Northwest Arkansas Music Awards crowns winners
Brian Washburn
Issue date: 4/28/08 Section: Life & Style
Winners were crowned and torches were passed Thursday as Dickson Theater was jam packed for the 13th annual Northwest Arkansas Music Awards.
The event featured many prominent and up-and-coming local musicians who were dressed up and dressed down for the local version of the Grammys.
"It's good to be here with some good-looking people and a good-looking crowd," said Wing and a Prayer drummer David Fryauf, who was nominated with his band for Best None of the Above band. "The extravagance of the event is second to none. It's not overwhelming, but it's very nice. This is my first time here and everything is pretty cool."
As the night went on, everything got much cooler for Fayetteville rock musician Benjamin Del Shreve, who walked away with the night's top awards, including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and tying for Pop Rock Band of the Year with local rock band Apartment 5.
"It's really cool to be good enough to be nominated by the committee," Del Shreve said before the awards ceremony. "I really want to take home the Record of the Year award most because of my band. They really bled more for this record than anything else and I think we deserve this one."
This is a huge increase in NAMA awards for Del Shreve, who won his first NAMA at last year's ceremony.
"This year's ceremony is so much cooler," Del Shreve said. "Last year I came and I didn't know many bands, but this year it's like we're the senior class and I get to go around and talk to a bunch of my pals. It just feels like Christmas."
Del Shreve also took the stage that night to perform a couple of songs. Other performers included Luda, The Pope County Bootleggers, the Memphis Pencils and One Oz. Jig, whose vocalist, Jeff Kearney, took home the award for Best Male Singer/Songwriter.
Another multiple NAMA winner Thursday night was female vocalist Sarah Hughes, who won both the Singer/Songwriter Female award and the award for Best Roots/Americana band. Other winners of the night included Leah Spears for Best Female Vocalist, The Radio Sky for Best Indie/Underground/Ambient Band, Maud Crawford for Best Power Rock and Southern Rock band, Wrought for Best Metal/Hard Rock band, Eoff Brothers for Best Rock/R&B/Blues band, Joseph Israel for Best Jam/World Music, Matt Smith Trio for Best Jazz band, Fayetteville Funk Ensemble for Best Electronic/Groove band, and Six Hung Sprung for Best None of the Above band. A Good Fight received Best New Band and local recording studio, The Listen Lab, received the honor of being named Best Producer or Studio.
Apart from the main awards, three Hall of Fame awards were given out to Effron White, the Flipoff Pirates, and Ocie Fisher and the Hipp Dogs. Along with the Hall of Fame awards, NAMA gave out its Lifetime Achievement award to Fayetteville blues legend Joe Giles.
Even though not every musician came home with a NAMA for the night, from the look of things, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
"It's all about the music," said Zach Pittman, guitarist for Wing and a Prayer. "It's all about the fans and the people who are coming out to the NAMAs. This is a great event and a great happening... everybody having a good time is what it's all about and just appreciating it all."
The event featured many prominent and up-and-coming local musicians who were dressed up and dressed down for the local version of the Grammys.
"It's good to be here with some good-looking people and a good-looking crowd," said Wing and a Prayer drummer David Fryauf, who was nominated with his band for Best None of the Above band. "The extravagance of the event is second to none. It's not overwhelming, but it's very nice. This is my first time here and everything is pretty cool."
As the night went on, everything got much cooler for Fayetteville rock musician Benjamin Del Shreve, who walked away with the night's top awards, including Band of the Year, Album of the Year, Male Vocalist of the Year and tying for Pop Rock Band of the Year with local rock band Apartment 5.
"It's really cool to be good enough to be nominated by the committee," Del Shreve said before the awards ceremony. "I really want to take home the Record of the Year award most because of my band. They really bled more for this record than anything else and I think we deserve this one."
This is a huge increase in NAMA awards for Del Shreve, who won his first NAMA at last year's ceremony.
"This year's ceremony is so much cooler," Del Shreve said. "Last year I came and I didn't know many bands, but this year it's like we're the senior class and I get to go around and talk to a bunch of my pals. It just feels like Christmas."
Del Shreve also took the stage that night to perform a couple of songs. Other performers included Luda, The Pope County Bootleggers, the Memphis Pencils and One Oz. Jig, whose vocalist, Jeff Kearney, took home the award for Best Male Singer/Songwriter.
Another multiple NAMA winner Thursday night was female vocalist Sarah Hughes, who won both the Singer/Songwriter Female award and the award for Best Roots/Americana band. Other winners of the night included Leah Spears for Best Female Vocalist, The Radio Sky for Best Indie/Underground/Ambient Band, Maud Crawford for Best Power Rock and Southern Rock band, Wrought for Best Metal/Hard Rock band, Eoff Brothers for Best Rock/R&B/Blues band, Joseph Israel for Best Jam/World Music, Matt Smith Trio for Best Jazz band, Fayetteville Funk Ensemble for Best Electronic/Groove band, and Six Hung Sprung for Best None of the Above band. A Good Fight received Best New Band and local recording studio, The Listen Lab, received the honor of being named Best Producer or Studio.
Apart from the main awards, three Hall of Fame awards were given out to Effron White, the Flipoff Pirates, and Ocie Fisher and the Hipp Dogs. Along with the Hall of Fame awards, NAMA gave out its Lifetime Achievement award to Fayetteville blues legend Joe Giles.
Even though not every musician came home with a NAMA for the night, from the look of things, everyone seemed to be having a good time.
"It's all about the music," said Zach Pittman, guitarist for Wing and a Prayer. "It's all about the fans and the people who are coming out to the NAMAs. This is a great event and a great happening... everybody having a good time is what it's all about and just appreciating it all."
Be the first to comment on this story