Grand Haven keyboardist Robert Greene from the lakeshore funk band Money Soup calls it an honor to perform at the upcoming WYCE Jammie Awards show honoring the past year’s best recordings by Michigan artists. 

“It means a ton for us to be part of the Jammies,” said Greene. “As a newer band, the opportunity to play for a large, engaged crowd is huge, and the fact that the music community in West Michigan has been so welcoming is amazing.”

The up-and-coming band which released its debut album in 2024 is among 18 regional groups and solo acts chosen to play this year’s Jammie Awards, taking place Feb. 28 at The Intersection in downtown Grand Rapids.

Described as “West Michigan’s biggest night for music,” Grand Rapids community radio station WYCE (88.1 F) will present awards Michigan artists representing a host of different genres and categories, including album and song of the year.

Performers this year range from established artists and previous award winners such as Kalamazoo hip-hop cellist Jordan Hamilton and Grand Rapids keyboardist and singer Hannah Laine (of neosoul’s Earth Radio) to emerging acts such as Big Timmy & The Heavy Chevys, Crystal Trench, Headband Henny, Sonny Ski and The Cosmoknights.

“My goal in setting up this year's lineup was to take a sonic snapshot of the local music you hear on WYCE. Just about every musical itch is scratched with this roster - from longtime favorites and previous Jammie performers to new projects making a splash in the scene, as well as artists who have yet to make their Jammies debut,” said WYCE music and program director Chris Cranick, whose own rock band, Overdrive Orchestra, will also perform.

“As with last year, I chose not to book any performers from the year prior. There are simply too many stellar acts in Michigan that are deserving of the spotlight.”

For Money Soup, participating in the Jammie Awards “has been on our radar for a long time, so to be a part of it is a dream come true,” said Greene, adding that the band will release a new single, “Night & Day,” in the near future, with a busy 2025 of shows and festival appearances.

With so many new releases by Michigan artists, Cranick conceded: “I honestly wish that schedules made it so we could feature even more artists that dropped records last year. It was truly an incredible year for new Michigan music.”

The Jammie Awards unfurl on three stages at The Intersection starting at 6 p.m. Feb. 28, with doors opening at 5 p.m. and an opening ceremony at 5:45 p.m. For the first time, WYCE is charging a $10 entry fee to the Jammies, rather than a suggested donation. 

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“There’s still a large amount of people in the community who don’t realize that while the Jammies are a celebration of Michigan music, it is also the single largest fund-raising event for WYCE,” Cranick said. 

“We had record-breaking attendance last year, but unfortunately the door donations did not reflect the number of guests. We hope that music lovers will respond positively to this small change. For the same price as a three- or four-band bill, attendees can enjoy 18 artists across a variety of genres while also supporting their local independent radio station.”

VIP tickets, which include exclusive access to a VIP lounge, Jammies T-shirt and a signature cocktail, are $45 and available at wyce.org.

— Email John Sinkevics at john@localspins.com.