The nominations are in. The votes have been tallied. And, once again, Northeastern Pennsylvania has made one thing very clear – there is a lot of music being made around here.
Today, the Steamtown Music Awards is officially announcing the nominees for the 13th annual Steamtown Music Awards exclusively on NEPA Scene.
Now it is time for the fans to have their say. Public voting for the awards is open at electriccitymusicconference.com and will run through Monday, Sept. 7.
Fan voting determines the People’s Choice Award in each category and is also factored into the awards committee’s consideration when selecting winners. It is not, however, the sole deciding factor. The committee looks at an artist’s work and accomplishments over the past year while taking into consideration things like releases, live performances, touring, notable opportunities, media attention, audience growth, creativity, marketing, and overall impact.
The winners will be announced at the Steamtown Music Awards ceremony at The V-Spot (906 Providence Rd., Scranton) on Thursday, Sept. 10.
What started 13 years ago as an idea to put a bigger spotlight on Northeastern Pennsylvania musicians has grown into one of the biggest annual gatherings of the regional music community.
This year’s Steamtown Music Awards will feature 37 awards, a red carpet entrance, photography, interviews, guest presenters, live performances and, most importantly, a room filled with musicians, fans, venue owners, photographers, DJs, journalists, producers, radio personalities, and many of the people who keep music alive in NEPA.
The nominees tell that story pretty well. There are artists appearing on the ballot for the first time alongside names that have been part of the NEPA music scene for years. There are metal bands and country acts, rappers and singer/songwriters, and DJs and jazz musicians alongside cover bands, punk bands, tribute acts, photographers, producers, radio personalities, venues, and more. The massive “Best New Artist” field shows just how much new blood continues to enter the regional scene.
But before looking toward the next generation, the Steamtown Music Awards will also take some time this year to honor a few people who established the music scene that exists today with Lifetime Achievement Awards. Local legends The Wannabes will be honored for their lasting contribution to the regional music scene, while a posthumous award will recognize the late Bob White, vocalist of Meat Loaf tribute band Bat Out of Hell.
“The awards are our chance to celebrate people who have helped create the culture that we have here,” organizer Joe Caviston said.
“That means recognizing the artists doing incredible things right now, but it also means making sure we honor the people who built this scene, supported it, and gave generations of musicians a place to belong.”
Following the awards ceremony, the Electric City Music Conference will expand throughout Scranton on Friday and Saturday with performances taking place across 12 participating venues.
“This weekend has always been about putting a spotlight on the incredible musical community we have in Scranton and throughout Northeast Pennsylvania,” Caviston emphasized.
“There is an unbelievable amount of talent here. Our goal has always been to give those artists a platform, bring people into the city to discover them, and remind everyone that Scranton has a music scene worth paying attention to.”
Lifetime Achievement Awards
The Wanabees
Bob White of Bat Out of Hell
Best New Artist
All in Blood
Amber November
American Vanity
Briggle Jaxon
Lindsay Van Gorden
Zeu
Crybaby Cult
Dan Ferino & The Broken Hearts
DJ House Bunny XXO
Electric City Surf Club
Eraser
Freefall
John Bower
Lord G Boston
Mmachi O. Dimoriaku
Ravyn
Safe Sermon
Surrounded in Static
Sunblush
Taz Zingale
The Sciatic Nerves
Ticket to Yesterday
Xdrenaline
The Love Melons
Acoustic/Solo Artist of the Year
Mike Barresse
Bryan Banks
Gabby Tolerico
Jase Mathews
Jimmy Stranger
John Bower
Ken Norton
Riley Loftus
Squid Sterling
Mike Elward
Blues/Funk Artist of the Year
Brendan Brisk Band
Dustin Douglas & The Electric Gentlemen
Matt Bennick Trio
Phyllis Hopkins Electric Trio
The Just Alright Band
The Tribe
Country Act of the Year
Boots and Bangs
Flatland Ruckus
Jase Mathews Band
John Bower
Lindsay Van Gorden
Lipstick & Rye
Luke Stone
Wagner Road Band
Cover Act of the Year
Almost Infamous
Better Than Bad
Chase Who Band
Dance Hall Devils
Guilty Pleasure
Nowhere Slow
The 335
Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax
Tribute Act of the Year
Ticket to Yesterday – A Beatles Tribute Band
Deadfish – Grateful Dead Tribute
Eclipsed – Pink Floyd Tribute
A Proud Monkey – Dave Matthews Band Tribute
Lost Dogs – Pearl Jam Tribute
Eastern Tribute Collective
Courtesy by Flatland Ruckus – Toby Keith Tribute
Sweet Little Lies – Fleetwood Mac Tribute
EDM/Electronic DJ Act of the Year
Amber November
Cowgirl Pills
Flipswitch
DJ Robair
Nasstronaut
Oath
House Bonny XXO
Bob Miller
Club DJ/DJ Party Act of the Year
DJ Hersh
DJ Downtown
DJ AR
Jay MC
Electric Lady
SaturBae
Chris James
Jamie Callen
Duo/Trio of the Year
A & D Acoustic Duo
Atari & Mari
CC Music Duo
The Frost Duo
The MDG Crew
Wildcard Duo
The Two Taboo
Folk/Americana/Bluegrass/Jam Act of the Year
Justin Bravo & The Kind
The Sorters
The Downpatrick Band
Gracie Jane Sinclair & The Band
The Sciatic Nerves
The Broke Pines
Greenfield III
Brendan Michael Smith & The Susquehanna Boom Co.
Hip-Hop/Rap/R&B Artist of the Year
Alahji DáQuan
Alexis Cosgrove
Lord G Boston
Maine the Medicine x Son Lee
Ray Blacc
Taz Zingale
Xdrenaline
John Anthony
Jazz/Fusion/Reggae/World Music Act of the Year
Elephants Dancing
Young Lion
West Third Street Band
Hot Club of Scranton
Tyler Dempsey
Peach Polaroid
Special Characters
Duds
Metal Act of the Year
Cruel Bomb
Drowning Kelly
Purple Lung
The Serpent Underneath
Traverse the Abyss
We the People
Toothless
Scorched Mind
Pop/Top 40 Act of the Year
MDG Crew
Popstar Drive
The Blend
Chase Who Band
Meet Me on Marcie
Fake 58
Totally Taboo
Last Call Beautiful
Punk/Hardcore Act of the Year
Acid Rat
Old Daggers
Pucker Up!
Side Over
No Limitations
The Mesos
A Constant Murder
Loading
Indie Rock/Pop Punk/Emo Act of the Year
Broken Alibi
Delaware Ave
Esta Coda
James Barrett
Look Back Luna
No Take Backs
Street Ave Blvd
Sweet Anne Marie
Rock/Alternative Act of the Year
American Vanity
Portland Frank
Ravyn
Safe Sermon
So Much Hope, Buried.
Spellslinger
Tori V & The Karma
University Drive
Female Vocalist of the Year
Abigail Chase
Alexis Cosgrove
Amanda Rogan
Cierra Cellerari
Dianna Brown
Gabby Tolerico
Gracie Jane Sinclair
Kate Mangan
Kayla Grzech
Riley Loftus
Tori Viccica
Sherry Klaproth
Male Vocalist of the Year
Adam Farley
Chase Robinson
Christian Michl Brown
Danny Sales
David Wood
Jase Mathews
Jeremy Burke
John Bower
Kelly King
Nick Van Wagenen
Patrick McGlynn
Kenneth Watkins
Guitarist of the Year
Ben Bush
Chris Gratz
Dave Kline
Donald James
Duds
Glenn Clark
Jacob Bagasevich
Jimmy Reynolds
Kevin “KJ” Stone
Mike Heitczman
Tyler Salak
Rob Husty
Bassist of the Year
Jon Ventre
Ben Mattey
Ben Roper
Brad Chikowski
Connor Langan
David Wood
Jasper Paci
Jesse Viola
Joe Terry
Michael Iorio
Stefan Ogonosky
Demi Belzer
Drummer of the Year
Anthony “Shiny” Montini
Armando Toledo
Brody Stewart
Chad Wescott
Chuck Grabosky
Dave Cali
Harold Jones
James Brown
Kevin Hall
Tanner Snyder
Anthony Viola
Kenny Vandermark
Auxiliary Musician of the Year
Brendan Lesavage – violin
Christian Michl Brown – saxophone
Jase Mathews – trumpet
Melanie Hansen – harmonica
Seth Eisenberg – keyboards
Amber November – keyboards
Bill Davis – pedal steel, mandolin
Butchy Jones – pedal steel, banjo
Callie Puzak – cello
Cierra Cellerari – flute/harmonica
Daniel Sperlein – trombone
Mario Tombasco – keyboards, trumpet, fiddle
Robert Jurkiewicz – keyboards, fiddle
Song of the Year
Alahji DáQuan – “Fashion Killa”
American Vanity – “Lifeline”
Apollo Putnam – “Champion in Shame”
Eraser – “Blind”
Gracie Jane Sinclair – “Dangerous”
Crybaby Cult – “More More More”
Spellslinger – “Vivianite”
The MDG Crew – “Alone Again”
Album of the Year
Christian Michl Brown – “Chapter II”
Drowning Kelly – “Eclipse”
Electric City Surf Club – “No Waves All Coal”
Scorched Mind – “Embracing the Dying Sun”
Side Over – “Loves You”
So Much Hope, Buried. – “Wither | Grow”
Brendan Michael Smith – “The Susquehanna Boom Company”
University Drive – “First Stage Separation”
Apollo Putnam – “Early Warning”
Alahji DáQuan – “Metamorphosis”
Video of the Year
American Vanity – “Poison in Your Cup”
Gracie Jane Sinclair – “Dangerous”
Free Fall – “Last Hoorah”
So Much Hope, Buried. – “Paper Thin”
The Sorters – “Cardboard Kids”
No Take Backs – “ICantWaitForSkate4”
Look Back Luna – “Falling Up”
Jay Luke – “Malice in Wonderland”
Recording Studio of the Year
BBE Entertainment
Encore Studios
JL Studios
Mazin Studios
Novro Studios
SI Studios
Windmill Agency
Producer/Recording Engineer of the Year
Steeze
Joseph Wegleski
Chev Robinson
Dan Dearborn
Eric Novroski
Ethan Cutillo
Jay Preston
Joe Loftus
Music Publication/Blog of the Year
1120 Mag
Echo Wave Media
NEPA Scene
Podcast/Vlog/YouTube Channel of the Year
The Popko Project
The Middleman Podcast
Talk of Fame Podcast
NEPA Scene Podcast
GhostWulf Underground
Local Radio Station of the Year
107.5 The Diamond
97.9 X
98.5 KRZ
Fuzz 92.1
Rock 107
VMFM 91.7
90.3 WESS
Music Journalist/Reviewer/Writer of the Year
Jennifer Racho
Rich Howells
Melissa Janoski
Jess Meoni
Alonna Weaver
Radio Personality/Podcaster/Internet Personality of the Year
Johnny Popko
Melissa Kranke
Kate Macintyre
Lazy E
Amber Viola
Mike Duffy
Keven Martinez
Rich Howells
Kylie Montigney
Music Photographer of the Year
Anthony Schutz
Donna Rose
Eugene Lucas
JD Ashford
Jenn Fry
Jennifer Kucharski
Kayla Grzech
Keith Perks
Nadia Wegleski
Rich Howells
Best Place to See Music in 2026
The V-Spot
Backyard Ale House
Benny’s of Downtown Scranton
The Bog
Sergei’s Live
Dungeon at the Ritz
The Ritz Theater
River Street Jazz Cafe
Union Vapors 570
Tony’s Wine Cellar
AJ’s Bar-N-Grill
Arlo’s Tavern
Artist of the Year
Elephants Dancing
James Barrett
Traverse the Abyss
Gracie Jane Sinclair
University Drive
So Much Hope, Buried.
American Vanity
Tori V & The Karma
Brendan Michael Smith
Cowgirl Pills
