Voting is open now for the 2008 INDY Awards. Celebrating emerging talent in live music in the UK, the INDY Awards recognise talent across all forms of music, so if you’re a Liverpool artist, band, promoter or involved in the Merseyside music scene and wish to seek recognition on the big stage continue reading and get voting.
Following the success achieved in their inaugural year, the INDY Music Awards return in 2008 with a host of exciting new developments. Shifting focus from London to the whole of the UK, the awards recognise and reward more independent venues, promoters and artists than ever before and continue to highlight the cream in live music.
Two hundred venues and promoters have already registered for this yearâÂÂs awards, while organisers are keen to encourage even more to register and nominate their favourite independent artists that have impressed them over the last year.
Catagories at this year’s INDY Awards include:
Best Solo Act, Best Urban Act, Best New Wave/Progressive Act, Best Folk/Country/Blues Act, Best Soul/Funk/Jazz Act, Best Electronica, Best Alternative Act, Best Indie Act, Best Punk Act, Best Ska Act, Best Pop Act,
Best Heavy Rock Act, Best Rock Act, Most Popular Venue (Small, Medium & Large), Promoter of the Year, Peoples Choice Award (Most votes), Inspiration Award.
For more information on the INDY Music Awards 2008, log onto www.indyawards.co.uk
Once the registration closes, the public can begin to cast their votes for their favourite nominated artists from February 1 until March 31. There will be stiff competition for the awards, which have now been extended to 19 categories including, Best Electronica Act, Promoter of the Year, three Venue Of The Year Awards and an Inspiration Award.
The full shortlist, based on the top four most popular artists in each of the 13 musical categories will be announced in early April before being reviewed by an Industry Panel who will decide the overall award winners.
2008âÂÂs Award winners will then be unveiled at a glittering ceremony where some of the UKâÂÂs brightest new stars will be joined by top names from the industry. Last yearâÂÂs ceremony saw Marcella Detroit, Glen Matlock, Andy Matthews, Neville Staple, Omar, Tom McRae and legendary rock producer Kevin Shirley turning up and organisers have already been inundated with enquiries for this yearâÂÂs event. Details for the awards ceremony date and venue will be announced shortly.
With the live music industry in the UK now estimated to be worth ã743m a year, the INDY Music Awards play a key role in identifying the top 0.5% of emerging independent talent in the UK.
A survey carried out after last years nominations showed 45% of INDY Music Awards artists were approached by labels or professional management while 60% of respondents were offered higher profile gigs and festival slots including Glastonbury on the back of their association with the awards.