Voting is now open for the second annual Kootenay Music Awards.
Five music industry judges sifted through hundreds of nominated songs to come up with this year’s shortlist. Now it’s up to the public to choose the winners.
KMA president Chad Hansen was thrilled to see the musical diversity in the Artist of the Year category.
“We’ve got an opera, two big folk-stomp bands, an electronic producer and a singer-songwriter going head-to-head,” he said. “It just goes to show the range of talent we have in the region. Whatever type of music you like, you can find somebody here doing it really well.”
Shortlisted artists come from all corners of the Kootenays. The Good Ol’ Goats from Cranbrook show up in the “Best Roots and Blues” and “Artist of the Year” categories, Golden’s WakCutt is on the list for “Best DJ” and the Slocan Valley’s Immune 2 Cobras is hoping for “Best New Artist” and “Best Punk/Rock/Metal.”
There’s a huge representation from Nelson artists. KHAOS, the opera written by Don Macdonald, is nominated in three categories. Tofu Stravinsky and James Lamb are both up for “Album of the Year” and Selkirk music student Dylan McPherson is going for “Best New Artist.”
To listen to tracks from all the contenders and place your vote go to kootenaymusicawards.com and click “Nominate” on the page banner, then “Vote now.”
There’s a play button under each artist’s picture that you can click to listen to their music. When you’ve picked your favourite, register for an account and start voting.
The voting period closes on April 30 and the winners will be announced at an award show at Spiritbar in Nelson on May 10.
The Kootenay Music Awards are presented by Nelson Brewing Company and Black Press.
Platinum sponsors include, Kootenay Co-op Radio, Vantage Point, Nelson and District Credit Union, AM Ford, Selkirk College.
Other sponsors are Wapiti Music Festival, Kootenay Savings Credit Union, Bee Kissed Body Piercing, Nelson Kootenay Lake Tourism, Chatterson Drive, Our Glass, Ric’s Lounge and Grill, Tribute Boardshop and Whitewater Ski Resort.
2013 Kootenay Music Awards Nominees
Best Producer
Yan Zombie
Vs. (Produced by Evade Beatz)
Philth Kids
Ryan Wells
Science of Defiance
Best DJ
Cass Rhapsody
Breakfluid
WakCutt
Sweet Pickle
Rafferty Funksmith
Best New Artist
Shyness of Strangers – “Hot Bodies”
Moontricks – “Swamp Bubbles”
Immune 2 Cobras – “Momma Drank”
Dylan McPherson – “The Rope”
Kindred Heart – “We Daughters”
Best Live Act
KHAOS
Tofu Stravinsky
Shred Kelly
Clinton Swanson and friends
Savage Blade
Best Roots and Blues
Broken Down Suitcase – “The Liar”
Brian Rosen – “Wild Rivers”
LINT – “Elevator Chase”
The Good Ol’ Goats – “Not The Same”
Hoodlums – “Moving out of Cell Range Baby?”
Best Country Folk
James Lamb – “River in Bed”
Shred Kelly – “New Black”
Motes & Oats – “Saskatchewan”
Rhoniel – “Make Believe”
Laela Heidt – “Love Blind”
Best Rock Punk Metal
Thus Far – “Burning to the Ground”
Savage Blade – “Wasteland”
Immune 2 Cobras – “Momma Drank”
Chinese 4 Travelers – “The Haunting”
Willhorse – “Easy Girl”
Song of the Year
James Lamb – “River in Bend”
The Good Ol’ Goats – “Kiss a Cactus:
Shred Kelly – “The Bear”
Rhoneil – “Make Believe”
KHAOS – “Black Water”
Album of the Year
Tofu Stravinsky – BTTRMLK
Broken Down Suitcase – Broken Down Suitcase
Brian Rosen – Choose Your Choice
Rhoneil – Make Believe
James Lamb – Imagineering
Artist of the Year
KHAOS
Shred Kelly
Yan Zombie
The Good Ol’ Goats
Rhoneil