NEW
YORK (North Bay Bohemian) - Harmony Events, in association with the
North Bay Bohemian, are pleased to announce the First Annual North Bay
Music Awards, the "NORBAYS," to be held Friday, June 10, at the Sonoma
County Fairgrounds. The event will honor the rich musical heritage and
cultural diversity of the North Bay region and will serve to bring
unity and community support to this area, which is fast becoming and
influential musical and cultural Mecca.
By bringing together
esteemed artists and leading music industry professionals actively
participating in the enhancement of the North Bay's artistic and
cultural community, the awards will honor the best and brightest
established stars and celebrate the brightest emerging talent.
NORBAY
awards will be presented to musicians and industry professionals in a
variety of categories, including rock, jazz, alternative, folk and
world music. All have been nominated by a respected advisory board
including more than 50 of the top industry professionals in the region.
The final winners will be chosen by a reader's poll conducted in the
April 27, 2005, issue of the North Bay Bohemian.
A portion of
the event proceeds will benefit two local music-based charities:
Musicians Helping Musicians and the Sonoma County
Music Association's
Music for Kids at Risk program.
"I believe that the North Bay
is the absolute best place in the world for creative energy. Let's have
a celebration of what makes this area so special," said Mick Brigdon,
President of Bill Graham Management. "I'm very supportive of bringing
the good people of this area together to celebrate all of the good
things that have happened in the past and are happening now."
For
purposes of this award, the North Bay geographic area is defined as
stretching from the Golden Gate Bridge north to Humboldt and includes
Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Mendocino and Lake counties, covering the widest
talent net.
The night will begin with a gala benefit pre-show
dinner and reception from 7pm to 9pm. The awards show will begin at
9pm, featuring awards presentations, celebrity guests and exciting live
music performances by winners and nominees alike. Doug Smith, of KRSH
Radio, will MC the awards show, which will feature presenters and
performers from the North Bay music community, plus very special guests
to be announced soon.
Tickets for the general public will be
limited for the pre-show banquet but plentiful for the live awards show
portion of the program.
Nominees for the NORBAYS have been
submitted by the North Bay
Music Awards Advisory Panel, including such
notables as Bruce Cohn, manager of the Doobie Brothers; Mick Brigdon,
President of Bill Graham Management and manager for Joe Satriani; Dean
Katari, Program
Director of KRSH 95.9FM;
Howard Sapper of Domo Records;
Sheila Groves, booking agent for the Mystic Theater; and dozens of
other prominent people in the local music scene. The nominees will be
published in the April 27, 2005, issue of the North Bay Bohemian and
online at
www.bohemian.com, where the public will be able to vote for the artists nominated.
The
winners will be announced at the first annual NORBAY Awards on Friday,
June 10. The positioning of the Norbay's event as both an insider's
poll and a people's choice award�will create a truly meaningful
celebration of North Bay music and popular culture.
Based in
Sonoma County, Harmony Events is the event production division of the
Association for the Creative Endeavor (ACE), the non-profit
organization that oversees the production of the Harmony Festival,
Spirit of the Holiday Gift Faire, North Bay EcoFest and a variety of
other cultural events throughout the region. The North Bay Bohemian is
the region's leading arts and news publication. For more details and
ticket information visit
www.northbaymusicawards.com or
www.bohemian.com, or call Harmony Events at 707-861-2035.
Tickets
for the general public will be limited for the pre-show banquet but
plentiful for the live awards show. Tickets by phone Inhouse ticketing
866-384-3060,
www.inhouseticketing.comMembers of the North Bay
Music Awards Executive Committee 2005 are:
Sean Ahearn: Director, Harmony Events & Earthdance
Mick Brigdon: President, BGM; Manager, Joe Satriani
Ken Brown: Sonoma City Council; former mayor
Bruce Cohn: Manager, Doobie Brothers
Billy Cohen: Booking agent, Labyrynth Productions and Last Day Saloon
Gretchen Giles: Editor, North Bay Bohemian
Sheila Groves: Director, Notable Talent / Mystic Theater
Frank Hayhurst: Zone
Music & "Musicians Helping Musicians"
Colleen Kennedy: GM, Labyrinth Productions; board Bill Graham Foundation
Buzzy Martin: Director, "Music For Kids At Risk"
Scott McKeown: Director, Harmony Events & Mystic Beat Lounge
Rosemary Olson: Publisher, North Bay Bohemian
Bo Sapper: President, Extraordinaire Media
Morty Wiggins: President,
Bayside Distribution / 33rd Street Records
