Local music industry invited to Dec. 9 RAMI Christmas Party

From press release

Rockford Area Music Industry (RAMI), The Rock River Times (TRRT), LaMonica Beverages and Giovanni’s are inviting all musicians, technicians, media, booking agents and venue operators to a Christmas Party from 6 to 9 p.m., Thursday, Dec. 9, at Big Al’s, 610 N. Bell School Road.

You must be a member of the RAMI Musicians Organization to attend the event. If you are not a member, you can join at the door for $10 for one year and $15 for two years, per person. Venue operators may join at $20 per year.

Free appetizers will be served at the Christmas Party.

RAMI nominations, voting and categories

Changes were made by the Nominations and Voting Committee allowing only the members of the RAMI Musicians Organization to vote for their peers, with the use of their membership number. The new rules and regulations are available at ramiawards.com.

Nominees are not required to be a member of the RAMI Musicians Organization and will be accepted until Dec. 31. Voting starts Feb. 1, 2011, and ends March 15, 2011. Nominations can be made online at ramiawards.com or can be mailed to RAMI, P.O. Box 4128, Rockford, IL 61110.

The Nominations and Voting Committee will announce the following award winners:

→ Technicians’ awards: Lighting Technician, Live Sound Engineer, Recording Studio, Stage Manager, Studio Sound Engineer and Stage Hand/Riggers.

→ Contemporary Jazz—Artist to perform 50 percent original music

→ Traditional Jazz—Artist performs primarily cover material

→ Choral Group

→ Christian/Gospel—Cover/original music

→ Cabaret Broadway and Special Musical Event Awards

→ Classical Ensemble

→ Classical Instrumentalist

→ Acoustic Rock/Folk—Cover/original music

→ Latino—Cover/Original music

→ World Music

→ Country/Bluegrass—Cover/original music

→ Funk/R & B—Cover/original music

→ Blues—Cover/original music

→ Indie/Alternative—Cover/original music

→ Tribute Band—Cover only

→ Oldies/Classic Rock—Cover only

→ Hard Rock/Metal—Cover/original music

→ Rap/Hip Hop—Cover/original music

→ Contemporary Rock—Cover/original music

→ Pop—Cover/original music

→ DJ—Candidate must perform either solo or as part of a group by incorporating his or her original mixes, samples, loops, beats and scratches.

→ Female Lead Vocalist—The award will be based on individual performance from the CD/DVD submission.

→ Male Lead Vocalist—The award will be based on individual performance from the CD/DVD submission.

→ New Act—Cover/originals

People’s Choice Awards include the following categories:

→ Artist of the Year—Anyone can submit and can include Hall of Fame bands, cover and originals.

→ Favorite Radio Station

→ Favorite Music Venue

Recording nominations

Nominations in the category of Song, Album and Composer will be accepted until Jan. 31, 2011.

Hall of Fame, Lifetime Achievement, Community Service/Outreach, Outstanding Achievement and In Memoriam category definitions can be located on ramiawards.com.

For more information, call (815) 874-8228 or (815) 546-3021.

From the Dec. 1-7, 2010 issue