The 2025 Syracuse Area Music Award Nominees and Hall of Fame Inductees were announced Tuesday February 4th. Congratulations to the 51 SAMMY Nominees in 13 categories, and seven Hall of Fame Inductees!
SAMMY awards are given based on the judgment of submissions sent to the SAMMYS Board by musicians in Syracuse and the surrounding area. Congratulations to the 182 artists that submitted 270 recordings! An independent panel of music industry professionals and educators from around the country, led by Jim Elenteny, reviewed the submissions and made their selections based on their merit within their genre.
The complete list of 2025 Nominations and Inductees is available below. A Press Kit is also available, which includes bios and photos of the Hall of Fame Inductees and special award recipients.
A complete list of all previous SAMMY winners can be found on our Past Recipients page.
And the nominees are…
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 & 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 Lesgoooya
The Lesgoooya 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
STARSTUCK
Additional Awards
Mike Kohli
Jack O Bocchino Spirit Of The Sammys Award
315 Thursdays
Community Spirit Award
Hall of Fame
Alecstar
Ron Keck
Shifty’s
Wilkesbury Brigade
Holly McCoy
Music Educator of the Year
Matt Forger
Lifetime Achievement