The big night has finally arrived — winners of the Kootenay Music Awards will be announced tonight at Spiritbar.
Nominated artists from across the Kootenays spent the month of April collecting online votes in hopes of topping one or more of the ten award categories. The winners will take home an attractive, locally-made trophy and a title that might just help them catch the eye of promoters next time they're planning a tour.
Last year, Fernie folk band Shred Kelly was named Artist of the Year, and keyboardist Sage McBride believes that helped applications to summer festivals gain recognition across the country.
"I think getting that recognition in the Kootenays made people in other areas take a more serious look at us," McBride says. "And it really gave us a boost of confidence to kind of spread our wings and try to get out there more."
After their KMA win, the band successfully won a second online voting competition — CBC Radio 3's Track on Tracks, which put them on a Via Rail train from Vancouver to Toronto with a documentary film crew recording their gigs along the way.
"We get amazing support from our community every time we're in a contest. It feels really great," McBride says.
Shred Kelly is once again in the running for Artist of the Year, along with Cranbrook's The Good Ol' Goats and Nelson's Don Macdonald (KHAOS), Yan Zombie and Rhoneil.
"There're so many great artists in it this year; any one of them would deserve it," McBride says. "Of course we're hoping to hold onto the title — fingers crossed."
Find out who all the winners are tonight at Spiritbar. Doors open at 7:30 p.m and the awards start at 8:30 p.m. sharp. After the presentations there will be a great lineup of music, feturing Shred Kelly, Adham Shaikh, Melody Diachrun, The Shyness of Strangers, Immune 2 Cobras and Lucas Myers. Cover is $15 or $10 for Kootenay Co-op Radio members.
All the money from tonight's ticket sales will go to Kootenay Co-op Radio.
A full list of the winners will be posted at kootenaymusicawards.com on Saturday morning.