Music is a big part of Eureka Springs life from the annual Music in the Park events, shows at the Auditorium brought to us by LittleWing Productions and others, festivals both in and outside of the city, and then the venues and artists that inhabit them each week. That close relationship with music and “sounds in the distance” are what inspired Que Thomas to create the Eureka Springs Music Awards organization.
ESMA is all about showcasing the music community here in Eureka Springs. During the nomination time through January and February, anyone could submit nominations for ten categories like those listed and voting opened this past week for the top nominations. The Music Awards all culminate on April 13 at the Auditorium at 3 p.m. with an awards ceremony. It’s like our very own Grammys for ES music.
Que hopes for this event to be annual with “the goal of making our musical artists feel appreciated and worthy of the recognition they deserve.” He said that people come from out of town to hear from our local entertainers and this is a way “of showing them they are seen and heard.” The City Advertising and Promotion Commission is also helping make the event larger for its first year, assisting with marketing and organizing.
Final nominations were announced last Thursday with a press conference where CAPC employees and Que listed off final nominations:
Soloist of the Year
- Chris Harp
- Kate Kristine
- Skye Pollard
- Dominic B. Roy
- Avery Waltz
Music Venue of the Year
- Chelsea’s
- The Farm
- Gravel Bar
- Missy’s White Rabbit Lounge
- New Delhi Café
Group/Band of the Year
- Chucky Waggs & The Company of Raggs
- Front Porch
- Los Roscoes
- Mountain Alice
- Sprungbilly
Female Vocalist of the Year
- Opal Agafia
- Sophia Clark
- Alice Jorris
- Kate Kristine
Music Festival of the Year
- Eureka Springs Jazz Fest
- Hillberry
- Ozark Folk Festival
- Ozark Mountain Music Festival
- Strings on the Kings
Promotor/Ambassador of the Year
- David Avanzino
- Mary Howze
- Bear Morrison
- Larry Schaeffer
- Jon Walker
Duo of the Year
- 96 Miles
- Opal Agafia & Michael Schembre
- Bad Jacksons
- Mountain Alice
Male Vocalist of the Year
- Alex Hawf
- Kenny Ray Jackson
- Gary Lawrence
- Skye Pollard
- Dominic B. Roy
Musician of the Year
- Jackson Gibson
- Joe Grogan
- Alex Hawf
- John Holtzman
- Pattie Steel
Artist of the Year
- 96 Miles
- Bad Jacksons
- Alex Hawf
- Kate Kristine
- Chucky Waggs
To vote on these nominations you can go to eurekasrpingsmusicawards.com and tickets for the ceremony can be found at theaud.thundertix.com.