The Worcester Music Awards logo shines on the floor of Jillian’s, welcoming nominees, performers, industry professionals and spectators for a night of music and recognition. There is the sound of air hockey tables pinging as people kill time during the sound check. A sense of true community permeates the air. In the Worcester area, the local music scene is more like a family gathering. Everyone knows everyone, for the most part, and arrivals are met with bro hugs, kisses on the cheek and fist bumps. Though it is a competition at its core, it is also a celebration of local talent and diversity.

Harvard native Ashley Jordan’s performance kicked off the Worcester Music Awards on April 15, filling the room with her big voice and unique, soulful folk sound. Small in stature, but certainly not in status, Ashley was nominated for four awards this year, taking home the WMAs for Best Female Vocalist and Best Solo/Acoustic Act and accepting both with a humble spirit.

Many great companies were acknowledged and thanked for sponsoring the night (including Pulse magazine, Jillian’s, Immedia, Union Music, Vero Concepts, Xtreme Alchemy Radio and Budweiser) before Lori Diamond and Fred Abatelli took the stage to gift the audience with their warm and almost Zen-like presence and sound. They later took home the WMA for Best CD for their latest album, Lifted, and Abatelli earned the WMA for Best Male Vocalist. I was able to catch up with Fred after he won the award, and his reaction was amazement and gratitude.

“There were a lot of wonderful male vocalists nominated, and any one of them could have gotten this; they are all really good. I am so thankful to my fans and those who voted. It’s just crazy,” Abatelli said. “Lori and I really believe in focusing on the positive and uplifting because it’s so rewarding at the end of the day. We can play for two hours, and it feels like five minutes. We just have so much fun.”

Hostess Niki Luparelli graced the stage – looking fabulous, as always – blue and pink hair adorned with a flower and a pink martini in hand. The first award – Best Blues/R&B Act – went, for fifth time, to A Ton of Blues. The band took the stage, thanking the other nominees and the crowd and urging fans to keep the blues alive.

WMA veteran DJ Reckless took home the award for Best Club DJ. He kept his speech short and sweet, telling fans simply to “party honest.” Lisa Martin took the award for Best Country/Americana Act, and Tester once again took the award home for Best Rock Act. Another big year for Tester, the band also took home WMAs for Best Live Act and Band with the Best Groupies. Having been a longtime Tester “groupie” myself, I can attest that we are pretty awesome.

Catching up with Tester later that night, the bandmates shared that they are working on a new album, to be released sometime later this year.

Cougar Bait, which was nominated for three awards and took home the WMA for Best Electronic Act and Best CD Cover Art, performed next. Having watched these guys since they first started, I can say they have really found their niche in the industry. They have grown exponentially, and their performance showed true confidence, even working some “Arabian Nights” into their repertoire.

So … stop me if you’ve heard this one. A pilot walks into a bar. … OK, no joke, one really did this time. Joining Luparelli on stage to bestow the next round of awards was Charlie Cockpit. After Luparelli’s moving moment of silence for the loss of the Arby’s on Park Avenue, the WMA for the Music Station Most Supportive of Local Bands was awarded to WICN, which also celebrates its 45^th anniversary this year. Also accepting the WMA for Best Radio DJ was the station’s Nick Noble, who was thrilled to win the award after being nominated for the last four years. Gov’t Surplus grabbed the WMA for Best Jam & Groove Act this year, and Dale LePage & The Manhattans took home the Best Jazz Act award.

The Best Live Venue award went to The Raven. Owner Chris Bettencourt humbly accepted, telling me later on that the award is really “more for the supporters” than himself and that he thinks The Raven stands out because it’s “a true music venue with a big stage, great sound, great sightlines to the stage, great drink prices and sits alongside Worcester’s historic Congress Alley.”

The Best Up & Comers Award went to V, which recently had the opportunity to play the renowned Kiss Cruise. Best Pop/Punk Act went to The Excramentals, whose on-stage antics included thanking Charmin two-ply toilet paper and “all the moms who got knocked up to Blink 182.” American Dreamers took home the WMA for Best Pop Act.

Each year, the Worcester Music Awards recognizes someone for a career full of significant contributions to the local music scene. Jim Perry won the coveted Lifetime Achievement Award this year. He thanked all of the musicians that he has played with and then sweetly dedicated the award to his mother, who would have been celebrating her 89^th birthday. He performed with Hothouse next, giving a stellar performance.

The Best Cover/Tribute Band award went to Flock of Assholes. Whiskey Down won the award for Band You’d Most Like to See Reunite, and the band mentioned that there may be a show brewing, so stay tuned.

The WMA for Best Rap/Hip Hop Act went to the Slacker Kingz, who were all smiles as they thanked fans. The Best Hardcore/Metal Act went to Leaving Eden, and lead singer Evealso won the award for Sexiest Musician, and as such, she rocked her very mini skirt.

There was a wonderful tribute to Paul Gervais from Kurlan Music, who passed away unexpectedly in 2013. Gervais was known as an unconditionally supportive mentor and a fixture in the music scene. A scholarship fund was set up in his memory to support the talent of young musicians. Find out more at gervaisscholarship.com.

To close out the night, Let It Bleed performed a set and got the crowd moving and taking numerous selfies with friends and their new WMAs.

By Jennifer Russo / Tricia Wise contributed to this article