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Buggy Jive, Sydney Worthley take top honors at Eddies Music Awards

Joe Putrock photo: Sydney Worthley performs during the 2023 Eddies Music Awards.

SCHENECTADY – Soul rock singer-songwriter Buggy Jive took home both Video and Album of the Year honors at the 5th annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards at Proctors Sunday, April 28, and indie pop artist Sydney Worthley received Record of the Year.

Other big winners at the ceremony include Frank Cavone of Mirth Films who took home three awards, and WEXT and Albany Symphony which each received two.

The Eddies Music Awards are adjudicated by individuals who are active in the local music community and administered by Proctors Collaborative.

“In the first five years, we have had over 450 different individuals, bands and organizations nominated, some multiple times, for a total of 950 finalists,” said founder/co-producer Jim Murphy.

“There is a pre-party each year for the nominees. There is an annual Eddies Music Hall of Fame event. We featured over 45 artists performing at our events. All of it exists as a vessel for the music community to come together and celebrate,” he said.

Since 2021, Eddies judges have also singled out individuals and organizations whose contributions to the music community don’t fit neatly in a traditional category. Merit award winners this year were:

  • Family Tree, a collective of five musicians (Steve Candlen, Chris Carey, Lori Friday, Kenny Hohman, Chad Ploss) that invite musical guests from the region to participate weekly at their 18-month-and-counting Monday night residency at Putnam Place in Saratoga.
  • “Courtyard Sessions” by Mirth Films, a 26-episode mini-concert video series featuring local musicians.
  • Instruments for Students, a program of the Vanguard, a support organization of the Albany Symphony, which has collected hundreds of musical instruments through the years, donating them through schools to families who cannot afford to rent or own their own instruments.

Here are the 2023 Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards recipients:

  • Live Production Crew of the Year: Mirth Films
  • Presenter/Promoter of the Year: Caffè Lena – Sarah Craig
  • Music Recording Studio of the Year: Overit Studios
  • Record Label of the Year: Cacophone Records
  • Music Journalist of the Year: Michael Hochanadel
  • Music Photographer of the Year: Frank Cavone
  • Arts Publication of the Year: Nippertown
  • Radio DJ of the Year (terrestrial or streaming) of the Year: Chris Wienk
  • Radio Station of the Year: WEXT
  • Classical Artist/Ensemble of the Year: Albany Symphony Orchestra
  • World Music Artist of the Year: Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra
  • Jazz Artist of the Year: Joe Barna
  • Electronica Artist of the Year: Architrave
  • Punk/Hardcore Artist of the Year: BattleaXXX
  • Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year: The Clay People
  • R&B/Soul/Funk Artist of the Year: Victory Soul Orchestra
  • DJ of the Year: DJ Hollyw8d
  • Hip Hop/Rap Artist of the Year: B. Chaps & Freedom Stratton
  • Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year: Jim Gaudet and The Railroad Boys
  • Country Cover Band of the Year: Stony Creek Band
  • Americana Artist of the Year: Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band
  • Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year (tie): Drank The Gold
  • Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year (tie): Michael Eck
  • Alt/Indie Artist of the Year: The Sea The Sea
  • Jam Band of the Year: Annie in the Water
  • Blues Artist of the Year: Nite Train with Thomasina Winslow
  • Party Cover Band of the Year: Off The Record
  • Solo or Duo Artist of the Year (Originals): Sirsy
  • Solo or Duo Artist of the Year (Covers): Steve Candlen
  • Rock/Pop Artist of the Year: Super 400
  • Songwriter of the Year: Girl Blue
  • Music Video of the Year: Buggy Jive – “Encyclopedia Black and the Case of You”
  • Record of the Year: Sydney Worthley – “How Soon Is Now?”
  • Album of the Year: Buggy Jive – “The Ghost of Alexander”

Merit Awards

  • Family Tree (Steve Candlen, Chris Carey, Lori Friday, Kenny Hohman, Chad Ploss
  • Courtyard Sessions (Mirth Films)
  • Instruments for Students (Vanguard – Albany Symphony Orchestra)

The Eddies Music Awards are a part of Proctors Collaborative.