Maybe nothing related folks through the pandemic greater than music. It appears as if each band on the planet produced an album lately. And when reside performances returned, for a lot of it was as if collective spirits lifted and our bodies once more moved freely in dance.
Within the North Bay, the colourful and various music scene is one thing value celebrating, as are all these bands, performers and music supporters.
And so, listed here are the winners of the 2022 North Bay Music Awards, as voted by the readers of the Pacific Solar and the North Bay Bohemian.
Americana: Dave Hamilton
Final yr’s winner within the people class, Dave Hamilton’s win in Americana, no small feat within the wealthy custom the style has within the area, reveals the breadth of his enchantment throughout classes. Hamilton performs all through the North Bay this month. davehamiltonfolkamericana.com
Blues: Spike Sikes & His Superior Hotcakes
Bluesmen aren’t born; they’re shaped by wrestle and soul. Sultry North Bay fixture Spike Sikes bleeds out the blues at native venues week after week. His band of accomplices blends a sluggish burn of blues, jazz and soul on their 2022 LP, Magnolia Road. awesomehotcakes.com
Nation: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band
Bloomfield Bluegrass Band performs that model of music that was referred to as “old-time” 100 years in the past and that can nonetheless transfer the guts 100 years therefore. Their experiments with the regionally constructed redwood fiddle are particularly worthy. bloomfieldbluegrassband.com
DJ (Reside): Woman Char
707 native Woman Char spins upbeat units that draw from an eclectic mixture of influences, all related by the love of a dancing crowd. Lauded for the positivity of her units, Char began the Love Beat DJ after-school enrichment program to encourage love of music in youth. djladychar.com
DJ (Radio): New Launch Hour with Brian and Doug on KRCB
Co-owner of Santa Rosa’s Subsequent Document Retailer, Doug Jayne groups up with KRCB morning DJ Brian Griffith to present listeners a style of latest releases each Tuesday at 11am. Dudes know their stuff. norcalpublicmedia.org/radio-programs/new-release-hour-with-brian-doug
Electronica: Eki Shola
Winner of the electronica class for the final 4 years, Eki Shola defies comparability. Percussive piano, synth vocals, jazzy bass traces and whisper-soft breakbeats soften collectively underneath straightforward pop vocals and hip-hop delivered knowledge. ekishola.com
Folks: Dave Hamilton
Two time winner this yr, Dave Hamilton channels the spirit of Pete Seeger to win the NorBay for people for the third yr working. davehamiltonfolkamericana.com
Hip-Hop: J.Currently
“An excessive amount of consolation could be a disservice,” raps J.Currently in his single, “Photos.” The Sebastopol native spits cozy clean movement, however drops albums like a madperson, with three lengthy gamers within the final two years. When one desires to really feel good to the core, these are the beats. justlatelymusic.com
Indie: Ellie James
Berklee School of Music grad Ellie James has a status as an indie standout, profitable the award in 2020. Now she is again and in a giant approach…however small, as in indie. Her sound and strategy seize that dichotomy completely: a honed expertise, but enjoyable and free. thisiselliejames.com
Jazz: Stella Heath
Lauded in previous Bohemian articles for her “magnetic vocals and tight rhythms,” Petaluma native Stella Heath attracts from the origins of in style jazz to channel Louis Armstrong and Billie Holliday in a fistful of can’t miss tasks for jazzheads. stellaheathmusic.com
Metallic: A Hero To Fall
For individuals who want the Dillinger Escape Plan lived subsequent door, they could look no additional than North Bay metalcore mainstays A Hero To Fall. NorBay winners once more within the metallic class, this healthful bunch has scream-growled their approach into hearts. instagram.com/aherotofall
Punk: The Happys
With a sound evolving from tripped out Brit-punk like The Conflict overlaying the Shifting Sidewalks, to a more moderen tapestry of West Coast sounds—suppose pre-grunge northwest punk plus surf rock—if one doesn’t love The Happys, they could cease studying this column. thehappysofficial.com
R&B: The Soul Part
One of many largest sounds round, The Soul Part returns to assert the R&B class for yet one more yr. These seeking to reduce the ground to the vibe of traditional Motown can see the brass and bass heavy crew on the California in Santa Rosa on Jan. 20. thesoulsection.com
Reggae: Sol Horizon
Multi-NorBay winners Sol Horizon proceed to garner votes for his or her true-to-the-roots reggae. Energetic reside reveals and upbeat, stoner-positive messages won’t ever be out of vogue within the North Bay. instagram.com/sol.horizon
Rock: Kingsborough
Those that love Fleetwood Mac and Don Henley will gravitate to Santa Rosa rockers Kingsborogh. In true traditional rocker fashion, the band takes its title from the household title of frontperson Billy Kingsborough. kingsboroughmusic.com
Singer-Songwriter: Ellie James
The happy-go-lucky tunes of Ellie James can typically belie the deeper craftsmanship of the winner of this yr’s indie class. As a songwriter, James’ chops proceed to develop, greater than justifying her win within the extremely aggressive singer-songwriter class. thisiselliejames.com
Promoter: Jake Ward Presents
Jake Ward appears to personal this class. Why? As a result of he and his solid of over-the-top performers hustle to deliver a novel expertise to the North Bay by blood, sweat and tears. Reside piercing followers have a house right here. northbaycabaret.com
Venue: HopMonk Sebastopol
The unique location of the favored native chain of beer gardens, HopMonk Sebastopol sits in a 115-year-old stone and timber tavern. A twin music venue with phases outdoors and within the cozy inside Abbey, HopMonk is a spot for music to not be missed. hopmonk.com/sebastopol
Music Teacher: Spike Sikes
The native music scene accommodates a wealth of proficient musicians who dedicate themselves to instructing the following era of North Bay expertise. No marvel the realm is so wealthy in music. It’s a credit score to many-time NorBay winner Sikes to face out amongst them. instagram.com/spike_sikes
Hardest Working Musician: Ellie James
Okay, woman, go. Simply go. Successful her third NorBay in 2022 proves the purpose. Ellie James is working her butt off to deliver the message of uplifting pop to ears determined for positivity on this age of permacrisis. thisiselliejames.com