Radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) reveals the roster of local and regional acts nominated for top honors during the February awards show at The Intersection; 132 will vie for album of the year.
Jammie Nominee and Performer: Max Lockwood is among 90 acts nominated for album of the year. (Photo/Anna Sink)
Take it from Grand Rapids guitarist, bassist and songwriter Max Lockwood.
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Being nominated for a host of Jammie Awards by community radio station WYCE-FM (88.1) and getting a chance to play the prestigious February awards show is a distinct and joyful honor.
“I’m incredibly excited to be playing the Jammies for the first time as a solo artist,” said Lockwood, who’s nominated in several Jammie categories, including album of the year, for his folk-drenched solo debut, “Outrider.”
“I’ve been going (to the Jammie Awards show) for years since my dad introduced me to WYCE when I was in high school and have played it with Sweet Japonic and The Ragbirds in the past. It’s a crucial and still growing institution of this city’s thriving music scene which WYCE has been galvanizing for decades now – a beautiful event to be a part of.”
Award Parade: The procession that kicked off the 2014 Jammie Awards at The Intersection. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
“Beautiful” is likely the reaction of dozens of other local and regional bands and solo artists who were officially nominated today for the 16th annual Jammie Awards hosted by WYCE at The Intersection in Grand Rapids on Feb. 13.
In all, 132 recordings will vie for album of the year honors – aka The Big Jammie – including much-ballyhooed projects by A.B., The Accidentals, Alexis, Appleseed Collective, Billy Strings & Don Julin, Brad Fritcher + trois, Ghost Heart, Greensky Bluegrass, Hannah Rose Graves & Justin Wierenga, Heaters, Heavier Than Air Flying Machines, Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish, Josh Rose, Mustard Plug, Nathan Kalish, Rick Chyme, Seth Bernard, The Soil & The Sun, Stepdad, The Verve Pipe, Valentiger and Vox Vidorra, with plenty of other bands also making a bid for top honors.
As for emerging acts, dozens are nominated for best album by a new artist for the 2015 Jammie Awards, including local “super-groups” such as Backyard Songbook and Hollywood Makeout plus Bermudas, The Carboys, Haunted Leather, Hi-Ker, Micah Ling, Olivia Mainville, Tom Hymn, Northern Soul and others.
Past winners The Soil & The Sun are in the running again this year. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
See the full list of artists and nominated albums at wyce.org. .
And check out a Local Spins story with the performance lineup for the February event, which ultimately will boast more than 20 bands playing on two stages, including The Accidentals, Seth & May, Valentiger and The Concussions.
The Jammies also will honor song of the year and the best alternative, rock/pop, roots, blues/soul, jazz, contemporary folk, Americana, ‘Traditions!,’ electronic and hip hop albums, as well as best production/engineer, a category with more than three dozen entries.
WYCE also will present one Legacy Awards to popular Grand Rapids ska band Mustard Plug and The Verve Pipe, both of which have been touring and recording for more than two decades.
Last year, Afro Zuma and Rick Chyme were the big winners. See a full list of the 2014 Jammie Awards online here, along with a photo gallery from the event.
Copyright 2014, Spins on Music LLC
