Perhaps nothing has brought people together during the pandemic like music. Every band in the world seems to be making an album these days. And when live performances resumed, for many it was as if the collective spirit was uplifted and the body was free again in dance.
The North Bay, like all these bands, performers and music supporters, deserves to be celebrated for its vibrant and diverse music scene.
Reader-voted winners for the 2022 North Bay Music Awards are: pacific sun and the North Bay Bohemian.
Americana: Dave Hamilton
Last year’s Folk category winner, Dave Hamilton’s victory in Americana was a major feat in the region’s rich heritage of the genre and showcases the breadth of his appeal across categories. Hamilton will play across the North Bay this month. davehamiltonfolkamericana.com
Blues: Spike Sykes & His Awesome Hotcakes
Bluesmen are not born. They are formed by struggle and soul. Sultry North Bay fixture Spike Sykes blasts the blues at local venues every week. His band of accomplices is slowly blending blues, jazz and soul on his 2022 LP. magnolia streetawesomehotcakes.com
Country: Bloomfield Bluegrass Band
The Bloomfield Bluegrass Band plays the brand of music that was called ‘Old Time’ 100 years ago and still moves you 100 years later. Their experiments with locally made Sequoia fiddles are especially worthwhile. bloomfield bluegrass band.com
DJ (Live): Lady Char
707’s Lady Char spins an upbeat set of mixed influences, all tied together by the love of a dancing crowd. Praised for the positivity of her sets, Char started her after-school love beats her DJ program to inspire her love of music in her youth. djladychar.com
DJ (Radio): KRCB’s new release hour with Brian and Doug
Doug Jayne, co-owner of Santa Rosa’s Next Record Store, has teamed up with KRCB’s morning DJ Brian Griffith to give listeners a taste of new releases every Tuesday at 11am. A man knows his stuff. norcalpublicmedia.org/radio-programs/new-release-hour-with-brian-doug
Electronica: Exola
Winner of the electronica category for the last four years, Eki Shola is second to none. Percussive piano, synth vocals, jazzy basslines and whisper-soft breakbeats meld under the wisdom of lilting pop vocals and hip-hop. ekishola.com
Fork: Dave Hamilton
This year’s two-time winner Dave Hamilton has won the No Bay Fork for the third year in a row, in the spirit of Pete Seeger. davehamiltonfolkamericana.com
Hip Hop: J.Lately
J.Lately raps on the single “Pictures” that “too comfortable can be a disadvantage.” The Sebastopol native spits out a cozy smooth flow, but over the past two years he’s dropped albums like crazy with three long-time players. When you want to feel good to the core, these are the beats. justlatelymusic.com
Indie: Ellie James
A graduate of Berklee College of Music, Ellie James has earned her reputation as an outstanding indie artist with 2020 awards. Her sound and approach perfectly capture that dichotomy. In other words, honed talent, yet fun and free. thisiselliejames.com
Jazz: Stella Heath
admired in the past bohemian In an article about her “charming vocals and tight rhythms,” Petaluma-born Stella Heath channeled Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday from her popular jazz origins to some unmissable projects for jazz heads. Introducing. stellaheathmusic.com
Metal: A Hero To Fall
For those who want the Dillinger Escape Plan living next door, you may need to look no further than North Bay metalcore mainstay A Hero To Fall. NorBay’s metal This wholesome group, who once again won his category, screamed and thundered. instagram.com/aherotofall
Punk: Happys
The sound has evolved from tricky Brit punk like The Clash, moving sidewalk coverings of The Clash, to a more recent tapestry of West Coast sounds (think pre-grunge Northwest punk and surf rock). And if they don’t like The Happys, they might quit. read this column. thehappysofficial.com
R&B: The Soul Section
One of the biggest sounds, The Soul Section, is back to win the R&B category for another year in a row. Those looking to set the floor up for classic Motown vibes can see a heavy crew of brass and bass in Santa Rosa California on January 20. thesoulsection.com
Reggae: Sol Horizon
Multiple NorBay winners, Sol Horizon continue to win votes with reggae true to their roots. Energetic live shows and upbeat, stoner-positive messages never go out of style at North Bay. instagram.com/sol.horizon
Rock: Kingsborough
Fans of Fleetwood Mac and Don Henley will gravitate toward Santa Rosa rocker Kingsborough. In true classic rocker style, the band was named after frontman Billy Kingsborough’s last name. kingsboroughmusic.com
Singer-songwriter: Ellie James
Ellie James’ carefree tune sometimes belies the deeper craftsmanship of this year’s Indie category winner. James’ talent as a songwriter continues to develop more than justify her victory in the highly competitive singer-songwriter category. thisiselliejames.com
Promoter: Jake Ward Presents
Jake Ward seems to own this category. why? Because he and his cast of top-notch performers struggle through blood, sweat and tears to bring a unique experience to the North Bay. Live Pierce fans have a home here. North Bay Cabaret.com
Venue: HopMonk Sebastopol
The original location of a popular local beer garden chain, HopMonk Sebastopol is located in a 115-year-old stone and wood tavern. HopMonk, two music venues with stages outside and cozy inside the monastery, is a music spot not to be missed. hopmonk.com/sebastol
Music teacher: Spike Sykes
The local music scene is filled with talented musicians dedicated to teaching the next generation of North Bay talent. No wonder the area is bursting with music. Standing out among them is his Sikes achievement, which is a multiple NorBay win. instagram.com/spike_sikes
Most Industrious Musician: Ellie James
All right, girl, go. just go Winning her NorBay for the third time in 2022 proves the point. Ellie James works hard to bring an uplifting pop message to the ears of those craving positivity in this relentless era. thisiselliejames.com
