As Donna Colton serenaded the assembled newshounds, familiar names and newbies were among the nominees revealed during the Syracuse Area Music Awards (Sammys) press conference held Feb. 2 at Eastwood’s Palace Theatre.
The upcoming festivities include the Sammys Hall of Fame induction ceremony, which takes place Thursday, March 3, 7 p.m., at Upstairs at Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 W. Willow St. The honorees include a much-anticipated reunion of the 1970s rock band Jam Factory; British blues pioneers Savoy Brown; veteran keyboardist George “Li’l Georgie” Rossi; and gospel favorites Bells of Harmony. Jazz instrumentalist Mark Copani will be honored as Educator of the Year, while late jazz singer Mark Murphy, who passed away in October 2015, will received a posthumous Sammys Lifetime Achievement Award. Tickets are $25; mail payments to SAMMY, P.O. Box 11196, Syracuse 13218.
The Sammys Awards ceremony take place Friday, March 4, at the Palace, 2384 James St. Advance tickets are $20, available at syracuseareamusic.com. There will be live performances by Jam Factory, Carolyn Kelly Blues Band, Joe Driscoll, Ohne-Ka and the Burning River and Savoy Brown.
Here are the nominees:
Best Pop: Bill Mott, Elizabeth Canino, Emma Jude, Jason Bean, The Guise
Best Country: Chris Taylor, Dirtroad Ruckus, Lonnie Park, Mick Fury, Moonshine River Band
Best Jazz: Andrew Carroll, Bob Holz, Jimmy Cox
Best Hip Hop or Rap: Mafiosa, Steve Cook & Cyph, Street Rock Mafia, Tone Atlas, World Be Free
Best Americana: Early Bird Trio, John Cadley, Molly and the Badly Bent Bluegrass Boys, Rabbit in the Rye, The Brothers MacRae
Best Alternative: The Action!, Department, Mountains & Valleys, Professional Victims, Trespassers
Best Rock: Chris Eves, Golden Novak Band, Honor Bright, Joe Whiting, Lonesome Crow
Best Hard Rock: After Earth, Fall of Humanity, One Step From Falling, Terror Byte, Wagner 3000
Best Jam Band: Barroom Philosophers, Jam Factor, The Lightkeepers
Best Folk: Allison and Zoe, Austin MacRae, Colleen Kattau, Gina Holsopple, Greg Pier
Best Other Style: Jason Kessler, Josh Dekaney, Nick and Noah, The AdVentures, Yazell/Richardson SNT