Vernon Morning Star
Published: October 02, 2008 6:00 PM
Updated: October 03, 2008 11:04 AM

They thanked each other, the radio stations, their wives, and God. They thanked their hands, their first guitar teacher ever and their long or soon-to-be-gone day jobs. They thanked the Okanagan, the bars, their babies, and their parents for the lessons. They even thanked those who said they couldn't.

At the 2008 B.C. Interior Music Awards Tuesday, 24 awards were given to artists and groups who, over and over, said, "Thank you."

For Vernon rock band Redfish, it was lead singer Ed Hagman.

"This is a surprise," he said, as drummer Steve Butler gave his arm a squeeze and bassist Josh Evans looked at the diamond-shaped award, given to the group in a tie for album of the year with Wassabi Collective, a five-piece Nelson band.

"We're really happy. Thank you so much," said Hagman. Earlier this year Redfish released, De Profundis, its second CD and part of the reason they were also nominated for rock or pop group/artist of the year, which went to the Kelowna-based Sleddogs.

Redfish, who also performed two new songs at the awards presentation, held at the Kelowna Community Theatre, wasn't the only one from the North Okanagan to take home a trophy.

Vernon studio whiz Steve Todd was awarded engineer of the year along with Mike Ohman. The duo was also nominated for producer of the year for their work on Lindsay May's album, Bronze and Blue.

Rising pop singer Andrew Allen, currently on a tour across the U.K., won new group/artist of the year. In a pre-taped video clip, the singer/songwriter told the audience how much the nomination, never mind winning the award, meant.

"That's so huge. Thank you so much," said Allen, who grew up in Vernon and recently released his debut solo album, The Living Room Sessions.

Six judges from the entertainment industry, including Music BC executive director Bob D'Eith, chose winners such as Allen after receiving nearly 2,300 nomination votes for the 2008 BCIMA (formerly the Okanagan Music Awards).

Two screens above the stage also delivered a filmed message from Vernon-raised Daniel Powter, the singer behind the best-selling song Bad Day and winner of the special achievement award.

"I want to thank the BCIMA for this award. I'm very honoured. I come from a great place and you guys know all about it," said Powter, who tried to inspire the emerging artists in the audience.

"When someone says you can't do something, you change your path. Follow your dreams, but stick to your path."

Powter's path, which has included a 2007 Grammy nomination for his hit single, may seem like a distant destination for the other BCIMA nominees.

Most of them are still in the "battle against the day job," as Kootenay folk musician Shawn Stephenson put it. Travis Lundgren, a member of The Murderous, which won metal group of the year, said he had to run from work just to make it to the stage in time for an acceptance speech.

But for others, like the seen-on-Much Music Sleddogs, which took home group of the year along with three other awards; success is just around the corner.

And D'Eith announced the drive there could become a little shorter for Okanagan musicians with the upcoming opening of a Kelowna FACTOR (Foundation to Assist Canadian Talent On Recordings) office.

"You can be in Kelowna and write a song just like Daniel (Powter) and go off and conquer the world...I'd like you guys to be able to stay here and do it," said D'Eith.