Unsung Heroes
Who are Austin's unsung music heroes? Cast your vote for the Austin Music Industry Awards
Austin's unsung music heroes are headed back into the spotlight later this month at the second annual Austin Music Industry Awards. An initiative of AMP (Austin Music People), the awards ceremony aims to celebrate the behind-the-scenes folks that help the Live Music Capital of the World live up to its famous name day after day.
But this isn't an industry-only affair: AMP is asking local live music lovers to chime in on who should be nominated for the 2013 awards. Who's the best sound engineer in town? Is your favorite recording studio in Central Texas represented?
You can vote starting today, February 5, for Best Venue Sound Engineer, Best Recording Studio, Best Local Music Promoter, Best Arranger and Best Poster Design. AMP will also present the Esme Barerra Award in Music Activism and Education and its Unsung Hero Award.
While last year's awards ceremony was part of AMP's UnGala held at ACL Live, this year's event joins forces with a new music commodity and relocates to a more intimate venue. On February 27, AMP and AMBA (the newly formed Austin Music Blogger Alliance) will hold a concert and joint awards ceremony at Spider House Ballroom featuring the Austin Music Industry Awards as well as the inaugural AMBA awards (featuring winners selected by local music bloggers).
Although the new venue may be smaller, the talent will be just as big. Performers include Magna Carda, Shivery Shakes, Jess Williamson, A Giant Dog, Orthy, Mirror Travel and special guests yet to be announced.
The concert will also serve as a fundraiser for AMP's initiatives to keep Austin's music industry thriving. "AMP is moving many of our resources this year toward representing and advocating for the music community during the run-up to the 10-1 elections in November," Executive Director Jennifer Houlihan tells CultureMap.
"We'll be hosting town halls, house parties, candidate forums, voter registration drives, and of course, United We Jam in late August."
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Tickets to the event range from $12 for advanced purchase general admission to $40 for VIP access. You can purchase tickets online on the Austin Music People website.