Whatever you’re doing this weekend, you may want to shelve it if you’re a musician and get those last minute entries into the New Times Music Awards Showcase to meet the June 21 deadline.
Last year’s inaugural New Times Music Awards Showcase was—in our humble opinion—totally amazing. It attracted 300 entries from some of the best musicians in San Luis Obispo County and produced a rocking CD. However, rest assured this year will be bigger and better, because this year we are opening up the contest to Northern Santa Barbara County musicians.
We’re also introducing new genres of music and more categories. The showcase will be held over multiple days and at multiple venues Aug. 19 through 22.
The showcase will begin on Thursday, Aug. 19, with performances and awards for the rock/alternative genre at Downtown Brew Co., 1119 Garden St., San Luis Obispo.
Friday, Aug. 20, will follow with performances and awards for the reggae/worldbeat genre at Frog and Peach Pub, 728 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo.
Saturday, Aug. 21, will have two events featuring performances and awards for four genres. In Mission Plaza, a free community event will showcase performances and awards for the classical/jazz, folk/bluegrass/Americana, and blues/R&B genres. We will present awards for Best Album and Overall Performer at this event.
Then Saturday night at Native Lounge, 1023 Chorro St., in San Luis Obispo, there will be performances and awards for the hip-hop/rap/electronic/DJ genre.
The final event will take place Sunday, Aug. 22, at Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St., SLO, with performances and awards for the songwriting category.
Indoor shows at Downtown Brew Co., Frog & Peach, Native Lounge, and Steynberg Gallery will be $5 at the door. The event at Mission Plaza is free.
Music by the first through third place winners in each genre will be compiled on the New Times Music Awards Top 20 CD, handed out free to everyone who attends the awards, and distributed to local radio stations. These 20 tracks are also placed online for a Readers’ Choice Award. The judges will also award one act—solo or group—as the Best Performer of the Year.
So here are a few rules:
1. The deadline is June 21—no exceptions. Submit yours with an entry form and $10 for each song.
2. Be from San Luis Obispo County or Northern Santa Barbara County.
3. By entering the contest, all entrants give permission to New Times Media Group to reproduce submissions on CD and on the web. All entries remain the property of performers.
4. New Times Music Awards is not responsible for any lost, damaged, incomplete, or late entries.
5. If you win, you must be able to play at the particular showcase event for your category.
6. Fill out entry form, upload songs, and pay for your entries at newtimesslo.com.
7. Entries must be submitted on CD or online with an entry form. Songs may have multiple co-writers, but please designate one name only on the entry form.
8. Maximum three songs per entry.
9. Songs are judged on the quality of the composition, production, and sound.
10. You can enter up to three songs for the songwriting contest, which is being judged separately by a panel of three published songwriters, who will judge your songs on lyrics and melody. Upload (or include) a .doc file of lyrics with your entry.
Arts Editor Shelly Cone likes to bend the rules. Set her straight at scone@santamariasun.com.
This article appears in Jun 17-24, 2010.