The 24th annual San Diego Music Awards is set to take center stage Oct. 6 at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay. While the event is open to the public, for local musicians it’s the social event of the year, with pretty much every musician of note in town making an appearance at the festivities. Awards in 28 categories will be handed out this night, with the Lifetime Achievement Award going to bluesman Tomcat Courtney and live performances from The Donkeys, Euphoria Brass Band, Joshua White, The Midnight Pine, Robin Henkel Band with Horns featuring Whitney Shay, Todo Mundo and Tribal Theory. Proceeds from the event benefit the San Diego Music Foundation’s Guitars for Schools program, bringing music back in to local classrooms, so even just attending is doing a good deed. But for area musicians nominated, it’s also bit of validation for the previous year’s hard work. “It’s more than an honor,” said Celtic fiddler Patric Petrie, who is nominated in the Best World Music category. “It’s recognition of the thousands of hours we ply at our craft, the years of dedication, the understanding and support of our families and friends and, most of all, recognition and appreciation that we are touching lives with our gift.” For Tolan Shaw, his nomination for Best Singer-Songwriter confirms he’s on the right path. “It serves as an affirmation that the gigging, writing, recording and putting it all out there is paying off a little bit,” he said. “I’m not sure how important it is in terms of the ‘career,’ but it is a nice thing to put on the resume, and I feel blessed to be considered.” Parker Edison, who is among the Best Hip Hop Artist nominees, concurs. “To be nominated means a lot. As artists it’s easy to feel unappreciated,” he said. “So when an organization like the SDMA acknowledges us, it feels great. We’ve dreamed of winning Grammys. So this feels like a step in that direction. Baby steps.” At 16, Best New Artist nominee Cody Lovaas is the youngest of the contenders. “I am passionate about my music and music in general, but I had never thought about awards before my nomination by the SDMA,” he said. “Once I did, I can tell you how special it is to be recognized for something that you are so passionate and give so much to: music.”
Percussionist Nathan Hubbard, a Best Jazz nominee, notes it’s nice to be selected, but just attending the event is fun in and of itself. “It is always nice when any organization recognizes my work,” he said. “I have attended the event before, on years I have been nominated or not,” he said. “I’ve always thought San Diego has been strangely fractured in terms of scenes and genres, but it’s always nice to see so many people from all these different worlds in one spot.”
Chris Biggin, whose band We Are Sirens is also a contender in the Best Alternative Band category, agrees. Biggin was already a well-established musician in his native England when he relocated here in 2010. “It is a great moment for us to know that what we’re doing is well received in San Diego,” he remarked. “Although winning, for us, isn’t important, being able to come to the awards and meet all the awesome musicians is going to be huge for us.”
Stanze Touchie, whose band The Touchies is among of Best Alternative nominees, said he considers being cited alongside his peers to be a great way to introduce his band to new audiences. “It’s always rad to be nominated,” he said. “It comes in handy when you’re telling new non-music people about your band. When you tell them you’ve been nominated for an SDMA, all of a sudden they’re interested. The Touchies even considered where to keep the award on the off-chance the band wins. “It would go on top of our Marshall Amp fridge in our practice studio. It would make those cold beers inside even more satisfying,” he said.
• SAN DIEGO MUSIC AWARDS: Monday, Oct. 6, at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay, 2241 Shelter Island Drive, 7 p.m. www.sandiegomusicawards.com.