Reached at the studio where they are recording their debut album, LiveWire rhythm guitarist and songwriter Danny Bell reacted by saying: “The whole band feels very honored to receive this nomination. I have always believed in this song and its potential to do something. It is a very simple song, and since I wrote it in response to losing my father, it is very personal to me.”
More than 300 exceptional self-released and independent label artists, as well as former major label acts, were named by Music Resource Group (MRG) recently as Nominees in The 11th Annual Independent Music Awards, the influential awards program for independent bands and fans. IMA winners will be promoted to more than 50 million music fans worldwide.
The 11th IMA Nominees are an eclectic mix of established artists and artists on the rise. In addition to LiveWire, other nominees include Bruce Cockburn (Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album), Ellis Marsalis (Concept Album and Cover Song), Girl In A Coma (Indie/Alt. Rock Album and Song), Larry Carlton (Tribute Album), Shawna Russell (Country Album), April Verch (Americana Album and Acoustic Song), Birdie Nam Nam (Dance/Electronica Album and Short-Form Music Video), Melissa Ferrick (Folk/Singer-Songwriter Album and Acoustic Song), RuPaul (Social Action Song), and retro-rock recording artist JD McPherson (Rock/Hard Rock Album).
Representing the broad spectrum of today’s global independent music scene, the Nominees in over 70 Song, Album, Music Video and Design categories were selected from thousands of submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia and Europe.
Winners will be determined by a panel of 77 influential artist and industry judges including Keith Richards, Tom Waits, Kathleen Brennan, Suzanne Vega, Joshua Redman, Tori Amos, Michael Franti, Bettye LaVette, Del McCoury,
Ozzy Osbourne, Shelby Lynne, Alan Light (Live From The Artists Den),
Kevin Lyman (Warped Tour), Bill Bragin (Lincoln Center), Sara Beesley (Joe’s Pub) Chris Diaz (Knitting Factory Entertainment), and Evan Schlansky (American Songwriter) and will be announced in April, 2012.
In addition to industry-determined Winners, music fans from around the world have until Friday, July 20, 2012 to cast their votes for LiveWire and other nominees at The IMA Vox Pop Jukebox to determine the fan-selected IMA Winners.
LiveWire recently released their sophomore single, “Gone (Remix)” to U.S. radio. Both “Gone (Remix)” and “What Makes You A Man” will be included on their forthcoming full-length debut album slated for release on Way Out West Records later this Spring. LiveWire’s first single “Tater Fed,” introduced the group to radio in 2011. “Tater Fed” spent 22 weeks on the MusicRow chart, climbing to #34, and also logged 6 weeks in the Top 5 of the Hotdisc chart in Europe. After signing with Nashville-based Way Out West Records late last year, LiveWire released a benefit single via iTunes entitled “Miracle Of The Human Spirit,” with all proceeds going to help the rebuilding efforts in the band’s hometown of Joplin, Mo., which was devastated by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. A powerful music video for the song mixed FEMA footage from the aftermath of the tornado with performance shots of the band and was directed by Nashville’s Mark Nicolosi (Stealing Angels/Mark Wills). The video provided an International platform for LiveWire to help raise awareness about the ongoing needs in Joplin by gaining airplay on CMT Pure, The Country Network, and GACTV.com, among other outlets.
About the IMAs:
Celebrating the democracy of creativity and meritocracy of talent, The Independent Music Awards honor exceptional independent artists.
For the past 11 years, artists and labels from around the world have found new fans and prominence through The Independent Music Awards. Produced by Music Resource Group, publisher of the popular industry networking database The Musician’s Atlas, and producers of the webTV series, Grooveable Feast, The IMAs uses its unrivaled access to performance, promotion & distribution opportunities to connect Winners and Nominees to new audiences and revenue opportunities.
Winners of The 11th IMAs will receive active promotions, distribution and performance opportunities that will place them in front of 50 million music fans. Artists, managers and labels credit The IMAs with increasing recognition among music fans and industry gatekeepers.
About LiveWire:
Since forming in the mid-90s, LiveWire has forged a reputation as one of the top-draw live acts in the Midwest by regularly packing venues in their home state of Missouri and in the surrounding areas of Oklahoma, Kansas and Arkansas. Along the way, their homegrown talent has taken them across America where they have opened for a “Who’s Who” of the music world, and experienced a brush with the “big time” as finalists in the 2009 Colgate Country Showdown, where they performed on the stage of the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville.
LiveWire features lead singer/acoustic guitarist Andy Eutsler, lead guitarist Bobby DeGonia, drummer Adam Hagerman, fiddle player Cory Shultz, rhythm guitarist Danny Bell and bassist Landon Rolfe. Their unique Ozark Mountain firebrand sound blends working man’s Country and rootsy Southern Rock. Edgy and passionate, their original songs are infused with the kind of lyrical honesty and expert musicianship that can only be forged through years of shared personal experiences and hardships. Themes of the common man resound – it’s music about real life: good times, hard times, poverty, love, loss, family, spirituality, death and redemption.
LiveWire released their debut single “Tater Fed” in May 2011 and a self-titled EP in June of that year. “Tater Fed” climbed both the U.S. and European charts and was supported with a video shot by Nashville director Flick Wiltshire (Jason Sturgeon/Tracy Lawrence). After signing with Nashville-based Way Out West Records late last year, LiveWire released a single via iTunes entitled “Miracle Of The Human Spirit,” with proceeds going to benefit the rebuilding efforts in the band’s hometown of Joplin, MO, which was devastated by an EF-5 tornado on May 22, 2011. The powerful video for the song was directed by Mark Nicolosi (Stealing Angels/Mark Wills) and gave an International platform for LiveWire to help raise awareness about the needs in Joplin by gaining airplay on CMT Pure, The Country Network, and GACTV.com,among other outlets.
LiveWire is currently in the studio recording their full-length debut album slated for release in Spring 2012.
About Way Out West Records:
Way Out West Records Nashville is an independent label founded on the principals of nurturing creativity and artistry thru long-term development and marketing strategies. Founded by music industry veteran, Clif Doyal, along with partner and flagship artist Shawna Russell, Tim Russell and Oklahoma businessman RA “Rick” Sellers, Way Out West has released two critically acclaimed albums by Russell and promoted her brand globally since 2008, charting several singles on the MusicRow, Billboard “New and Active,” and Texas Music charts, and internationally on Hotdisc and the New Christian Music charts. Russell’s videos have received widespread airplay at TCN, Yallwire, GACTV.com and CMT.com, among others. With the recent addition of radio promotion veteran Mike Severson, whose resume includes stops at MCA, Midas, All Access and Rounder, and outsourced support teams of radio, video and digital promotions, Way Out West has expanded their footprint and roster to include the rising Country band LiveWire, who have charted singles in both the U.S. and Europe and to-date have released two well-received videos.
