SCHENECTADY — The nominees for the second annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards have been announced. Winners will be announced at an awards ceremony 6 p.m. Sunday, April 5 on the MainStage at Proctors in Schenectady.
This year’s group includes a number of nominees and winners from last year’s celebration, as well as some new entries including such well-known local artists as the blues/rock sibling duo Jocelyn & Chris Arndt, the folk group Lost Radio Rounders and country artist Marty Wendell.
This year’s 34 categories reflect changes based on feedback from members of the music community. Several were eliminated and six new ones emerged: Metal / Hard Rock Artist of the Year, Country Cover Band of the Year, On the Verge Presenter of the Year, Best Hang, Music Recording Studio of the Year and Record Label of the Year.
“Adding the country cover band category allowed us to separate and nominate more country artists, and we separated metal and hard rock music from punk and hard core for similar reasons,” said Jim Murphy, co-founder and co-organizer. “And the absence of recording studio and record label categories last year was an oversight we had to fix.”
“The Best Hang category was something this year’s judges mulled over and favored” according to Sal Prizio, co-founder and co-organizer. “It represents the favorite hangouts of people in the local music community when they are off duty.”
The category On the Verge “represents recognition of promoters of smaller and/or fewer shows – but no less exciting and relevant – than others in the area,” Prizio added.
One more change from last year – the Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame induction ceremony is being held separately from the Eddies Music Awards. The Accents, Blotto, The Fidelitys, Hal Ketchum, Lena Spencer and John Sykes were recently announced as the Class of 2020 inductees. A dinner and induction ceremony will be held for this group on Sunday, March 9 at Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga.
The Eddies Music Awards nomination process involved 40 members of the music community including artists, members of the media and others working in the music industry. “There were exactly 25 meetings in small groups over more than two months,” said Rachel Hamlin, who is serving as administrator of this year’s awards process. “The judges took the task very seriously.”
Roughly 100 local members of the music community have been invited to vote for winners among the nominees.
The Eddies Music Awards event on April 5 will feature performances by a number of artists across many genres, including several collaborations between acts. Performers will be announced in March.
Solo or Duo Artist of the Year
The Age
Jocelyn & Chris Arndt
Taina Asili
The Parlor
Sean Rowe
The Sea The Sea
Record of the Year
“Good ol’ Days” — Brother Hemlock
“You are the Future” — TJ Foster
“Cool Drink of Water” — Gibson Brothers
“Ghostlighting” — Honey Slider
“Nineteen + Won” — Charles O’More
“Prophet” — Sam Reed featuring The Heavenly Echos
“Long Way Home” — David Tyo
“What I’m Looking For” — Madison Vandenburg
Album of the Year
“The Fun in the Fight” — Jocelyn & Chris Arndt
“Resiliencia” — Taina Asili
“How’s By You?” — Bright Dog Red
“Traumantic” — Candy Ambulance
“Shady Grove” — The Figgs
“Libations” — JB! a.k.a. Dirty Moses
“Real Stories and Other Tall Tales” — Jim Gaudet
“Cosmic Thrill Seekers” — Prince Daddy and the Hyena
