New England Music Awards Nominees Announced

Wednesday, January 07, 2015

GoLocalProv Features Team

RI Native Joe Fletcher's "You've Got The Wrong Man" is nominated for "Album of the Year".

The New England Music Awards have released the list of 2015 nominees for their annual event, which recognizes the best musicians, singers, and songwriters in the Northeast. Dozens of artists from a multitude of genres from all over New England have been nominated for awards ranging from "Songwriter of the Year" to "Metal Act of the Year". The list of nominees includes several RI artists.

Joe Fletcher, a previous nominee for "Best in State-Rhode Island" and "Best Americana/Roots Act", is a recent Nashville transplant and RI native who has been nominated for "Album of the Year" for his "You've Got the Wrong Man", partially recorded in Rhode Island. Fletcher recently opened for RI natives Deer Tick at their sold out series of New Year's Eve shows at New York City's Brooklyn Bowl.

GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST

Another Rhode Island artist, Will Evans, has been nominated for "Male Performer of the Year". Westerly resident Evans is best known in the area as the chief songwriter and drummer/frontman of the now defunct Barefoot Truth. He's recently released a solo album entitles "Wishin' Well", and was a top 10 finalist in Guitar Center's national "Search for the Next Great American Songwriter" contest.

The Providence-based Latin roots rock band Santa Mamba is up for "Live Act of the Year". The band originally hails from all corners of the globe, including Venezuela and the Dominican Republic, but now call Providence home.

Providence alternative rockers Space Pony were nominated for "New Act of the Year".

The pop category is represented by Providence's We Built The Moon, nominated for "Pop Act of The Year". They've released an EP, entitled "Resistance", and focus their attention on "meaningful songwriting and mesmerizing live shows."

Road veterans Roz and the Rice Cakes have been nominated in the "Rock Act of the Year" category. The Providence-based trio has opened for Grace Potter, OK GO, and The Low Anthem. They have an album, "Need To Feed".

Sugar Ray and the Bluenotes are again nominated for "Blues Act of the Year". Former lead singer of the legendary Roomful of Blues Sugar Ray Norcia leads this Providence blues band, noted for playing with blues giants Big Mama Thornton and Big Joe Turner. The Bluenotes have 7 albums under their belt.

Finally, heavy metal is represented by Providence's Blind Side Thunder, nominated for "Metal Act of the Year". Blind Side play a unique style they've dubbed "Rebel Rock," and describe what they do as "stripper music for the imaginative housewife". Their next album, "100 Proof", is to be released on February 16.

Rhode Island's nominees in the "Best of State" category include blues rock trio The Silks, garage rockers The Rare Occasions, Charlestown RI-based trio Haunt the House, sibling rock duo VulGarrity, and Providence rockers Satellites Fall.

The New England Music Awards will be presented at Showcase Live in Foxboro on Saturday, April 18, at 7pm. Tickets are available HERE.