2015 Sammies winners in the house!

The top musical moments—and all the voters’ choice picks—from SN&R’s 23rd annual Sacramento Area Music Awards

By SN&R Staff

This article was published on 04.02.15

Estrella Hood of World Hood <br> PHOTOS BY ALAN SHECKTER

Estrella Hood of World Hood
PHOTOS BY ALAN SHECKTER

Cutey Honey of Shoujo Kitten

Dylan Crawford of Massive Delicious

Gina Salatino of Some Fear None

Stefan Sorgea of The Westwards

Blake Abbey of Musical Charis

Eddie Underwood of Lite Brite

James Cavern

Joe Kye

Century Got Bars

Stevie Nader

Jimi Morris of Mercy Me!

Peter Petty

More than a dozen performers and 30 awards later, the 23rd annual Sammies concluded out in the streets with the 13-piece Element Brass Band—a fitting end to a marathon show.

Organized and hosted by local music promoter Jerry Perry, the event showcased a huge variety of Sacramento talent to a packed Ace of Spades.

The big winner of the night was Joseph in the Well, taking home Artist of the Year as well as outstanding New Artist. Anyone in the audience who hadn't heard of Joe Kye before will certainly remember him now: his solo set's lush violin loops left everyone in awe.

We also saw fantastic performances from Lite Brite and Kyle Rowland Band, whose old-school sound got the crowd seriously grooving. And we loved seeing so many collaborations onstage: Kye and Soosh*E performing with James Cavern, then Cavern performing with Century Got Bars, then DJ Epik with Century, and later, DLRN with Stevie Nader. But Cavern said it best when he accepted his R&B/Soul award for the second year in a row.

“Sacramento is on the upswing,” he said. “Make sure you're riding that wave because this town is going to be the shit.”

Without further ado, we present your 2015 Sammies winners.

Hall of Fame 2015

Mercy Me!
www.mercymeband.com

Musical Charis
www.musicalcharis.com

Walking Spanish
www.walkingspanish.com

Artist of the Year

Joe Kye
www.joekye.com

Americana/Alt-country

The Nickel Slots
www.thenickelslotsmusic.com

Blues

Dippin' Sauce
www.dippinsaucemusic.com