Traversing the state — and a wide range of music — Michigan bands and solo artists are nominated for 2025 releases at two upcoming awards shows. Learn more about these acts; listen to the radio show.
Michigan’s Greg Nagy: An award nominee with a blues album rising up the charts. (Courtesy Photo)
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“It’s an honor just to be nominated.”
Those aren’t hollow words from musicians. After toiling hard to write and record new music, most bands and solo artists truly appreciate the acknowledgment they receive from fans, peers and media outlets — recognition that sometimes comes in the form of award nominations.
So, with the 2026 WYCE Jammie Awards taking place at The Intersection in Grand Rapids tonight (Feb. 20), and the second-year Michigan Music Awards rolling out in Detroit on March 27, this week’s Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase radio podcast focuses on Michigan artists whose music is nominated for the best releases of the past year — in some cases, artists who are just starting to get their footing in the state’s music scene.
Some nominees may carry home prize hardware, others might simply be satisfied to know their music has been hailed as a worthy addition to the state’s music scene. We’re featuring just a few of the many who fall into that category, including:
Ed Dupas – Ann Arbor-based singer-songwriter Ed Dupas released the nominated album “Codename California” last year. Born in Houston, raised in Winnipeg and residing in Michigan, Dupas creates his own brand of Americana music and calls his latest album “an exercise in rediscovering his musical voice and reconnecting to authenticity.” Website: https://www.eddupas.com/epk
Andy Henley – This Michigan-bred singer-songwriter last year released the album, “Lasso.” He formerly was part of the West Michigan band County Parks. Spotify Link: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4D7pnyFaDQJgDEcQGoVNNi?si=l-mhZeihQxm8x7rao4jxkg
Christine Mattson – This Muskegon indie-folk artist who released the album, “Everything & Nothing,” in 2025 has a fascinating back story: Mattson spent years as a sailboat captain on the East Coast and in the Caribbean before returning to Michigan in 2015. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/christine.mattson.792
All Points Bulletin – Not only is this Grand Rapids rock band nominated for Jammie Awards based on its album, “Fearful Symmetry,” but it plays the second night of The Stray’s band battle in Grand Rapids on March 14, along with The Mannequins, Tofu Tony, Red Thyme and Critter Ruwart. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/allpointsbulletinband
The Westside – Also set to perform at The Stray’s Battle of the Bands in March, this Grand Rapids indie-rock/garage rock band released its nominated album, “Spiked Mike and his Blue Dog,” in 2024. They’ll play the first night of The Stray’s band battle, joined by Iridescence, Marcus AK, Smile Darling and Wilson Ave for that opening night. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheeWestside/
The Villainess – Nominated for album of the year for their 2025 EP, “Run and Hide,” Villainess is Hailey MacKay and Alex Weiss, who reate expressive and harmony-laden acoustic-leaning rock. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/TheVillainessGR/
Saturdays at Your Place (Photo/Derek Ketchum)
Leah Williams – This emerging young country singer from Clio is nominated at the Michigan Music Awards for her 2025 single, “Wandering Wind.” She’s released several singles and an EP since 2023. Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/p/Leah-Williams-Music-100070169148061/
Ritual Howls – This Detroit dark post-punk and industrial rock band released the album, “Ruin,” last year. The band unleashes what it calls “death jangle,” courtesy of guitarist Paul Bancell, synth and drum machine player Christopher Samuels and bassist Ben Saginaw. Website: https://www.ritualhowls.com/
Adaboy! – Bay City rock, folk and alternative band Adaboy! released a couple of singles in 2025, including a Detroit Lions-inspired song, “Uncaged.” Website: https://www.adaboymusic.com/
Saturdays at Your Place – This Kalamazoo rock and emo band received a Michigan Music Awards nod for its 2025 album, “These Things Happen.” Website: https://www.saturdaysatyourplace.com/
Resurrection Blues Band – Formed in 2018, this blues band based in the Stevensville and Benton Harbor area released “Genesis” in 2025, and will be performing in Austin, Texas, during the upcoming South by Southwest festival in March. Website: https://resurrectionbluesband.com/
Greg Nagy – Davison blues guitarist and singer Greg Nagy released the 2025 album, “Just a Little More Time,” which has soared into the top 10 of national and international blues charts. Website: https://gregnagy.com/
Silver Creek Revival – Northern Michigan indie-folk and Americana band Silver Creek Revival is nominated for best country single for the 2025 track, “Tall Pale Horse.” The band featuring singer and banjoist Ashley Christopher, multi-instrumentalist Hannah Woodruff and drummer Jack Jensen recently added Kevin Paul from Biomassive on lead guitar and vocals, Kim Baker on rhythm guitar/piano/synthesizer and Zak Johnson on bass. Website: https://silvercreekrevival.com/home
Sage Castleberry – Battle Creek/Kalamazoo singer-songwriter Sage Castleberry released his nominated single, “Silverado Seat,” in late November (which followed 2024’s “Dancing Slow,” that’s racked up more than 647,000 listens on Spotify). Website: https://sagecastleberry.com/
On the winning side of things, a pair of Michigan jazz musicians recently shared a Grammy Award for their work with the Christian McBride Big Band, which won Grammys earlier this month for best jazz performance and best large jazz ensemble for the album, “Without Further Adieu, Vol. 1.” Grand Rapids native Xavier Davis and Michigan State University professor and trombonist Michael Dease have long been members of McBride’s band.
Listen to tracks from all of these artists in the radio show podcast below. And get full coverage of the Jammie Awards at Local Spins on Saturday, along with a list of winners. View all of the artists nominated for Michigan Music Awards online here.
PODCAST: Local Spins Michigan Music Showcase (2/20/26)
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