At the 2024 Grammys, Northern California Artists Win Big

The 2024 Grammy Awards yielded some exciting moments for musicians with Bay Area ties, with multiple wins for Sacramento-born R&B musician Victoria Monét and Ukiah-raised alt rocker Phoebe Bridgers, courtesy of her work in supergroup boygenius.

The Grammy broadcast also opened with a surprise appearance from longtime San Francisco resident Tracy Chapman, the folk musician who performed her 1988 hit “Fast Car” for the first time in years, duetting with country star Luke Combs. Lindsay Zoladz from the New York Times called it “a genuine moment of warmth and unity.”

Combs’ rendition of “Fast Car,” which won song of the year at the Country Music Association Awards last November, sticks closely to Chapman’s original, indelible song. It was a triumphant moment for Chapman, with the audience on their feet and Combs’ respect clearly evident.

Bay Area winners were plentiful Sunday. Monét, who was nominated in seven categories for her debut album Jaguar II, took home three wins: Best R&B Album; Best Engineered Album, Non-Classical; and Best New Artist.

“Thank you to the champagne servers of tonight, that’s my first thank you,” Monét said in an emotional acceptance speech that touched on her 15-year journey through the music industry. “My roots have been growing underneath ground unseen for so long, and I feel like today I’m sprouting.”

Bridgers came into the night with seven nominations and took home four wins: Best Pop Duo/Group Performance for her featured spot on SZA’s “Ghost in the Machine,” Best Rock Performance and Best Rock Song with boygenius for “Not Strong Enough,” and Best Alternative Music Album for the group’s the record.

Dressed in matching white suits, the band of three women — Bridgers, Lucy Dacus and Julien Baker — was giddy on stage. “It’s just been a constant scream,” Bridgers said of the night after the group’s third win.

San Francisco’s very own Metallica took home their ninth Grammy Award last night, winning Best Metal Performance for “72 Seasons” from their album of the same name. (This is their first win since 2009, for those keeping track.)

In a testimony to Bay Area eclecticism, the region was repped across even more musical genres. San Anselmo-based tabla master Zakir Hussain won two awards with Béla Fleck and Edgar Meyer: Best Global Music Performance for “Pashto” and Best Contemporary Instrumental Album As We Speak. With his group Shakti, Hussain also won Best Global Music Album for This Moment.

And Molly Tuttle, raised in Palo Alto, won Best Bluegrass Album with her band Golden Highway for City of Gold.

In possibly the most tangential Bay Area tie, Skrillex spent part of his childhood in San Francisco. Therefore the DJ’s Best Dance/Electronic Recording win (along with Fred again.. and Flowdan) for “Rumble,” which he produced and mixed, is also our win.

Click here for a complete list of the 2024 Grammy Award nominees and winners.