Limelight Magazine is pleased to announce that singer-songwriter, Ayla Brown, will receive the Unsung Hero Award at this year’s sixth annual Limelight Magazine Music Awards Ceremony that will take place at South Shore Music Hall in Quincy, MA, on March 22nd.
Brown, who placed among the top 16 finalists on season five of American Idol, has supported a number of charitable causes over the years. Most recently, she released a country music, patriotic-inspired solo album titled, “Heroes & Hometowns,” and donated a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the first 2,000 CD’s sold to a military non-profit based out of Massachusetts called, Hugs for Heroes, Inc. This past Veteran’s Day, Brown presented Hugs for Heroes, Inc. with $5,000.00 live on FOX25. Still to this day, it is the largest one-time donation made to the organization.
Furthermore, Brown has appeared in concert at Fenway Park on multiple occasions to help the Boston Red Sox and the players with their charitable endeavors including “Life Is Good At Fenway,” “Hot Stove, Cool Music,” “Jimmy Fund” with WEEI radio, and the “Beckett Bowl.” She also offers her vocal talents and time to the organization, “Songs of Love,” where she is currently a spokesperson, as well as singing and recording songs for ill-stricken children.
The Unsung Hero award is given to a musician from New England who has made a significant contribution to the lives of others without asking for anything in return. Brown is the second recipient of this award. Last year, it was presented to Lisa Guyer who founded the Lisa Guyer Music Empowerment Program.
Katie Botelho, co-owner of Limelight Magazine, said it’s an honor to present this award to Brown this year.
“If anyone deserves this award it’s her,” said Botelho. “Her generosity and kindness is something that shouldn’t go unnoticed.”
The Limelight Magazine Music Awards honors bands and musicians from New England who were selected by readers of the magazine in an online poll. This year’s event will be hosted by Matthew Almquist and Theresa Andreski of the Cape Cod-based band Beautiful Tuesday. Performers scheduled to appear include Krista Baroni, Brian Carroll, Brianna Grace, Jilly Martin, Jay Psaros, Ten Foot Polecats, 21st Century Fugitives, and Weld Square.
South Shore Music Hall is located at 1515 Hancock Street in Quincy. The venue has a full bar with a limited food menu. Parking is free.
Tickets for the awards show are $10 in advance and $13 day of show. They can be purchased online at this link: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/555722.
Limelight Magazine started out as a quarterly print publication, but has since moved its operations online, with the exception of an annual summer issue. Visit their website at www.limelightmagazine.com. You can also like them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/limelightmagazine.
The complete list of nominees:
Young Performer of the Year
Jessie Chris
Closer Than We Appear
Four Noble Truths
Emily Hodges
Nolan Leite
Esmeree Skye
21st Century Fugitives
Tribute Band of the Year
All Heart: Tribute to Heart
The American Who Sensation: Tribute to The Who
Beatles for Sale: Tribute to The Beatles
Clock Strikes Ten: Tribute to Cheap Trick
Fire Lake: Tribute to Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band
Forever Young: Tribute to Neil Young
Power of Love: Tribute to Huey Lewis & the News
Young Rust: Tribute to Neil Young
Live Act of the Year
The Aldous Collins Band
Bigtalkahh
Daddie Long Legs
Patrick DeCoste
Freevolt
Richard James and The Name Changers
A Simple Complex
Weld Square
Female Vocalist of the Year
Susan Cattaneo
Brianna Grace
Dorian Havers
Lisa Markovich
Amanda McCarthy
Ilene Springer
Natalie Turgeon
Eva Walsh
Male Vocalist of the Year
Daniel Byrnes
Jeff Conley
Greg Lato
Joe Merrick
Sean O’Loughlin
Andrew Smith
Jonah Tolchin
Kevin Williams
Song of the Year
Dalton and the Sheriffs – “Cheap Guitars”
Shaun England – “Tied to the Tracks”
Kiley Evans & Joe Merrick – “We’d Be Lying”
The McGunks – “Working On A Hangover”
Christian McNeill & Sea Monsters – “If You Need Some (Come and Get Some)”
Fil Pacino – “Death By Lions”
Jessica Prouty Band – “Set Me Free”
Brian Sances Band – “Driving Home”
Album of the Year (Group)
Sam Bowen and Blue Cat Groove – Self-Titled
Beyond Blonde – Purple Rose
The Cranks – Orange
Elcodrive – The Long Way Home
For The Love of Sloane – Curses, Spells & Charms
Propergander – Wide Open
21st Century Fugitives – Regret Nothing
Glenn Yoder & the Western States – Javelina
Album of the Year (Solo)
Rich Antonelli – Voiceless
Sarah Blacker – Precious Little Things
Lisa Couto – Not Going Under
Julie Dougherty – In This Place
Ian Fitzgerald – No Time To Be Tender
Jamie Lynn Hart – Live At Tupelo
Adam Jensen – Behold the Man
Ashley Jordan – Nothing In Doubt
Hard Rock, Metal, Hardcore Act of the Year
Along Came the Flood
BlackLight SunRise
Centerlink
Carnivora
Hellspeak
Matalon
Red Equals Meltdown
We Stand in Awe
Country Artist of the Year
Houston Bernard
Country Mile Band
Brianna Grace
Britt Hill
Shanna Jackman
Erin Ollis and the Whiskey Rye Band
Joe Macey
Jilly Martin
Breakthrough Artist of the Year
Blocks of Seven
Sam Bowen and Blue Cat Groove
Closer Than We Appear
Empire Street
Jesse Hanson
House On Cliff
One Time Mountain
Michael Spaulding
Video of the Year (Group)
Aurora – “Little Traps”
Blocks of Seven – “I Can’t Take It Anymore”
Centerlink – “Distant Voices”
Mostly Commons – “Let It Go By”
The Devil’s Twins – “Love and War”
Paryah – “Stay Away”
Red Equals Meltdown – “What is Dead May Never Die”
Stay Seventeen – “On My Mind”
Video of the Year (Solo)
Krista Angelucci – “Like You”
Tiffani Dawn – “Fever”
Katlyn Evans – “Royals”
Jamie Lynn Hart – “Down”
Ashley Jordan – “If I Had You”
Jilly Martin – “I’m Getting There”
Jay Psaros – “The Orphan”
Will Evans – “Wishin’ Well”
Singer-Songwriter of the Year
Krista Baroni
Brian Carroll
Jesse Hanson
Adam Jensen
Alastair Moock
Kevin G. Moore
Dietrich Strause
Joe Young
Band of the Year
The Can’t Nots
The Field Effect
Mean Creek
Grace Morrison and the RSO
Nemes
A Simple Complex
The Ten Foot Polecats
Torn Shorts
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