Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Awards Show

Details:
The 28th Annual Wisconsin Area Music Industry (WAMI) Awards Show will be held Mon., April 28, at the Turner Hall Ballroom, 1034 N. 4th St. in Milwaukee. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., with the Awards Show beginning at 7:30 p.m. A post-show party, also at Turner Hall, follows for those in attendance.

Awards will be presented in 36 categories. There will also be two inductees into the WAMI Hall of Fame Class of 2008, with jazz great Manty Ellis and Waukesha's BoDeans earning honors.

Live performances by 2008 nominees covering many genres of music include, Chad James, Fahrenheit 420, Fever Marlene, Funk Trunk, House Blend, Johnny Wad, Kojo, Reverend Raven and The Chain Smoking Altar Boys, and The Invaders. 2008 Hall of Fame inductees Manty Ellis and the BoDeans will perform as well.

For the third consecutive year, Gene "GNO" Covelli, front man for The Toys since 1996, will emcee the Awards Show. The house band will be the King Comets, a four-piece jump swing band from Milwaukee that has previously been nominated for a WAMI award three times.

Tickets are $40 each and can be purchased through the Pabst Theater Box Office, 144 E. Wells St., Milwaukee and the Riverside Theater Box Office, 116 W. Wisconsin Ave., Milwaukee, between noon and 6:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. In addition, tickets can be purchased at www.turnerhallballroom.org and www.tickets.com.

Cascio Interstate Music, Shepherd Express, and ExpressMilwaukee.com are show sponsors.

Since 1980, WAMI has offered continuing education for music industry professionals through monthly meetings and semi-annual music seminars. The group also utilizes its funds to provide a Youth Music Showcase and offers scholarships to students and emerging artists.

To learn more about the annual WAMI Awards Show and this year's nominees, visit www.wamimusic.com or contact the Wisconsin Area Music Industry at wamimusic@yahoo.com.