The 8th Annual Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Awards (Eddies Awards) have announced the nominations for this year, celebrating and awarding talented artists, individuals, and institutions involved in the music world.
The Eddies Awards were founded in 2019 to celebrate exceptional talent and dedication of the 518 Music community. This year includes more than 190 finalists and over 30 different categories recognizing exceptional work completed during 2025. The Finalists are selected through a mixture of public nominations and a panel of music community judges.
The Vice President of Radio, WMHT/WEXT, Chris Wienk, highlighted that, ““We at WEXT are all about the Local 518 music scene, and we are proud to join forces with Proctors Collaborative to present both the Eddies Hall of Fame and Eddies Awards ceremonies. It is so important for us to celebrate the musicians in our community. It is a robust and invigorating community of creatives. We love them all!”
In tandem to the Eddies Awards ceremony, a second event will take place a month before, recognizing the inductees into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame.
Eddie Angel, Ernie Williams, Lee Shaw, Heavenly Echoes Gospel Band, Jim Furlong, Dominick Campana, and the owners of the Van Dyck will be inducted into the Capital Region Thomas Edison Music Hall of Fame at 7 pm on Monday, March 23, at the Universal Preservation Hall in Saratoga Springs. The event will feature tribute performances by Jeff Siegel, Rich Syracuse, and Nick Hetco; The Sound Minds with Johnny Rabb; Dryer; and the Wildcats.
The Eddies Awards ceremony, held on Sunday, the 26th of April, will celebrate and announce the winners of each category, including several surprise Merit Award recipients for music-related activities outside of traditional award categories. The ceremony will also include several musical performances that will be announced in the following weeks.
Tickets and more information can be found on The Eddies Awards website. A detailed list of all categories and nominations can be found below.
In addition, this year, NYS Music is nominated for the Arts Publication of the Year, a category that recognizes publications promoting and covering music. In addition, two members of our team are honored – Derek Java is nominated for Music Photographer of the Year, and Zak Radick is nominated for the Music Journalist of the Year.
2026 Eddies Awards Categories and Nominations
Electronica Artist of the Year: Ab The Audicrat, Architrave, Electronic Meanderings, Jungle Punk, Rawhead the Wreckloose, and Reality Distortion.
Punk/Hardcore Artist of the Year: Blast-Craze, Brick By Brick, Grief Group, Halo Bite, Millington, and SchenectavoidZ.
Metal/Hardrock Artist of the Year: Black Tongue Reverend, Concrete, Gozer, Ice Queen, Jupiter Queen, and KAKOS.
Presenter/Promoter of the Year: All Of Us Events, The Brydhouse, DIVE Presents, Hey, Greasy!, No One You Know Presents, and SUPER DARK Collective.
Radio DJ of the Year (terrestrial or streaming): Jason Irwin – 93.1 WSC, Jeff Mo’rad – 102.7 EQX, Michael Hallisey – 88.3 VCR, Pearson, Constantino – 102.7 EQX, Rob Smittix – Radioradixo.com, and Wanda Fischer – 90.3 WAMC.
Classical Artist/Ensemble of the Year: Albany Symphony, Jim Sande, Musicians of Ma’alwyck, Ossaia Cortona, Schenectady-Saratoga, Symphony Orchestra, and Sova.
RnB/Soul/Funk Artist of the Year: Double B and the NOLA Hucksters, Erica Rose, Jenny, Marie, Oobleck, The E-Block, and Tops of Trees.
DJ of the Year, DJ Celeb, DJ Dental Work, DJ Hollyw8d, DJ Ketchup, DJ Maxi, and Intell Hayesfield.
World Music Artist of the Year Bronte Roman, Heard, Jordan Taylor Hill, Kilashandra, Sten & Maria Z., and Taína Asili.
Arts Publication of the Year (print, TV or new media) 518scene.com, Metroland Now!, Mirth Films, Nippertown, NYS Music, TheSpot518.
Music Recording Studio of the Year Blue Sky Recording, Don Fury Studio, JEM Studios, Millstone Studios, The Bunker Recordings, Tummy Rub Records, White Lake Studios
Record Label of the Year, Cacophone Records, Communikat Records, Equal Vision Records, Lorchestral Recording Company, Royal Majestic Entertainment Music Group (RME), and Upstate Records.
Live Production Crew of the Year, A.C.E.S (American Concert and Entertainment Services), Denis Entertainment Group, Empire Audio Recording & Sound, High Peaks Event Production, Live Sound Inc., and Raven Events NY.
Music Photographer of the Year Derek Java, Nicholas Dicocco, Ron Dacks, Stephanie Bartik, Kylie Spinelli, and Mark Kurtzner.
Music Journalist of the Year, Adem Jones, Andy Scullin, James Mullen, Kirsten Ferguson, Michael Hochanadel, and Zak Radick.
Solo or Duo Artist of the Year As Iz, Buggy Jive, Caity Gallagher, Girl Love, Little Saints, and Magpie.
Solo or Duo Performer of the Year (covers) Benjamin Zoleski and Gianna Robustiano, Carmen Lookshire, Jacksland, Jeff Brisbin, Juniper, The Little Zippers starring Lucia and Levi, Travis Gray
Jam Band of the Year Annie in the Water, Hilltop, Neon Avenue, Glass Pony, TV Doctors, and Two Planets Away.
Blues Artist of the Year Amy Ryan Band, B.C. and the Wholesome Hucksters, The Hammerhead Horns, Mark & Jill, Nite Train Band, and Trevor Collins.
Country/Bluegrass Artist of the Year Brule County Bad Boys, Heather Richards, Marty, Wendell, Midnight Choir, The AM’s, and The Bluebillies.
Rock Artist of the Year Lucid Street, ShortWave RadioBand, The Jagaloons, The Scurves, The Sound Minds, and Wild Adriatic.
Pop Artist of the Year Girl Blue, Justin Charles, Keegan James, Lil Josiey, Shannon Tehya, and Sydney Worthley.
Alt/Indie Artist of the Year Bruiser and Bicycle, E.R.I.E., Julia Alsarraf, Nocturnne, Reckless Barb, and Zorbas Trio.
Folk Traditional Artist of the Year Carolyn Shapiro, Dan Berggren, Drank The Gold, Josh Clevenstine, Kate McDonnell, and Keenan Stark and Orion Kris.
Alternative Venue of the Year Irish American Heritage Museum, Mabee Farm Historic Site, Mt. Ida Preservation Hall, Paper Moon, Sand Lake Center for the Arts, and The Cock ‘n Bull Restaurant.
Party/Cover Band of the Year The Battenkillers, Garland Nelson and Soul Session, The ILL, FUNK Ensemble, NolaNauts, Off The Record, and The Story Boys.
Hip Hop/Rap Artist of the Year Aila Chiar, Benwah Kenobi, Camtron5000, JB!! aka Dirty Moses, Kevin Burns, and Shiloh the Messenger.
Americana Artist of the Year Dan Carr and the Cure for Asthma, Laura Leigh, Lost Radio, Rounders, Reese Fulmer & the Carriage House Band, Shane Guerrette, and The Greetings.
Jazz Artist of the Year Bright Dog Red, Dylan Perrillo, Joe Barna, The Peg Delaney Big Band, Shiri Zorn & George Muscatello, and Todd Nelson.
Songwriter of the Year Buggy Jive, Colin McCarthy, Girl Love, Hayley Stafford, Jes Hudak, Julia Alsarraf, Reese Fulmer, and Steve Hammond.
Album of the Year Amy Ryan Band – Brighter and Brighter, Architrave – Panic Joy, Bruiser and Bicycle – Deep Country, Buggy Jive – Icarus Ascending, E.R.I.E. – The Highs, The Lows, And Everything in Between ,JB!! aka Dirty Moses – Punctuation!!, The AM’s – Here Comes That Broken Heart, and Todd Nelson – jazzamericana.
Music Video of the Year Amanda Case – Kissing Strangers, Bruiser and Bicycle – Waterfight, Buggy Jive – What Do Y’all Know About Shakespeare?, Camtron5000 – I’m Sorry, JB!! aka Dirty Moses – Ghosts, Lulu Grey – Look At Us Now, ShortWave RadioBand – Yellow, and The Sound Minds – Hide and Seek.
Record of the Year Drank The Gold – The Song of Wandering Aengus, Girl Love (ft. Sawyer Fredericks) – Stonewall, Hayley Stafford – All That’s Left, Paintbrush Charlie – Give a Little, Lucas Garrett – Michigan, Shannon Tehya – Take it Slow, SIRSY – Stupid Little Heart, and The Bluebillies – Run Daddy Run (Mama’s Got A Gun).
→ Continue reading at NYS Music
