PRESS RELEASE

- For Immediate Release -  June 28, 2011

Payline Productions / MyTexasMusic.com / Academy of Texas Music, Inc.
8th annual Academy of Texas Music Awards
The Academy of Texas Music, Inc. is a 501(c)3 public charity
P.O. Box 148
Linden, Texas 75563
Contacts:  Lucky Boyd – Jinelle Gibson Boyd  - 1-866-49-TEXAS  info@texasmusicawards.org 

Show time in Linden

LINDEN, TX – The 9th annual Texas Music Awards are returning to Linden, and will be held Saturday, July 9th, at the partially renovated Academy of Texas Music Building.

The Academy of Texas Music World Headquarters Building, currently under renovation at 301 E. Houston in Linden, is expected to be the permanent home of the annual show, which is not only a high energy awards presentation show, but is the major fundraising event each year for the non-profit Academy.  The funds raised are used to further the Academy's efforts toward music education programs, scholarships, recognition projects, and benevolence programs for musicians in need.

Many people know the building as the old Methodist Church and the building has been vacant for a number of years, but the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. acquired the building in late 2009 in an agreement with the Cass County Conservancy for the specific purpose of creating a destination for Texas music fans.

"We want the community to be involved because we know how much it will benefit Linden's eventual goals of becoming a major musical marketplace.  The building, however, will belong to all of Texas and we know that Texas musicians and fans alike from all over the state will be involved in the exciting growth process."

The show, presented by Northeast Texas-based MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the show’s production company, Payline Productions, presents awards to independent Texas performers in several categories.

Jinelle Boyd, Executive Director of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. and co-founder of the Texas Music Awards remarks on the quality of the show, ”We were faced with not having a show this year due to the economy and other factors.  But, we felt the nominees deserved the best show we could give them, even if it meant putting it all in a small space like the Academy building."

Boyd says the seating capacity in the Academy building is quite a bit smaller than any other venue from the past shows, but there are ways around that obstacle, including presenting the show in segments during an all day event.

This year's event will also be expanded to include free events surrounding the awards show.  There will be free concerts inside the Tin Star Steakhouse, 115 E. Houston, from noon until 6:00 p.m.  Additionally, the free after party will be held at Auntie Skinner's Riverboat Club, 107 W. Austin, in Jefferson, Texas.  The after party will start at 3:00 p.m. for those who do not attend all three segments of the awards show, and will continue until 1:00 a.m.

The merchandise area will be inside the Payline Production offices at 119 E. Houston, formerly known as the Tanner's Mercantile building.  Fans can purchase tickets to the show, souvenirs, and music by the award nominees.

The Academy building, when finished, will house a concert hall, a gift shop, a small museum and library devoted to Texas music, a recording studio, a rehearsal hall, and lodging for touring musicians.  There will also be an interactive training space in the venue that will benefit the community in many ways, Boyd said.

The day's events:

Tin Star Stage
Inside the Tin Star Steakhouse
115 E. Houston
Linden, Texas

12:00 pm - 12:45 pm  Tim Nichols, Thomas Michael Riley
1:00 pm - 1:45 pm  Jeremy Parsons, Mike Siler
2:00 pm - 2:45 pm  Aaron Wendt, Joe Honea
3:00 pm - 3:45 pm  Tom Tranchilla, Buddy Allen
4:00 pm - 4:45 pm  Tommy Elskes
5:00 pm - 5:45 pm  Open stage

The Academy Hall
At The Academy of Texas Music building
301 E. Houston
Linden, Texas

Segment One
12:00 noon
Musical Honors Memorial Award
Performance by Ben Morris and the Great American Boxcar Chorus
Disc Jockey Award
Record Award
Performance by Bob Cheevers and Mandy Mercier
Rising Star Award
Historical Significance Award
Performance by Dimitri’s Rail
Male Vocalist Award
Gone To Texas Award
Performance by Dennis Davis
Singer/Songwriter Award
Academy Award of Distinction
Performance by Backseat Molly

Segment Two
2:00 pm
Lifetime Achievement Award
Performance by Jeremiah Houston Band
Live Band Award
Broadcast Radio Award
Performance by Tommy Elskes
Song Award
Palmwood Award
Performance Christen Sawyer and the Seth Candan Band
Musical Event Award
Performance by 2-Bit Palomino
Duo or Group Award
Female Vocalist Award
Performance by David Fenley

Segment Three
4:00 pm
Lifetime Achievement Award
Performance by Chris Miller Band
Album Award
Carl T. Sprague Award
Performance by Bo Porter
Musician Award
Producer Award
Performance by Libby Koch
Artistic Excellence Award
MyTexan Award
Performance by Mark Searcy Band featuring Rick Boss
Internet Radio Award
Entertainer Award
Performance by Bob Livingston Trio
Performance by Shake Russell

The After Party
At Auntie Skinner’s Riverboat Club
107 West Austin
Jefferson, Texas
Full band performances

3:00 pm – 4:30 pm Jason Marbach Band
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm Robby White Band
7:30 pm – 9:30 pm Clint Martin Band
10:00 pm – 1:00 am Push Water Band

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