Syracuse Area Music Awards Announces Winners of 2021 Season

The Syracuse Area Music Awards or more commonly known as the SAMMYS announced the winners of their 2021 season on March 5, 2021 at the virtual awards ceremony. 

The 2021 SAMMYS streamed for free LIVE from SubCat Music Studios at 7PM and hosted performances from Byron Cage, Cam Caruso, Sophistafunk, Stephen Phillips, and the Vaporeyes. The show was hosted by Dave Frisina from the RebelRocks.com and was free and open to the public with donations being accepted. 

There were 60 nominees for the SAMMYS in 14 Categories this year. In addition, to winners of the Jack O Bocchino Award, Community Spirit Award, Brian Bourke Award for Best New Artist there was also the People’s Choice Winners in 4 Categories awarded for Best Artist/Band, Academic Organization, Venue and Live-stream Series or Event. 

The winners are as listed. Best Alternative went to The Exploding Flowers for Strangers. Best Americana went to Harmonic Dirt for Live At The Ridge. Best Blues went to Tas Cru for DRIVE ON. Best Country went to Tink Bennett & Tailor Made for Hate The Game. Best Electronic went to Asael for We Believed. Best Hard Rock went to Junexa for Lifeless. Best Hip-Hop or Rap went to Big Nate MG for The Story of MG. Best Jam Band went to the Vaporeyes for Cantrips. Best Jazz went to London McDaniel for Anatural Aphrodisiaca. Best Other Style went to DiCosimo/Pagán for Con Moto. Best Pop went to Jess Novak Band for Standing Now. Best R&B went to Jaquiel for Summer Nights in the Southward. Best Rock went to Atkins Riot for Couch Potato. Best Singer-Songwriter went to Amanda Rogers for The Hallow. People’s Choice for Local Artist or Band went to Gary Johnson, Livestream Event or Series for Disruption Network Local Music Monday, Academic or Musical Organization for Baldwinsville Marching Band, and Local Venue for Rise N Shine Diner. Jack O Bocchino Spirit of the Sammys Award went to Bill Baldwin. Brian Burke Award for Best New Artist went to Trauma Cat. Community Spirit Award went to Corey Paige.

SAMMY awards were given out based on the judgement of submissions sent to the SAMMYS Board by musicians in Syracuse and the surrounding area. 166 artists submitted 194 recordings in total for this year’s season. An independent panel of music industry professionals and educators from around the country, led by James Abbott, reviewed the submissions and made their selections based on their merit within their genre.


For more information on the 2021 SAMMYS winners visit the SAMMAYS website.

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