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One Guy’s Rambling Thoughts… |
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TOM’S SOAPBOX
IT’S AWARDS TIME
by Tom Lounges / Publisher & Editor
WOW! It is hard to believe how fast time has been flying by lately.
The Region Rumble has come and gone and now it’s time once again for the annual Midwest BEAT Regional Music Awards.
The gala event takes place on Saturday, March 18th at 2nd Dimension Night Club in Schererville, Indiana. Because this is a special event that is jam packed with things going on, it has an EARLY START TIME of 9pm sharp. So do not come out too late, or you just might not find a good seat or find any food left.
This is the time of year when we, as the area’s longest-running local music publication, pause to salute and honor the hard work and talent put forth all year by the many musical artists who populate our area.
Since starting these award presentations back in the mid-1990s, the evening has grown every year and now includes a free hot and cold food buffet from 9-10pm for those who come out early.
In the past, I have over bought and the buffet table has stayed open for some time past the planned one hour, so please feel free to indulge yourself on the four kinds of Subway Sandwiches, the wide array of great pizza pies brought in by our new sponsor, Hungry Howie’s Pizza, the fried chicken and many side dishes, munchies and yummy dessert tray (courtesy of Night Rock Radio).
Aside from presenting awards to the artists that you the readership of this publication voted for via our annual Reader’s Poll ballots, I also present a handful of “Publisher’s Awards” to artists that myself and a few key contributors to our pages feel are deserving.
These include our “Shining Star Award” for the new original music artist that we feel is the most promising and has great potential (this year it is Lying Delilah a great jazz/pop trio). There are also the “Four Star Award” (going to Josh Holmes), the “Midwest Pride Award” (going to Nicole Jamrose) and others, including our “Lifetime Contribution Award” and “Friend To Local Music Award” – but I am NOT going to tell you who gets those. Come out and see!
The award presentations take place around the 11pm hour during the intermission between our featured live performers. And this year is certainly one of our best live line-ups yet!
Opening up the stage with music at 9:15 sharp will be veteran ‘70s rockers, Dyllyngyr (pronounced ‘Dillinger’), giving their first ever unplugged concert.
My history with this great group goes back to my years at the Pointe East and with Night Rock News when I was just starting out in the music biz.
Dyllyngyr – who opened shows for the likes of Rick Derringer, Ronnie Montrose, Angel City, Humble Pie and many other headliners of the ‘70s era – recently reunited and are soon to record a new album of original music.
I’ve heard some of their new tunes and I am excited to be able to feature this talented quartet in their first ever unplugged concert with this great new material (and a few old Dyllyngyr originals too!).
Following Dyllyngyr will be current club and concert hall favorites, Stellar Road (last year’s “Band of The Year”), History’s End (a past “Cover Band of The Year” for three consecutive years) and one of the region’s most popular classic rock bands, Mr. Funnyman.
Thanks to all of you readers who took the time to fill out and spent the 37¢ to mail in your 2005 Reader’s Poll ballot forms that were published in our December/January issue.
Special thanks to Jan Watson, our long-time calligrapher who does each and every award certificate by hand.
Also a big round of thanks to Hungry Howies Pizza in Schererville and Valparaiso, Subway of Hammond, Night Rock for helping me feed the multitudes.
And to the hard working staff of the Midwest BEAT live event crew who make this event run like a well oiled machine – my wife Julie, my mother-in-law Debbie Nieto, my best friends and event assistants Hegewisch Lisa Sotiros and Joey Rega, the world’s greatest doorman, Craig Herron, the wild man of region rock – Phil Carmen of History’s End – for his continued support and backline use, all the great bands who are taking time to perform live this year, and 2nd Dimension owner, Brian Gallas who allows us the use of his night club each year for this event.
Tom Lounges spins Region Rock on his Night Rock radio Show every Sunday evening from 6-9pm on X-ROCK 103.9 then stay tuned for Tom’s historical journey to the glory days of the classic rock with the “Night Rock 9 O’Clock Spotlight Album of The Week”.
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