By LESLIE EIKLEBERRY
Salina substation

The Sunset Sinners are winners!

After a busy summer concert schedule, the local band was named Artist of the Year (Band) in the Southern Rock / Country Rock category of the Josie Music Awards. The awards were presented at a two-day event Friday and Saturday at the Country Tonite Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.

“It’s totally cool and a great honor,” said Sunset Sinners drummer Blake Blackim. “Anytime you can get recognized it’s a big deal. Is it the CMAs? No. But it’s just under the CMAs. This recognition shows that we are on the right track.”

According to the organization’s website, “The Josie Music Awards were created only to celebrate those in the independent music industry who work so hard every day and deserve to have their own night.”

During an interview in May, when the award nominations were revealed, Blackim told Salina Post that the nomination came after being interviewed a few weeks earlier on The Josie Show by Josie Passantino, who is also the namesake of the awards ceremony. The Internet radio show can be heard on Thursday evenings.

Blackim said Passantino encouraged the Sunset Sinners to submit their It’s always time for one more beer for award review. Ultimately, the song led to the Sunset Sinners being nominated for Band of the Year in the Southern Rock / Country Rock category.

Due to the rigid Josie Music Awards review process, just being nominated for an award is an honor. According to the Josie Music Awards website, “Nominees’ suggestions go through a lengthy process of review by a team of industry leaders and the official list of nominations is created from their final decisions. The winners are also selected by this team of industry leaders (this evaluation team is not linked to independent artists). “

Recognition for the Sunset Sinners doesn’t stop at the Josie Music Awards. A few weeks ago the band’s debut album, a compilation of their singles, came out and it’s already gaining attention. Fireworks, a UK music magazine, has a rave review for the Sunset Sinners album in its October issue. Additionally, another UK music magazine, Powerplay, scheduled an article on the Sunset Sinners for its November issue.

Blackim said the album is available on all major music streaming services.

Plus, two Sunset Sinners singles – Ancient glory and Friday night – have been seen on the Nashville Music Row Charts, Blackim said.

What’s next for the Sunset Sinners? The band’s patriotic-themed show, Red, White, & Brews, is scheduled for October 15 at 8:00 p.m. at the Stiefel Theater, 151 S. Santa Fe Avenue. Kansas City-based blues rock powerhouse MAHAN with guitarist extraordinary Howard Mahan is set to open the show, according to reports from the Stiefel Theater.

Tickets are $ 23 for general admission and can be purchased from noon to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday at the Stiefel Theater box office next to the main entrance. Additionally, you can call the Stiefel at 785-827-1998 to purchase direct or purchase online at stiefeltheater.org.

Sunset Sinners will present their Red White & Brews Tour at the Stiefel Theater as the ultimate party concert to honor military, veterans and first responders.

“We all want to honor serving military personnel, veterans and first responders,” Blackim told the Salina Post when announcing the concert. “It’s because of them that we can come out and play and perform! We even wrote a song called Old Glory which recently hit the Nashville radio charts. It’s dedicated to all of those who had the courage to stand up. register and serve. “