
Recording Studio of the Year: Encore Studios
People’s Choice: Novro Studios
Producer/Recording Engineer of the Year: Ben Bush
People’s Choice: Steeze PA
Music Publication/Blog of the Year: NEPA Scene
People’s Choice: Weekender
Podcast/Vlog of the Year: NEPA Scene Podcast
People’s Choice: Mixing Mindsets
Local Radio Station of the Year: Fuzz 96.1
People’s Choice: Fuzz 96.1
Music Journalist/Reviewer/Writer of the Year: Rich Howells
People’s Choice: Gabrielle Lang
Radio Personality/Podcaster/Internet Radio Personality of the Year: Andrew Blank & Eric Novroski
People’s Choice: Johnny Popko
Music/Concert Photographer of the Year: Kayla Grzech
People’s Choice: JD Ashford
Videographer/Video Producer of the Year: Eyal Filkovsky
People’s Choice: Sarah Novroski
Live Performer of the Year: Justin Bravo & The Kind
People’s Choice: Pucker Up!
Artist of the Year: Elephants Dancing
People’s Choice: Gracie Jane Sinclair
Photos by Jason Riedmiller Photography/NEPA Scene
