The 32nd edition of the Syracuse Area Music Awards will take place Friday, March 7 at the Palace Theatre in Eastwood, beginning at 7:00 pm. Preceding the awards show, the annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony and dinner will be held at a new venue, the Beer Hall at Middle Ages Brewing Company on Thursday, March 6, also at 7:00 pm.
The organization announced its 2025 Hall of Fame class, special award winners, and nominees across 13 categories Tuesday morning at Subcat Studios. The event was live streamed through their Facebook page, which you can watch here.
Here are the 2025 nominees:
Best Jazz:
Bob Holz – Night Watch
CNY Jazz Orchestra – If a White Horse from Jerusalem…
Jeff Martin – First Take
Best Americana:
The Dart Brothers – Lovers Motel
Harmonic Dirt – Tumbleweeds
Point Project – Theft, Karma, and Coincidence: Part 1
The Ripcords – White Cadillac
Whitney Road – Home
Best Other Style:
Max Scialdone – Somewhere in Paradise
Mt. Erebus – Mt. Erebus
The Stranger – Beware of God
Test Kitchen – A Little of This and That
Tom Rasely – Clockwork
Best Jam Band:
Ginbucket – On Fire
James and the Kyusonics – Chasing Gremlins
The Magnetic Pull – Lies in Every Sound
Root Shock – Rise
Transient Kicks – Take Off Your Shoes
Best Pop:
Amanda Marie – What is Love?
Ariel Arbisser – Ingenue Corrupt
Cam Caruso – Try It Out
Cloey Tierno – Inward
Jess Novak – WOMAN
Best Rock:
The Half/Cubes – Pop Treasures
Backyard Wrestling – Jorts
Jeff Gordon – Button Fly Jeans
Maybe Sunday – Tabula Rasa
McGrath – You and Me/Gotta Get Outta Here
Best Hard Rock:
Into Shadow – Into Shadow
King Squiddy and the Sethlapods – Tentacles Out
Nightshade – Gates of Valhalla
Sent From Beyond – All Souls Burn
Somewhat Human – Initiation
Best R&B:
Ezee – The Autumn Collection
FB – Love Letter
FB – Pray for Me
Best Hip Hop or Rap:
C-Nube – I Hope You Do Good But Not Better Than Me
FB – Big Mindfree
Karim Lesgooya – The Lesgooya Mixtape 2
Premium Mike – Private Run
Trex – My.Space.
Best Blues:
Nate Gross Band – A Ride With the Devil
Raedwald Howland-Bolton – Live at Rose Hall
Best Alternative:
The Amazing Shakes – Vampire Girlfriend EP
Jeremy Romance – The Broken Heart Chronicles: Pt. 1
Mira Grimm – Restless Soul
Modafferi – The Production
Paper Rabbit – Havre de Grace
Best Country:
Amanda Marie – Rise & Fall
Jon Rogalia – Spinning Wheels
Tink Bennett – It Is What It Is
Best Single:
AK Kastro – Too Tired
Jeremy Romance – Switchblade Heartache
Jess Novak – WOMAN
Mbusi – Let’s Fly
Zak G – STARSTRUCK
In addition to these awards, the SAMMYS will also be awarding trophies to the winners of the People’s Choice Awards, voted on by fans. The People’s Choice Awards are open through March 3 and can be voted on daily here.
The SAMMYS also awards special honors each year. The Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the SAMMYS Award and the Community Spirit Award will be given this year to music community members who exhibit the spirit and community of the local music scene during the awards ceremony on March 7.
This year’s recipient of the Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the SAMMYS Award is Mike Kohli. Kohli is a music journalist, photographer, talent buyer, and festival organizer. He is the founder and publisher of 315 Music, a former editor-in-chief at NYS Music, co-founder of Woods Fest Music Festival, talent buyer at Copper City Brewing Company in Rome, and a member of the Syracuse Area Music Awards board of directors. Kohli grew up in a musical family and has been a vocal advocate of local music his entire adult life.
Through all his endeavors, many of which include his younger offspring, Alix (pictured above), Kohli remains dedicated to supporting and celebrating the artists who make the 315 area a hub of musical creativity.
The Community Spirit Award recipient is the freshly-renamed collective, 315 Thursdays. Formerly known as Hanover Thursdays, this is a celebrated free concert series that began in 2022 in Hanover Square and expanded to Westcott Street in 2024.
Founded by local visionaries Joe Driscoll and Michael John Heagerty, 315 Thursdays was borne out of a shared love for the vibrant energy of Thursday nights. Driscoll and Heagerty sought to rekindle that magic by creating an inclusive event where families, friends, and music enthusiasts could gather to enjoy high quality live performances in the heart of downtown Syracuse.
In just three years, the series has grown exponentially, attracting an average of 1,000 attendees each week in Hanover Square. Featuring a diverse lineup of local and regional talent, along with food, drinks, and artisan vendors, 315 Thursdays offers something for everyone. The event’s expansion to Westcott in 2024 further solidified its impact, bringing the same dynamic atmosphere to a new neighborhood while fostering community engagement.
The mission of 315 Thursdays is rooted in promoting local businesses, supporting artists, and enhancing the cultural fabric of Syracuse. Through grants, sponsorships, and collaborations with organizations like Visit Syracuse and the Downtown Committee, the event has flourished. The team, now comprised of passionate members including Bea Talplacido, Maggie Hartnett, Hope Earley, and others, continues to push boundaries, with future plans to bring the series to Armory Square.
315 Thursdays is more than just a concert series; it’s a movement that unites the greater Syracuse area through music, connection, and joy.
Tickets for the Hall of Fame dinner and SAMMY Awards ceremony are available through the SAMMYS website.
Newschannel 9’s Bridge Street program is also spotlighting several SAMMY Award winners and nominees weekly at 10 am. Artists scheduled to perform:
Jan 31 – Emma Jude with Seth Owen Becker (Watch that performance here)
Feb 14 – Transient Kicks
Feb 21 – Pride of Syracuse: Syracuse City School District Marching Band
Feb 25 – Irv Lyons Jr.
Mar 7 – Alecstar
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