Local bands will get a chance to expose their talent to the community and at the same time keep local music alive and well this Sunday, Harry Klein, owner of 2nd Chance said.

By Gus Bode

2nd Chance, a record store at 214 W. Freeman, along with Sound Core, 122 S. Illinois Ave. and Detours, 760 E. Grand Ave., have teamed up to present the second annual Southern Illinois Music Awards.

For the past few weeks, music fans have been given the chance to vote for their top pick in such categories as best drummer, guitarist, keyboardist, soloist, bassist and best new band. The competition is limited to bands with record material that has been released, Joe Castrejon, a Sound Core representative, said.

Six area bands:Rapture, Kodiak, Organic Rain, Slappin’ Henry Blue, Nitro Junior and the Gordons will perform at the ceremonies.

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After each act, local radio personalities such as WCIL’s John Riley and Z100’s Scott Cox will present awards. Only three awards will be presented at a time until all 13 have been given out.

Local music goes in phases, Klein said. Sometimes it goes strong. Other times it fizzles out. This is one way to keep it strong.

In choosing bands to play at the ceremony, the emphasis was on bands with current releases, he said.

We try to keep current, he said. And we also try to pick bands that you normally don’t get a chance to see.

Along with the local celebrities and the bands, there will be a mystery guest who is very special, Castrejon said. He would not release the name, but he did say that the person was a living legend.

WSIU (91.9 FM) will broadcast the entire show live. Also, WSIU television will tape and broadcast the ceremony as part of the station’s student performance series which will be aired at a later date.

This is the first time that an event of this type has been captured on video at Detours, Frank Arokiasamy, part owner of Detours, said.

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We have shot a video in the bar, but this is something we have never done before, Arokiasamy said. It is exciting for us.

Kodiak, Organic Rain, Rapture, Slappin’ Henry Blue, Nitro Junior and Gordons will play Sunday Feb. 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at Detours, 760 E. Grand Ave. Admission is $5.

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