Awards ceremony March 18

BY PHILL BARNETT
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN

PRESTONSBURG — The Appalachian Arts and Entertainment Awards will be held at the Mountain Arts Center March 18.

Many local artists and entertainers are nominated for an award, known as an Appy. Voting is open on the awards show’s website now.

Kayla Freeman Simpkins of Inez is nominated in the category of Best Cartoonist / Illustrator as “Kayla Freeman, KY.” Lovely-based artist Hefner is nominated in the category of Best Painting as “Heather Workman, KY.”

Other local nominees include Kristofer Lee Bentley and the Protectors of Prestonsburg for Best Original Song, 6OH!6 Entertainment of Prestonsburg for Best Recording Studio/Engineer/Producer, and Alley on Main of Paintsville for Best Small Live Music Venue.

The Paramount Arts Center in Ashland and Appalachian Wireless Arena in Pikeville are both nominated for Best Large Live Music Venue.

Community organizer Austin Shuck is nominated for Best Podcast for his podcast “What the Shuck?!”

Hailing from Fallsburg, Theresa Prince’s alter-ego Honey was nominated for Best Drummer for her work in the Laid Back and Honey duo. Her husband David Prince was nominated for Best Guitarist for his work as the Laid Back Country Picker and in Theresa’s band Luna and the Mountain Jets.

Treyton Blackburn of Pikeville was nominated for Best Author/Writer for his new Appalachian-inspired superhero comic book series Nitelite.

On Jan. 4, the Appy’s committee announced that this year’s ceremony will be hosted by Lacey Roberts from WLWT Cincinnati and Louisville food blogger J.C. Phelps of JCP Eats.

Vote for your favorite artists and entertainers from around the Appalachian region at https://appalachianartsandentertainmentawards.com/vote/.