Today’s reveal of Michigan artists playing the late-February spectacle honoring the best regional releases of the past year includes many first-time performers and award nominees.

‘A Dream Come True’: Money Soup is among 18 acts set to perform at the Jammie Awards on Feb. 28. (Photo/Robert Greene Music)
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Grand Rapids’ Adrian Wright, who released his solo rap album, “The Great Let Go,” late last year, called being chosen to play February’s WYCE Jammie Awards show “an honor. I look forward to attending every year and to be able to be a part of it is exciting.”
For first-time performers and award nominees in the lakeshore funk band Money Soup, “it means a ton for us to be part of the Jammies,” said keyboardist Robert Greene. “As a newer band, the opportunity to play for a large, engaged crowd is huge, and the fact that the music community in West Michigan has been so welcoming is amazing.”

Adrian Wright (Courtesy Photo)
Today’s announcement of the performance lineup for the 2025 Jammie Awards being hosted by community radio station WYCE (88.1 FM) at The Intersection on Feb. 28 has plenty of bands and solo artists buzzing for the reasons expressed by Wright and Greene.
Eighteen regional bands and solo artists will play three stages during what’s described as “West Michigan’s biggest night for music,” with awards presented to Michigan artists representing a host of different genres and categories, including album and song of the year.
Performers this year range from established artists and previous award winners such as Kalamazoo hip-hop cellist Jordan Hamilton and solo act Hannah Laine (of neosoul’s Earth Radio) to emerging acts such as Big Timmy & The Heavy Chevys, Crystal Trench, Headband Henny, Sonny Ski and The Cosmoknights.
“My goal in setting up this year’s lineup was to take a sonic snapshot of the local music you hear on WYCE. Just about every musical itch is scratched with this roster – from longtime favorites and previous Jammie performers to new projects making a splash in the scene, as well as artists who have yet to make their Jammies debut,” said WYCE music and program director Chris Cranick, whose own rock band, Overdrive Orchestra, will also perform.
“As with last year, I chose not to book any performers from the year prior. There are simply too many stellar acts in Michigan that are deserving of the spotlight.”
That includes the debut of Vanessa DeCouto’s Crystal Trench – nominated for her dark-wave EP, “Write the Things Which You Have Seen” – performing at the awards show for the first time.
DeCouto, featured in a Local Spins Artist Spotlight in December, plans to follow up her Jammies debut with spring shows across Michigan and the Midwest “to promote the new EP, and I’ll be locking myself in mu studio, chipping away at a full-length album.”
Wright, who’s performed previously at the Jammie Awards with Austin Benzing and the band August, said he’s “definitely been waiting for my chance to perform a full set” as a solo artist.
He describes “The Great Let Go” – recorded in his home studio – as “a rap album that doesn’t shy from being influenced by all expressions of music. It is made to be played from start to finish like a movie. It’s funky, soulful, fun, tragic, inspirational and heartfelt. This album is me presenting my mind in art form.”
For Money Soup, participating in the Jammie Awards “has been on our radar for a long time, so to be a part of it is a dream come true,” said Greene, adding that the band will release a new single, “Night & Day,” in the near future, with a busy 2025 of shows and festival appearances.

Crystal Trench (Photo/Todd Reed)
With so many new releases by Michigan artists, Cranick conceded: “I honestly wish that schedules made it so we could feature even more artists that dropped records last year. It was truly an incredible year for new Michigan music.”
The Jammie Awards unfurl on three stages at The Intersection starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 28, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and an opening ceremony at 5:45 p.m.
For the first time, WYCE is charging a $10 entry fee to the Jammies, rather than a suggested donation. Tickets go on sale on Tuesday (Feb. 4).
“There’s still a large amount of people in the community who don’t realize that while the Jammies are a celebration of Michigan music, it is also the single largest fund-raising event for WYCE,” Cranick said.
“We had record-breaking attendance last year, but unfortunately the door donations did not reflect the number of guests. We hope that music lovers will respond positively to this small change. For the same price as a three- or four-band bill, attendees can enjoy 18 artists across a variety of genres while also supporting their local independent radio station.”
VIP tickets, which include exclusive access to a VIP lounge, Jammies T-shirt and a signature cocktail, are $45 and available online here.
Radio listeners also have until the end of the day Friday (Jan. 31) to vote for the “People’s Choice” album and artist of the year online here.
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