Calling all New Mexico bands - the 2003 NM Showcase entry deadline is this Saturday.
Showcase producer Michael Feferman established the event two years ago in an effort to get people excited about local musicians. Feferman, who had been living on the East Coast for six years, made his way back to New Mexico and wanted to check out the local music scene.
That's when he realized there wasn't much of one.
Great New Mexico bands and local venues existed, but weren't being promoted Fefermen said. He figured if he was having a hard time trying to uncover the scene, it must have been just as difficult for people in the community.
Thus, the NM Showcase was born. According to the event's Web site, "the Showcase is designed to spur interest in a local live music scene by creating a high-profile event that provides the public with concentrated access to performances by the best original bands in New Mexico."
This year Feferman is teaming up with Transmission Magazine's Steve Maes in an attempt to "take it a step up and make it a true showcase," Feferman said.
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The 2003 Showcase, which will take place in late October, will offer fans a chance to see 45 local bands performing over two weekends.
Instead of choosing only one winner as in previous years, five finalists will be chosen from different musical categories. Each of the five finalists will receive prizes, including studio time from Stepbridge Studios, a CD production package from Rolling R Productions and gift certificates to various music stores.
Categories will not be created until all entries are received.
"We don't want to force bands into categories, we want to create categories based on the submissions we get," Feferman said.
Maes added that Showcase representatives are looking for musical genres from across the spectrum.
"We'd like to see everything from singer/songwriter, to folk, to rap. This isn't only about rock music," he said.
All entries will be judged by local music "experts" and will be evaluated according to the following criteria: creativity, musicianship, artistic power and overall impression. The top 45 entries will go on to perform in the Showcase and will be evaluated by the same criteria, with an additional consideration for the band's stage presence.
Past winners of the event include Left Unsaid in 2002, which was about to break up and decided to enter the Showcase as the group's final performance. The band did so well that the members decided to stay together and since winning the Showcase, have had regular airplay on KTEG the Edge and have been in contact with a number of major record labels.
In 2001, there was a tie between Stoic Frame and Panjea and both bands have gone on to have further successes.
The Showcase is a statewide event with about 70 percent of the entries coming from Albuquerque and the other 30 percent coming from around New Mexico. In the future, Feferman and Maes would like to see an expansion of the event to include other states.
"We'd love to see Albuquerque as the musical center of the Southwest," Feferman said.
Entries for the 2003 NM Showcase must be postmarked by June 28 to be considered. Entry forms can be downloaded from the Showcase's Web site at www.nmshowcase.com, or can be picked up at music equipment stores, record stores and performance venues around the state.
