Red Carpet Event Showcases Local Music

Goodnight Blue Moon — voted Best Folk/Traditional — performs between sets of award presentations

With as much music as Hartford has to offer — especially for jazz fans — it is easy to forget that there is a thriving music scene in places like New London and Bridgeport. The Connecticut Music Awards served as a reminder that there is more happening here than anyone can actually keep up with.

The Bushnell hosted the award show, along with the opening night of Miss Saigon, on Tuesday evening. A red carpet, separate from either entrance, was more watched than walked upon.

First performers of the night, Isaac Young Quartet, went on to win the award for Best Jazz.

Chip McCabe, the emcee and “Minister of Propaganda,” controlled the mic at the second annual Connecticut Music Awards, making an early threat to sit down and read a book if anyone heckled. He broke the promise, but this was not an audience at The Meadows whose expectations and conduct were out of line with the occasion. When the Best Metal award was accepted by Dead By Wednesday, they received some good-natured heckling from members of bands competing for the award. It was played off and the momentum was not lost. Drinks were dumped, an award was dropped, and there was a technical glitch late into the evening, but this show managed to not stagnate.