Jillian’s was buzzing during the 2016 Worcester Music Awards, with musicians trading business cards and CDs, catching up with old friends and talking about the projects they have been working on. The anticipation was palpable, as everyone waited to find out who would take home those coveted silver microphones. The background rang with the sound of people playing arcade games and performing sound checks. This celebration of local talent across many genres and styles of music has always been more like a family reunion, and this year was no different.

The night began with an amazingly honest performance by Sam James. You may remember James from his stint on The Voice, but after speaking with him last year, I learned that it was really more of an awakening to who he was and wanted to be as an artist. If this performance was any indication, he knows exactly who he is now. Beautiful acoustic guitar paired with his signature raspy voice and straightforward lyrics was like opening the first present on Christmas morning. James shared that he recently had a new addition to his family, and I found myself imagining a little kid playing guitar next to him in the future, maybe at the WMAs in 2026?

Heather Dinitto, owner of Key Performance Entertainment, acted as first-time host for this year’s ceremony. Highlighting the importance of supporting live music, she encouraged people to notice that “there is talent everywhere. It doesn’t matter where you are, and there is talent in every corner.” Without further ado, she and co-host Mark Grasso (who reminded me a bit of Ryan Seacrest with his perfectly flipped up hair and tailored suit) presented the first three awards of the night, including the winner for Best CD, Ken Macy.

I caught up with Macy, and he told me that the shows and performances are the fun part, but “the time that it takes to go through everything and put an album together is where the hard work is.” His CD, Blue Prints, took him about 2½ years to finish.

“Being able to find the balance of where it starts and finishes and then what goes in between it, so that when people put the CD in they get an entire experience that flows the way you want it to, is the biggest challenge,” Macy said. “The great thing about songwriting is that it’s never done, and you’re always looking for those little moments and those things you may want to revisit later.”

Following the first award presentations, Lish Ventura and Jessa Potts took the stage to give us a powerful, beautifully harmonized performance that included a great cover of my favorite Halestorm song, “Break In.” These two beautiful ladies took command of the stage without really having to do much more than sing.

During the second round of events, veteran winners Ton of Blues grabbed the award for Best Blues, and DJ Reckless won yet again for Best Club DJ. In his signature short and sweet style, he thanked his supporters and promptly told them to go to a club after the awards and get their dance on. Ashley Jordan took her first (of four) wins of the night, and the Best Americana award went to Zack Slik.

I had the opportunity to speak with Slik, and he told me that he his dad used to bring him and his siblings to Bluegrass festivals a lot, and it really inspired him. He said as a kid, he “tried playing the banjo, but gave up on it, as young kids tend to do, and so I tried a few other things, but then, after high school, I picked it up again – along with the guitar – and now I teach others how to play.”

Slik, an old soul who loves the older style country and bluegrass music, tries to stay true to those roots and plays a lot of breweries in Massachusetts and Vermont. He said a lot of current country doesn’t do anything to stimulate the soul of Hank Williams and George Jones, but he recommends Jason Isbell for a new artist who inspires him.

With both Worcester and Jazz in its very name, it is no surprise that Worcester Jazz Collective took home the Best Jazz award. After speaking with them a little, it was easy to see why. The array of inspiration that these guys lend to their overall sound is really something, spanning from Frank Sinatra to Irish Celtic music to Santana. The Worcester Jazz Collective is a collaboration of several different artists with varying musical backgrounds. One of the members told me that when he first moved to Worcester, people “were kind of down on the city and everything, but every year, it just gets better and better. There is so much talent. It’s the big cities where you need the music and the arts the most.”

I was absolutely floored by Ari Charbonneau’s performance. WHAT. A. VOICE. As I was buzzing around interviewing people and taking pictures and very much in my own world of things, I had to stop and pay attention because what I was hearing from the stage was no less than perfect. I was an instant Ari-groupie. Talent like this is what makes our local scene so vibrant and outstanding.

Sneaker & The Dryer took the award for Best Electronic Act and accepted with a simple and to-the-point speech: “Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I love this city. I love electronic music, and I love marijuana – blaze it up everybody,” to which he received a huge cheer. My kind of guy!

Andy Cummings, one of my personal favorites gave a stellar performance. I found it difficult to get through the mass of people and to the bar for another beer, as they were dancing and filling up the entire floor. Seeing people taking in all of the local talent the city has to offer is always an amazing sight.

One of the big winners through the night was the band Hot Letter, which took home several awards, including Best Rock Act, Best Male Vocalist and Best Jam & Groove Act. Lead singer, Giuliano D’Orazio, who reminded me a bit of a young Val Kilmer, sent a huge thank you to all the fans who voted. The band’s music, which is described rock and roll with classical influences, has been well received across many types of fans. Two of the members are moving to Florida, so this is group’s last year fully operating in Worcester (though the members say they will come back and play, as they are a Worcester band first and foremost). D’Orazio said the band is “taking a new form, and we aren’t really sure yet what that is going to look like, but we are working on the next project, and we think it’s going to be well received.” Possibly the band’s last WMA and winning three awards? Priceless!

The Blue Light Bandits, which had won the Best Up & Comers Act earlier in the night, gave an energizing show that really blew me away. These are real musicians that I think could probably play any instrument you handed them. Hell, you could probably give them a spoon and a coaster, and they’d figure it out.

The Lifetime Achievement Award, an honor given to someone to recognize their contributions and dedication to the local music scene throughout his or her life, went to Mark Marquis, a piano and guitar virtuoso who has been teaching music most of his life, in addition to performing. Marquis was met with an enormous cheer and humbly accepted the award. He said his greatest reward is seeing the people he has taught play have people in the front of the stage supporting them and supporting live music. Many of the artists represented at this year’s WMAs were taught by this caring and devoted teacher.

The last wave of awards was met with applause and screams. Danny Fantom took home the Best Music Video, and his acceptance had everyone going ballistic. Ashley Jordan grabbed her fourth award of the night for Sexiest Musician and Cougar Bait topped off the night with Best Live Act. Having known the band as a bunch of kids and seeing them really come into their own, I could not have been happier for them.

Doctor Robert closed things out while people congratulated each other, paid their tabs and said their goodbyes. It was a great night of celebration of the talent that we have here in the city and surrounding towns.

Special thanks to Ross Kavanagh Photography, Key Performance, Jillian’s of Worcester and the Worcester Music Awards sponsors.

By Jennifer Russo