Symphony Space recap!

The Independent Music Awards Story Songs at Symphony Space was a smashing, sold-out success!

Richard Julian, Kristy Kruger and Amy Speace entertained industry guests and fans with the stories behind some of their most popular songs. Rolling Stone's Anthony DeCurtis hosted the event. We filmed the entire event, so stay tuned for that footage, PLUS interviews with all the performers and some of the guests- including more past IMA Winners! This is just the beginning of a series of IMA events at Symphony Space. We can't wait to see you at the next one!










Kristy Kruger and one of her many instruments of the night.



Amy Speace performed "The Killer In Me" as part of her set.



Anthony DeDurtis (Rolling Stone) hosted the evening.



Amy listening to one of Richard's stories.



Richard played a humorous song called "God the 3rd."



Jolie Holland was a special guest. She played with Richard on a few songs....



Like this one!



Kristy and Amy performed together.









Kristy told us backstage that she loves to shop in Louisiana.




The group!











IMA program director, Martin Folkman, kicked off the nite.



MRG Artist Relations Director, Adam, supports the free drinks provided by our liquor sponsor for the evening.



The MRG staff, minus Jody, who was working the sound booth and directing the camera crew all night. Stay tuned! We're going to release an online video of entire night!!



Robert, Adam, Lauren, Joelle & James.






Lauren with Tea from Hydrogen Licensing and Marketing.




Joelle, Jude & Lauren.



Joelle interviewed guests. You will be able to watch them online, soon! Here she is with 8th Annual IMA Americana Song winner, Kelleigh McKenzie.



James and Robert taking charge of the guest list.



The Symphony Space lobby!



Outside Symphony Space.



Love our poster? We do!



Our lovely goodie bags.



Joelle & Adam backstage.



Check out our cool IMA logo on the stage...



Thanks to Arbuckle's gourmet coffee, Sweetriot candy, X-rate and all the labels who donated CDs to the gift bags. We had fun stuffing them.



The dressing rooms.



Kristy Kruger's dog, Mojo, hung out backstage.



Pre-show.



Load in- it was pouring rain!

Independent Music Award Winners Richard Julian, Kristy Krueger and Amy Speace Share Stories And Songs At The Home of NPR’s Selected Shorts

Great storytellers create vivid portraits that reflect the human experience and capture a moment in time; singer-songwriters shoulder the added burden of setting it all to music. Yet the inspiration for the song is often the greatest story never told. Fittingly, three acclaimed recording and touring artists and winners of the prestigious Independent Music Awards, Richard Julian, Kristy Kruger and Amy Speace, will share their stories and songs Thursday, May 7, 8:30pm on Broadway at Symphony Space – home of the popular NPR short story series Selected Shorts.

Produced by Music Resource Group, “The Independent Music Awards Presents” is the first in a series of live performances showcasing accomplished independent musicians who are recognized by the IMAs. The evening will be introduced by, Anthony DeCurtis, a Rolling Stone contributing editor and author of In Other Words: Artists Talk About Life and Work, a collection of interviews he conducted for Rolling Stone, The New York Times, and other publications. (DeCurtis is also a veteran member of the IMA selection panel). A cocktail hour will begin at 7:30p in the adjacent wine bar unWINEd Café.

Purchase tickets ($25 in advance / $30 day of show) at www.symphonyspace.org.

The Players:



Brooklyn-based, Richard Julian is renowned for writing pop/jazz-infused tunes and melding music and lyrics to create cinematic masterpieces. His talent has earned him the attention of fans around the world including Randy Newman, Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones (Julian also tours and records with Jones as The Little Willies). His most recent album Sunday Morning In Saturday’s Shoes, produced by Mitchell Froom (Elvis Costello, Los Lobos), spans the human condition, from the ruminative morning after title track that speculates about a debutante’s late night out, to the satirical “God III,” which sympathetically explores the trials faced by children of over achieving parents, in this case, the all too human son of Jesus Christ.



Singer-Songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, Kristy Kruger is touring the US on a mission -to honor the memory of her brother, Lt. Col. Eric Kruger, who was killed in Iraq just days after being deployed. Since the tragic loss, the Texas native has hit the road performing riveting memorial concerts in each of the 50 states her brother gave his life for. Channeling Billie Holiday and Johnny Cash, Krueger is an engaging storyteller and essayist, her appearance on Public Radio International's “This American Life” has endeared her to fans the world over, including the series host, Ira Glass. Hailed as a “female Tom Waits,” Krueger’s latest release, Songs From a Dead Man's Couch, is a quirky blend of her Texas Americana roots and her love of New-Orleans style jazz.



Jersey City-based Wildflower Records recording artist, Amy Speace, is already receiving widespread critical acclaim for her soon to be released,
The Killer In Me which mines the mystery and heartbreak of relationships gone wrong, borne largely out of the dissolution of her 10-year marriage. Written during a self-imposed retreat to an isolated cabin in upstate New York, Speace wrote the songs in between hiking and chopping wood for the stove. Blending the best parts of Lucinda Williams with Roseanne Cash, Amy sings Americana influenced pop songs for grown ups and exudes an earthy urban hipness that resonates with men and women alike.

About the IMAs:
Independent Music Awards is a unique international program that helps independent artists overcome mainstream obstacles to reach millions of new fans and industry gatekeepers. Now in its 9th year, the IMAs honor artists who broaden the definition of commercial success & represent the diversity of the global Indie scene.

Past IMA recipients include Martin Sexton, Jamie Lidell, Apples in Stereo,
Eleni Mandell, Koko Taylor, Lucy Wainwright Roche, God Forbid, Sugarcult,
Tony Trischka and Jennifer Nettles.

Submissions for The 9th Annual Independent Music Awards are currently being accepted. For details, industry and artist judges and entry forms visit www.IndependentMusicAwards.com.

TO SET UP INTERVIEWS WITH THE ARISTS & REQUEST PRESS PASSES CONTACT:
Joelle Batelli
Publicity & Sponsorships
PH: 973- 767-1816
E: joelle@IndependentMusicAwards.com


Jody Gnant
Partnerships & New Media
jody@IndependentMusicAwards.com
PH: 973- 767-1815
E: jody@independentmusicawards.com


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