For the 14th year in a row, it's time to celebrate the sounds of the Motor City -- no, not engines running and horns beeping down Woodward, but the art that has kept Detroit on the map as one of the world's best musical cities.
The sights and sounds will be on display this weekend at the State Theater when the 2004 Detroit Music Awards, a commemoration and one hell of a kickin' party, highlights the last 365 days in Motown.
Presented by the Motor City Music Foundation, the annual event will not only hand out honors to the community's brightest talents, but also will feature nine performances and serve as a who's who of the local music scene.
"I'm excited; we're expecting a great turnout and diverse performances," said Howard Hertz, president of the MCMF. "It gives an opportunity to promote Detroit music not only nationally, but internationally."
Hertz, in his third year as leader of the foundation, said the variety of performances are a focus for this year's show, with more than six genres being represented. Included on the bill is Slum Village, a hip-hop artist signed to Capitol Records, and Columbia Records gospel group Ramiyah.
"What we try to do is not only celebrate those acts that have had commercial success, but to give a boost to those up-and-coming acts that show the diversity of Detroit," Hertz added.
Gary Graff, music writer for The Oakland Press and co-founder of the MCMF, said recent momentum in the area's musical reputation has aided the development of the show.
"What's been nice about the last few years is how strong the Detroit music scene has been," said Graff, a veteran critic with exceptional expertise. "There's a lot more at stake to make this a high-quality music awards show."
Another anticipated performance is a tribute to the Butler Twins, a Detroit-based blues duo that saw its principal members, brothers Clarence and Curtis, both die in the last year. According to Hertz, a local all-star blues jam is planned to play in the Butlers' memory.
"That's going to be fantastic," he said.
"We want a representative sampling of the music in the area," Graff added. "We try and do things that are special only to the music awards."
And then, of course, there's the awards themselves -- the true reason for the evening. The nominees are ready for the action, but for the most part, they are just thankful to be involved.
Liz Larin, a singer/songwriter from Warren, was the star of the 2003 awards, winning six out of the 10 nominations via the acclaimed record The Story of O-Miz. Larin said she's "absolutely thrilled" to be nominated again this year.
"I'm really happy to be Detroit-based," said Larin, nominated for such awards as outstanding pop/rock artist and best acoustic songwriter. "I have so much respect for so many people who play here in town.
"It's really nice that Detroit recognizes that they have a good music scene."
Larin, who will release a new album Sept. 21, agrees that the excellence of the current local scene enhances the evening's significance.
"This is a very healthy time," she said. "There's so much going on. There's a real exchange of information. Everybody's working together in a lot of ways. This is a very fertile city for nurturing musical ideas.
"This is a really great time, and it shows musically."
Downriver rocker Ray Street Park, gaining notoriety for its Red Wings' fight song "Lie Down 2004 (Red Wing Re-Mix)," is up for outstanding live performance.
"We as a band takegreat pride in being entertaining live performers," said Terry Alan Martin, bassist for RSP. "Having our efforts recognized on this level is just a tremendous feeling for all of us.
"This is a culmination of a year's worth of heavy gigging all over Detroit."
For another Downriver group, Super Model-T, it only took one release, the debut Something for Your Misery, to be considered for best pop/rock recording.
"We're extremely excited about it," vocalist Art Peitsch said. "For our first album, this is more than we ever expected. We're very honored."
"It's more than we could've asked for," guitarist Jeffery Halicki of Trenton added.
Halicki said his Downriver background was a factor musically.
"I think Downriver is a very tightly knit community … (it's) an excellent community," he said. "There's a great bunch of groups here."
It will be the second DMAs for Peitsch, who is looking forward to going through the evening again.
"It's a big party, just a bunch of cool people getting together," he said. "It's just a fun, enthusiastic atmosphere."
Michael Gurry, guitarist for outstanding pop/rock group nominee The Syndicate, also is anxious to experience the music awards.
"I'm looking forward to attending the awards show since I've never been to one before," Gurry said. "It feels good to have enough people in the music community recognize something that I and my bandmates have been a part of.
"Regardless of whether we win the award, I'm happy to be nominated."
One of Gurry's primary collaborators is vocalist Amy Heard, who this year is nominated for seven awards in categories from folk/acoustic to Christian gospel.
"It's going to help me tremendously," Heard said. "This is going to look awesome on my bio. That's going to give me a lot more credibility."
Heard, currently working on her follow-up Meant to Be, also said the event is cool because it recognizes the too-often overlooked local music scene.
"I think it's great," she said. "Sometimes I think Detroit doesn't get enough credit. I think people forget how awesome it is. I can't wait."
Aside from the foundation, the evening wouldn't be possible without loyal members of the music kinship and lots of volunteer support.
"The participation from the music community has grown," said Hertz, adding that the more than 600 voters was the most the show has ever had.
"We have the most extensive and democratic voting process out of any (local) awards show in the country," Graff added.
"It blows me away that it's all volunteers that put on the Music Awards," Larin said. "I think that helps to keep the music scene kind of vital."
Win or lose, the artists are mostly looking forward to seeing old friends and fellow musicians.
"It gives the whole music community a chance to come together, not only to honor those who receive awards but to network (and) have a good time," Hertz said. "There are a lot of interesting people there."
"I think it's important," Peitsch said. "It gives a forum for the musicians to come together. It's just nice to get everyone in one place."
Larin said it is "a night to touch base with a lot of people."
"It's another year that we all continue to do what we love," she said. "It shows that we have a healthy city when we support art and culture. The music awards is one of those ways."
The Detroit Music Awards will take place at 7 p.m. Friday, April 23, at the State Theater, 2115 Woodward Ave. Also scheduled to appear are Forge, The Wrenfields, Man and The Dollfaces. For more information, visit detroitmusicawards.com.
Contact Go&Do Editor Nick Brandon at 1-734-246-0861 or at Nick@goanddodownriver.com.
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