Spring Sammys

Although the 17th edition of the Syracuse Area Music Awards (Sammys) had come and gone by December 2011, local artists have been kept on the edge of their seats awaiting the announcement of the next event, now set for Friday, March 8. 

The award ceremony recognizing the best local music releases of the past 12-plus months was moved to better accommodate the calendar year of recordings, according to Sammy chairwoman Liz Nowak. It will take place at Eastwood’s Palace Theatre, 2384 James St.

Sammy stars: Mark Doyle (above), who won awards in 2010 and 2011, rocks the 2010 Sammy ceremony and Dave Frisina (below), who was recognized in 1994, waves to the 2010 crowd.

Michael Davis Photos

Once again, the Hall of Fame ceremony will be held Upstairs at the Dinosaur Bar-B-Que, 246 W. Willow St., on Thursday, March 7. Tickets to the events will go on sale in February. Nowak also noted that the 2011 Sammy Awards show, held at the Pirro Convention Center, sold out with more than 850 local musicians and supporters in attendance. 

For artists looking to submit their CDs, music will be accepted from Saturday, Dec. 1, until Friday, Jan. 4. Details and official submission forms and instructions are available for download at syracuse
areamusic.com/submissions. All recordings released between October 2011 and December 2012 are eligible. 

The ever popular People’s Choice submissions for favorite local band and venue will begin Tuesday, Jan. 1, and voting begins Jan. 15. 

This edition of the Sammys will also coincide with the return of Sounds, a local music guide published by the Syracuse New Times that hasn’t run since 2002. The guide will include the Sammys program as well as information on local equipment, instruction, management, venues, recording studios, media and bands in the area, providing readers a complete physical and online-downloadable/app guide to all things Syracuse music. 

For those who wish to be included in Sounds, more information will be announced in the coming weeks. 

Over the years, the Sammy Awards have recognized bands, artists and local music champions including Dave Frisina, 805, Gary Frenay, Mark Doyle, Maria DeSantis, Los Blancos, Savoy Brown, Stroke and many more since 1993. That tradition will continue with the 2013 ceremony. For more information, visit syracuseareamusic.com.

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