NAMA expands to form rockIT Music Week

For the past 15 years, the folks at the Northwest Arkansas Music Awards have hosted an evening of awards to celebrate the local music scene.

This year, the event is expanding into the first ever rockIT Music Week, a week-long festival featuring six local music showcases and an educational workshop on the music business.

The festival will kick off with a proclamation by Mayor Lioneld Jordan on Monday, April 25. The first showcases during the event begin at Greenhouse Grille and Common Grounds on Wednesday, April 27.

Workshops scheduled for Saturday, April 30 include panels on recording, promotion, record labels, booking, and an overview on what it takes to be a performer in the music industry.

Cost to attend the workshop is $20 before April 20, and $25 after that.

Included below is the full schedule of showcase events, as well as schedules and descriptions of the panels included in the workshop.

Event poster

Showcase Schedule

Wednesday April 27
Greenhouse Grille: Sarah Hughes
Common Grounds: DJ Soulfree

Thursday April 28
George’s Majestic Lounge: Northwest Arkansas Music Awards

Friday April 29
George’s Majestic Lounge: Benjamin Del Shreve, A Good Fight, Silverstone, Rocker Lips, Earl & Them with Earl Cate
Greenhouse Grille: Drew Packard & The Second Spillway
Smoke and Barrel: Messy Sparkles, Voyager

Saturday April 30
Smoke and Barrel: Sarah Hughes & Guests

rockIT Music Workshop

Saturday, April 30, 2011
Cosmopolitan Hotel

10 – 11 a.m.: Know-It: Music 101. Overview of what it takes to become a performer, songwriter, organize a band. Are you doing it for fun or business? The good, the bad, the ugly.

11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.: Record-It: Studio ABC’s. Be prepared. What to know before you go. Finding a studio that’s a fit. What questions to ask.

12-1 p.m.: Lunch break – On your own.

1 – 1:45 p.m. Sell-It: PR & Promotion. How to build your fanbase and get them to your gig. Internet, print, other.

2 – 2:45 p.m.: Sign-It: Labels. How it works and what to know. Should you DIY?

3 – 3:45 p.m.: Book-It: Meet the local booking agents