This year marks a milestone for the Vancouver Island Music Awards (VIMAs), which will celebrate their 10th anniversary in 2014.
Now is the time to become part of the excitement, as the VIMAs are now accepting submissions from Vancouver Island musicians aged 10 to adult in all music styles.
This year’s theme is The Song, and the award categories reflect this theme.
Categories include: Vocal Performance of the Year, Music Video of the Year, Live Act of the Year, Youth Song of the Year, Roots/Folk/Country Song of the Year, Blues Song of the Year, Jazz Song of the Year, Pop Song of the Year, Rock Song of the Year, Hard Rock/Metal Song of the Year, World Music Song of the Year, and Children’s Music Song of the Year.
All information about what and how to submit can be found online. Submissions must be received no later than 5 p.m. Sept. 30.
Eligible artists must be current Vancouver Island residents whose album was released during 2012 or 2013. A recording nominated in a previous year may not be nominated the following year, but a non-nominated recording submitted the previous year may be submitted a second consecutive year.
Nominees will be announced in late October, and the gala to announce the winners (and showcase many performances by nominees) will be held in March in Victoria. Nominee Showcases will be held leading up to the March ceremony.
For more information, e-mail James Kasper at vima@jameskasper.com.
The Island Artist of the Year winners for the past three years were Victoria’s Steph Macpherson, Ladysmith’s Ryan McMahon and Courtenay’s Helen Austin.