Annual Texas Music Awards kick off Sat.

The 12th annual Texas Music Awards will be Saturday, March 22, at the Texas Music Barn at 301 E. Houston St.
This will be the sixth show in Linden, as the city was host in 2006 and 2007 prior to being named as the permanent home in 2011.
 The Academy of Texas Music World Headquarters Building, still under renovation by volunteers, is now the permanent home of the annual show, which is not only a high energy awards presentation show, but is the major fundraising event each year for the non-profit Academy. 
The funds raised are used to further the Academy’s efforts toward music education programs, scholarships, recognition projects and benevolence programs for musicians in need.
The show’s director, Lucky Boyd states, “We want the community to be able to enjoy the events at the Barn, so we just finished installing our new ramp which allows entry without negotiating those famous stairs.”
 The show, presented by Northeast Texas-based MyTexasMusic.com, the retail partner of the show’s production company, Payline Productions, presents awards to independent Texas performers in more than a dozen categories.
Jinelle Boyd, Executive Director of the Academy of Texas Music, Inc. and co-founder of the Texas Music Awards remarks on the quality of the show, “The level of talent this year is amazing. It is unfortunate that 80 percent of the nominees will go home without an award, as only one in five can receive the crown.”
Boyd says the seating capacity in the Academy building has been increased but is still quite small.
 Therefore the show will be presented in three segments starting at noon, 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
The after party will be held at The Franchise, in Jefferson.
The after party will start at 6 p.m. and will continue until closing.
Five different acts will perform at the after party.
The Academy building, when finished, will house a concert hall, a gift shop, a small museum and library devoted to Texas music, a recording studio, a rehearsal hall, and lodging for touring musicians.
There will also be an interactive training space in the venue that will benefit the community in many ways, Boyd said.
Tickets are available at the door for $10 per segment.
A list of perfrmances and awrds presentations are below.
The day’s schedule:

SEGMENT ONE EVENTS
Jason Helms Band
Song of the Year
Female Vocalist of the Year
Cody Joe Hodges
Producer of the Year
Emily Grace Berry and Freddie Steady Krc
Vocal Group of the Year
Ben Morris and The Great American Boxcar Chorus
Founders Award
Season Ammons and Jesse Brand
Vocal Duo of the Year
Luke Adair and The Big Bills

SEGMENT  TWO  EVENTS
Mark Allan Atwood and Brimstone
Disc Jockey of the Year
Singer/Songwriter of the Year
Brennen Leigh and Noel McKay
Album of the Year
Jeremy Phifer
Founders Award
Rising Star Award
Jack Saunders and Danny Everitt
Broadcast Radio Station of the Year
Amanda Mora
Musician of the Year
Push Water

SEGMENT THREE EVENTS
Sean Franks and Aubrey Lynn England
Male Vocalist of the Year
Live Band of the Year
Founders Award
Record of the Year
Wally West and Them Lostbound Souls
Popular Cover Award
Founders Award
Emily Herring
Entertainer of the Year
Scott Taylor Band