Nominees Selected for Seventh Annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards

Schenectady (Feb. 14) – The Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards is thrilled to announce the nominees for its seventh annual ceremony, celebrating the outstanding achievements of the Capital Region’s vibrant music community, sponsored by MLB and media partner WEXT. 

The awards ceremony will take place 6 p.m. Sunday, April 27, on the MainStage at Proctors. Tickets are on sale now; visit atproctors.org. The event will feature several musical performances throughout the night, including Margo Macero, Camtron5000, Wild Adriatic, Zorbas Trio, Shannon Tehya and more to be announced. 

The Eddies Awards celebrates the incredible talent and dedication of the Capital Region music community. All nominees and award recipients are nominated and selected by community members, with increased participation every year.  

The Eddies Music Awards honors exceptional talent across various genres and categories. This year’s nominees represent the diverse and dynamic musical landscape of the Capital Region. Michael Eck and Buggy Jive lead with three nominations each, two of which are in the same category—Songwriter and Album of the Year for “fermata” and “Hurry Up Please It’s Time,” respectively. 

“It’s an honor to spotlight the artists, organizations and venues that make our music scene so vibrant,” says 2025 producer Kelly Auricchio. “The Eddies—especially on the night of the show— are a true celebration of our music community. It’s a rare and special moment where everyone comes together, and you get to connect with the incredible people who make the scene so special.” 

In addition to finalists in the categories below, several surprise Merit Award recipients will be announced for music-related activities outside of traditional award categories at the show. 

Leading up to the Eddies Music Awards will be the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame Monday, March 24 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. Dan Berggren, Charlene Shortsleeve, The Clay People, SIRSY, Emerald City, The Sharks, Brian Melick and Stony Creek Band will be officially inducted with a tribute to each of their careers. 

The Eddies Music Awards and Hall of Fame are an initiative of Proctors Collaborative. For more information about the Eddies Music Awards and Hall of Fame, visit theeddiesawards.com.  

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Electronica Artist of the Year

• 100 Psychic Dreams
• Armbruster
• Jungle Punk
• Milkshake Godfather
• Raisi K. The Raisin Man
• SM Ink

Punk/Hardcore Artist of the Year

• Girth Control
• Halo Bite
• Schenectavoidz
• The Snorts
• Trauma School Dropouts
• Zombie Giuliani

Metal/Hard Rock Artist of the Year

• Black Tongue Reverend
• Flatwounds
• Gozer
• Ice Queen
• Joe Mansman and the Midnight Revival Band
• The Erotics

Live Production Crew of the Year

• A.C.E.S.
• Denis Entertainment Group  
• Elliott Brassard
• Empire Audio
• High Peaks Event Production
• Live Sound Inc.

Record Label of the Year

• Albany Records
• Cacophone Records
• Equal Vision Records
• Lorchestral Recording Company
• Tummy Rub Records
• Upstate Records

Music Recording Studio of the Year

• Bender Studio
• Don Fury Studio 
• Hyland Recording 
• JEM Studios
• The Recording Company
• White Lake Music & Post 

Presenter/Promoter of the Year

• Caffè Lena – Sarah Craig
• Music Haven/Passport Series – Mona Golub
• Old Songs – Joy Bennett
• Super Dark Collective – Shane Sanchez
• The Linda – Peter Hughes
• Troy Savings Bank Music Hall – Jon Elbaum

Seasonal Indoor Venues/Concert Series of the Year

• A Place For Jazz Concert Series in the Carl B. Taylor Auditorium at SUNY Schenectady Community College
• Live and Local at The Linda
• LUNA Live at The Studio (Troy)
• The LIFT Concert Series at Troy Music Hall
• Troy Listening Room Series
• Old Songs Concert Series

Radio Station of the Year

• RadioRadioX
• WAMC
• WCDB
• WEQX
• WEXT
• WKLI

Radio DJ of the Year (terrestrial or streaming)

• Andy Gregory
• Chris Wienk
• Laura Grant
• Pearson Constantino
• Rob Smittix
• Wanda Fischer

Arts Publication of the Year (print, TV or new media)

• Metroland Now!
• Nippertown
• NYS Music
• The Spot 518
• Xperience Monthly
• Unsigned518

Music Journalist of the Year

• Don Wilcock
• Jim Shahen Jr.
• Kirsten Ferguson
• Lucas Garrett
• Nick Motto
• Rory Graham

Music Photographer of the Year

• Elissa Ebersold
• Frank Cavone
• Jarron Childs
• Joseph Deuel
• Leif Zurmuhlen
• Stephanie Bartik

Classical Artist/Ensemble of the Year

• Albany Pro Musica
• Albany Symphony Orchestra
• Musicians of Ma’alwyck
• Opera Saratoga
• Schenectady-Saratoga Symphony Orchestra
• Sophia Subbayya Vastek

World Music Artist of the Year

• Alex Torres & His Latin Orchestra
• David Macejka
• Jordan Taylor Hill
• Mixed Roots
• Novus Cantus
• Sten Isachsen & Maria Zemantauski

RnB/Soul Artist of the Year

• Buggy Jive
• Doc Horton
• Garland Nelson
• Oobleck
• The E-Block
• The NoLaNauts

DJ of the Year

• DJ Fearless
• DJ Hollyw8d
• DJ Ketchup
• DJ RVMBA
• DJ Tall Ass Matt
• DJ TGIF

Party Cover Band of the Year

• Lucid Street
• Off The Record
• The Battenkillers
• The Lustre Kings
• The Refrigerators
• The Rhythm Pilots

Hip Hop/Rap Artist of the Year

• 97otis
• Ab The Audicrat
• Aila Chiar
• Camtron5000
• JB!! aka Dirty Moses
• Shiloh the Messenger & Mundy

Americana Artist of the Year

• Laura Leigh Band
• Little Saints
• Pine Hills Band
• Reese Fulmer & the Carriage House Band
• The Insolent Willies
• Zan & the Winter Folk

Solo or Duo Artist of the Year

• Amanda Case
• Angelina Valente
• Barbie Barker
• Caity Gallagher
• Michael Francis McCarthy
• Peter Annello
• Shannon Tehya

Solo or Duo Performer of the Year (Covers)

• Carmen Lookshire
• Jeff Brisbin
• Maurizio Russomanno
• Rick Bolton & Jackie Dugas
• Travis Gray
• The Bennett Brothers

Jazz Artist of the Year

• Bright Dog Red
• Hot Club of Saratoga
• Joe Barna
• Keith Pray
• Matt Niedbalski
• Terry Gordon Quintet

Jam Band of the Year

• Annie in the Water
• Dead Man’s Waltz
• Glass Pony
• Hilltop
• Tops of Trees
• TV Doctors

Blues Artist of the Year

• Amy Ryan Band
• Annie and the Hedonists
• Leslie Barkman
• Mark Tolstrup & Jill Burnham
• Rich Ertelt and Blues Express
• Trevor Collins

Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year

• Big Sky Country
• Brule County Bad Boys
• Eastbound Jesus
• Jim Gaudet and the Railroad Boys
• Marty Wendell
• The Bluebillies

Rock Artist of the Year

• 10:01
• Canella
• Millington
• Super 400
• The Abyssmals
• The Sugar Hold

Pop Artist of the Year

• Alec Lewis
• Cassandra Kubinski
• Lennox
• Side-B
• Sydney Worthley
• The Belle Curves

Alt/Indie Artist of the Year

• Architrave
• E.R.I.E.
• Gay Tastee
• Haunted Cat
• Honeysuckle
• Julia Alsarraf
• Rhoseway

Folk/Traditional Artist of the Year

• Carolyn Shapiro
• Cosby Gibson
• Deb Cavanaugh
• Drank The Gold
• Josh Clevenstine
• Michael Eck

Songwriter of the Year

• Amanda Case
• Buggy Jive
• Caity Gallagher
• Kieran Rhodes
• Michael Eck
• Mike Trash
• Peter Annello
• TJ Foster

Record of the Year

• Angelina Valente – “Charting a Course”
• Cassandra Kubinski and Sawyer Fredericks – “Burn It Down”
• Domestic Research Partners – “Old Empty Nest” (ft Beth Zaje)
• Dominick Campana – “It’s Never All Right”
• Girl Blue – “To the Bone”
• Honeysuckle – “God(zilla)”
• Julia Alsarraf – “What I Want (Side A)”
• Sabrina Trueheart – “Soft”

Album of the Year

• Aila Chiar – “Self Reflection: A Tainseld Mixtape”
• Armbruster – “Can I Sit Here”
• Buggy Jive – “Hurry Up Please It’s Time”
• Kate McDonnell – “Trapeze”
• michael eck – “fermata”
• Reese Fulmer & The Carriage House Band – “Stealing Just To Get By”
• Sydney Worthley – “It Was Nice While It Lasted”
• Zan & the Winter Folk – “New Morse Code”

Music Video of the Year

• Dust Bowl Faeries – “Film Noir Double Feature“
• E.R.I.E. – “Don’t Wait for The Sun“
• JB!! aka Dirty Moses – “Punctuation!!“
• Jeff Brisbin – “If Love Comes But Once“
• Kendra McKinley – “Make Up“
• Kieran Rhodes – “Saratoga 2017“
• Super 400 – “Quiet Giant“
• Trauma School Dropouts – “Got Head“