2008 Woodie Awards
Delaware musicians get a taste of the red carpet
Kendall Roy
Issue date: 4/17/07 Section: Mosaic
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That certainly was the anticipated question for more than 40 local original bands and music gurus who gathered together at the Ruddertowne Complex at Dewey Beach this past weekend. The event not only promised a night of free performances by Delaware's musicians, but a chance to see which bands would win the honors of Delaware's first-ever music awards ceremony - The Delaware Music Awards.
The Delaware Music Festival has taken place over the past five years as a traditional kick-off to a series of festivals that occur all summer long in Dewey. However, this is the first year that many of the bands who come out year after year were recognized for their achievements by people of the "know how" in the music business.
Vikki Walls, entertainment director, festival coordinator, talent buyer and idea originator of the DMA's, has been working with bands for more than 18 years. She realized that too often local bands' efforts go unnoticed and decided to help them out.
"I've been in the business a long time and I figured nobody's ever done it - had a Delaware music awards or an award ceremony where local bands are actually presented an award," Walls says. "Nor were the people who voted for them music industry professionals as opposed to fan-based driven awards where it's like a popularity contest."
Spark magazine teamed up with Highway One, a company owned by Alex Pires that owns and operates most of Dewey's bars and restaurants, to help plan and put together the event.
Avie Blau, senior sales representative for Spark, says the magazine became involved because of its appreciation for Delaware music and artists.
"It's to support local original bands in the area," Blau says. "All the bands nominated are really talented. So we're going to give them their own version of the Grammy's."
Inspired by the elaborate Grammy style performance motif, four stages were reserved at the Rusty Rudder - two inside and two outside for the approximately 40 bands and musicians to perform live, beginning last Friday at 7 p.m. Special arrangements were made to have the outside deck tented and heated to accommodate the performers and guests.
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