The inaugural Key West Music Awards, aka the Iggy Awards, will take place at 7 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 30 at the Key West Theater on Eaton Street.
The nomination committee has completed its job and named the finalists in all 20 categories. The difficult decisions are now in the capable hands of our seven-judge panel whose identities will be revealed at the show. The panel includes six local dignitaries (all of whom have ties to the music scene), and one celebrity judge who also happens to be an award-winning musician. The Iggy Awards will be handed out to the winners during the ceremony, which will also include several live performances and the presentation of a Lifetime Achievement Award and an In Memoriam tribute.
The event is also a fundraiser for Sister Season Fund of Key West. Ray West and I will be your hosts for the evening.
Come on out, walk the red carpet, bid on the silent auction, support your local musicians and Sister Season Fund, and enjoy what is sure to be a fun and memorable evening and an excellent show.
Tickets are available at the theater box office and online at keywestmusicawards.com.
Congratulations to all Iggy Award nominees and finalists. Here are the categories and finalists:
ENTERTAINER OF THE YEAR
Nick Brownell
John Lamere
Oren Polak
COVER BAND OF THE YEAR
The Durtbags
Happy Dog
The Beatle Band
Killer Dudes
SOLO ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Nick Brownell
Ross Brown
Raven Cooper
Zack Seemiller
DUO OF THE YEAR
Shanty Hounds
Raw Dawggs
George Chapman and Caffeine Carl
Coconut Koalas
SONGWRITER OF THE YEAR
Adrienne Z
Lance Taylor
Tony Baltimore
Ericson Holt
RISING STAR
Shastina Chiles
Marshall Morlock
David Warren
Justin Angelo
VOCALIST OF THE YEAR
Michelle Dravis
Kari Wolf
Rob Benton
Marjory Lee
FAN OF THE YEAR
Kim Walsh
Charlie Brumley
Fred Covan
Steve Craigo
FACILITATOR OF THE YEAR
Ralph DePalma
Paul Blatt
Tim Lorber
MENTOR OF THE YEAR
Wayne Sorbelli
Larry Baeder
Joe Dallas
Gary Hernandez
BLUES ARTIST OF THE YEAR
Moose Boles
Andy Westcott
Larry Baeder
Ericson Holt
COUNTRY ACT OF THE YEAR
Nick Brownell
Farewell to Cowboys
C.W. Colt
Nick Norman
REGGAE ACT OF THE YEAR
Massai
Turner Harrison
Lower Keys Reggae Band
Toko Irie
ROCK ACT OF THE YEAR
Caffeine Carl & The Buzz
The Durtbags
Tony Baltimore & The Wilde Awake
R&B/RAP/SOUL ACT OF THE YEAR
Cody Daley D3Lay
Robert Albury
Kim Jade Fry
INSTRUMENTALIST OF THE YEAR
Marty Stonely
Tommy Tangie
Kenny Fradley
Ray West
Ross Brown
SONG OF THE YEAR
“99 Degrees” – Ericson Holt
“Let’s All Go Insane” – Tony Baltimore
“The Otherside” – Adrienne Z
“Coco Plum” – The Coconut Koalas
ALBUM OF THE YEAR
“Don’t Forget Where You Came From” by Gary Hempsey
“99 Degrees” by Ericson Holt
“Ghost on the Highway” by Lance Taylor
“Hear Me In” by Tony Baltimore
