Nominations for the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards garnered 3,700 votes, almost doubling 2008’s 2,000 votes.

And the Shuswap is again well-represented, with three area musicians and singers and the Roots and Blues Festival nominated in a number of categories.

Juno Award winner and past BC Interior Music Award winner Greg Sczebel is nominated in the Single of the Year category for his One by One.

Old Man’s Beard has been nominated in the New Artist of the Year category and will perform at the 2009 BC Interior Music Awards Night to be held Friday, Nov. 6 at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Blu Hopkins and Silvercreek were nominated again this year, in the Country/Bluegrass Recording of the Year category and The Salmon Arm Roots and Blues Festival, a partner in the BCIMA Awards, received a nomination in the Supporting Venue of Live Music category.

This year’s Roots & Blues festival featured two BCIMA winners in 2008 – Ari Neufeld, Best Male Performer of the Year and Sherman Doucette, Best Blues Artist of the Year.
 

“We wouldn’t have known about Ari if we hadn’t come to the BCIMA Awards last year,” executive director Hugo Rampen told BCIMA organizers.

“We hear time and again that there is nothing new in the blues, but we are proud to show the diversity of the blues genre as it reaches from B.C. to Serbia.”

Roots & Blues organizers are again sponsoring the 2009 BCIMA Best Blues Recording Award.

“It is so great see two performers who shone on last year’s BCIMA stage be featured on the Roots & Blues stage and to know that in one year alone the implications of winning an award like the BC Interior Music Awards go far past the single glamorous night to help open doors for artists.”  

A panel of judges from radio and festivals throughout B.C. whittled nominations down to the top three in each of the 28 categories.

Winners will be revealed at the exciting Nov. 6 event. To get tickets, go to www.selectyourtickets.com.