Check out tonight’s performance schedule, scan a list of ‘acts to watch’ and listen to the podcast of today’s Local Spins on WYCE radio show with The Soul Syndicate as part of this special Jammie Awards preview.
Thrilled To Be Part of the Jammies: The Soul Syndicate during Local Spins on WYCE.
There’s no denying that collaborations, camaraderie and unselfish support drive West Michigan’s version of the Grammy Awards.
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For Joe “Boots” Bockheim, having The Legal Immigrants play the Jammie Awards at The Intersection tonight in Grand Rapids is literally a dream come true.
“It means the world to us. It’s always been a goal of mine to get on that stage,” Bockheim said. “I wish we could get into a fistfight with the Grammys with what we have here in West Michigan. It’s such a beautiful family of bands that’s been developing for years. This is just like our party Friday.” (Check out a video of an in-studio Local Spins Live performance of a new song by The Legal Immigrants below.)
Traverse City-area singer-songwriter May Erlewine views Grand Rapids’ annual Jammie Awards show as a community-engaging, life-changing event.
“The awards are about more than just the music,” said Erlewine, who shared coveted album of the year honors at the 2011 edition of the Jammie Awards, which are hosted by Grand Rapids community radio station WCYE-FM.
“It’s about coming together and celebrating the musicians and artists in the region. I love the way WYCE uses their voice to place honor and value in independent music.”
A SHOWCASE OF THE ‘BEST OF THE BEST’
As Jairimi Driesenga of Holland’s Brother Adams puts it, the Jammies are quite simply a showcase of “the best of the best” in Michigan music.
“We feel blessed to be performing among so many acts we admire,” Driesenga said of Brother Adams, which will play Friday at The Intersection in Grand Rapids along with two dozen other acts during a long evening when awards will be presented in 14 categories.
‘Coming Together and Celebrating’: May Erlewine performing during the 2015 Jammies. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
Thanks to the “aggressive folk” music the band spotlighted on its 2015 “Blood” EP, Brother Adams is nominated for several awards, including best album by a new artist, song of the year and best Americana album.
“West Michigan’s artistic collaborative spirit makes this area a very attractive music scene and Brother Adams wouldn’t want to be anywhere else. Grand Rapids is the place to be,” Driesenga said. “And it’s all just flickers of flame right now. I foresee some big things coming out of this scene sooner than later, and for those who aren’t convinced of that, the Jammies performances will do it for ‘em.”
Indeed, the 17th annual awards show organized by WYCE (88.1 FM) will boast short sets by rising stars and familiar acts from Michigan’s diverse music scene, including Vox Vidorra, Lady Ace Boogie, Big Dudee Roo, Greg Nagy, Joe Hertler & The Rainbow Seekers, The Legal Immigrants, Olivia Mainville & The Aquatic Troupe, Rick Chyme & Nixon, Tunde Olaniran, The Soul Syndicate and more. The lion’s share of acts are performing at the Jammies for the first time.
The Soul Syndicate made a pre-Jammies appearance this week for Local Spins on WYCE. Listen to the full podcast here, including tracks by nine other acts being featured at The Intersection tonight.
PODCAST: Local Spins on WYCE with The Soul Syndicate
Things at the Jammie Awards get started at 5:30 p.m. Friday. A $5 minimum suggested donation at the door provides showgoers with a food ticket for snacks from San Chez Bistro, and a donation of $10 or more secures an “I Support Local Music” pin. Also, Feeding America will collect food items from Jammie attendees, with a special need for peanut butter, whole-grain pasta and canned vegetables. And those wearing pajamas, aka jammies, get a free CD from WYCE’s collection.
With 95 regional artists nominated for album of the year, there’s plenty of suspense and excitement to go along with the musical camaraderie and upbeat entertainment.
Nominees range from up-and-coming acts such as young northern Michigan musician Milo Birch and Muskegon Americana duo Plain Jane Glory to more established groups such as Flint’s Rusty Wright Band and Kalamazoo’s The Go Rounds.
Past winners of the album of the year award insisted there’s nothing like being honored with a Jammie, an award voted on by the army of volunteer programmers at WYCE, which devotes much of its air time to Michigan music.
“The accolades I received from my peers were uplifting beyond words and was a positive affirmation, filling a void that a lack of financial compensation could not fill,” said Kurt Schmiege of the Grand Rapids Afro-beat faves Afro Zuma, which won album of the year honors in 2014.
“The best thing about the Jammie Awards is how much of the community comes out to support local music.”
Return Performer: Jesse Ray & The Carolina Catfish are one of the few repeat acts at the Jammies this year. (Photo/Anthony Norkus)
The event begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, with two dozen sets taking place on two stages inside the Grand Rapids nightclub, including a performance at 9:30 p.m. in the main showroom by Grand Rapids singer-songwriter Ralston Bowles who is being honored this year with a special Legacy Award. He will also host an after-party in The Stache (front lounge) starting at 11:30 p.m.
Paul Hoffman of Kalamazoo’s nationally renowned progressive bluegrass group Greensky Bluegrass, which won the big Jammie award last year, called the event “a great celebration of regional music. I always enjoyed being there for the opportunities to see our musical comrades and establish some new local creative alliances.”
West Michigan blues guitarist Vincent Hayes, who shared album of the year honors in 2011 with Erlewine, said it’s about “being supported and recognized by the community for one’s musical achievements, and then getting to cheer other musicians on as well. It’s the only event that I know of in the state that features so many genres of artists under the same roof.”
Check out a recap of last year’s Jammie Awards in this Local Spins story and photo gallery.
VIDEO: The Legal Immigrants, “Fly On,” Local Spins Live
https://youtu.be/quXeqddE8YI
Copyright 2016, Spins on Music LLC
Is it supposed to cut off on that 2nd Soul Syndicate song? Seems like the whole show didn’t get recorded?
Nice catch. Having the engineer correct this. Thanks!