Andrew Allen’s latest single may be called Not Loving You, but it turns out the B.C. Interior is loving him.

The Vernon artist just received four nominations from the second annual British Columbia Interior Music Awards (BCMIAs).

Not only did he receive nods for best single, songwriter, and pop/contemporary recording, he has also been named a finalist for the 2009 Astral Media People’s Choice Award.

“I received an e-mail from Music B.C. to let me know I had been nominated. I was shocked. My name was on there a lot,” said Allen, who won the award for best new artist at the BCIMAs last year.

Allen is up against some big names in the regional rock scene, including the legendary Barney Bentall, who now calls Clinton home, Salmon Arm golden boy Greg Sczebel, and Kelowna rocker Kenny Byrka of Sleddogs fame.

“This valley is bizarre. There is so much talent and a lot of it stays here in the Okanagan. It takes a lot to break out in Vancouver and the Island music scene. It’s a tight community. The BCMIAs help us break out and show what there is this area: great wine, sunshine and musicians.”

Allen has been flying high, literally, since he released his self-titled five-song EP earlier this year.

Not Loving You hit the top 50 on the Canadian music charts and was recently picked up by Sun FM, owned by Astral Media, which has stations in Penticton, Vernon and Kelowna, that could push the song further up the charts.

Allen also just got back from a two-week tour in the U.K., where he played in around the city of Manchester.

This was the second time the musician has been overseas. The last time was a two-month stint where he made numerous connections. In fact, it was a pub owner and a cop who booked this most recent tour, he said.

“I was so honoured they would put their energy and time to help some guy from Canada. I played in the city and out in the country and did one private concert at a social club that basically paid for the whole tour.”

The BCIMA nominations come just as Allen is about to release a new Christmas single, which he recorded with producer Ryan Stewart at his Wine Cellar Music studio in North Vancouver.

“I have an album’s worth of new music, but I thought I would record this one for fun. It’s original and upbeat.”

Allen is releasing the single for free on his website, andrewallenlive.com, Nov. 13 for 24 hours.

“I have a lot of fun stuff planned around that Christmas promo,” he said.

He is also currently touring with fellow singer-songwriter Laurell through B.C., and is planning a series of Living Room Sessions (named after his first independent CD), where he will perform intimate concerts, you guessed it, in people’s living rooms.

Allen also performs live at the BCIMA awards ceremony, Nov. 6 at the Kelowna Community Theatre.