This year’s UMA will be hosted by local poet and musician Moody Black who just happened to take home the Artist of the Year trophy at last year’s event. Besides the award presentations, there will be live performances by the likes of Ill Intentions, Darby Wilcox & the Peep Show, Lo Indigo, Perfect Suit, Quality Time, and Curfue just to hammer home the fact that the Upstate music scene is rich in local talent. All of these artists are amazing and Darby Wilcox is a long-time personal friend but I do just have to say here that if you have never heard me sing the praises of Lo Indigo or Ill Intentions, then we have probably never actually met. This lineup is bonkers and I cannot wait to see it come together live.
The Finalists
I have heaped a ton of praise on the UMA nominees in this space before but here is where it gets real. Popular votes and critics choice came together to decide the five most deserving artists in each of 14 categories covering all aspects of the local music scene. Sure, we expect awards for best albums, acts, and videos but the UMA’s cast a net that includes photographers, sound engineers, and just solid supporters of the local scene. It is a wonderfully talented group of artists and humans and one should definitely familiarize themselves with every name on the list. Skip to the end to see the names for yourself…