Independent musicians from Western Pennsylvania are representing the region in a strong way when it comes to the annual Josie Music Awards.
Alle-Kiski Valley hard rockers Sourmash have received three nominations from the country’s largest independent music awards organization.
The group, whose repertoire pays homage to classic and Southern rock, is up for Group of the Year, Entertainer of the Year (both in the “rock” category) and Best Rock Song by a Duo/Group for its tune, “Wild Willie.”
In addition, singer and guitarist Tim Henry, 53, of Leechburg, is nominated for Rock Vocalist of the Year and Musician of the Year in the “Guitar” category. He will compete in the latter category with Sourmash’s other guitarist, Nick Farine of Lower Burrell.
Country songwriter Andy Davis of Mount Pleasant is also up for three Josie Awards in 2021.
Henry said the band was surprised to be nominated their first time submitting music for consideration at the Josies.
“It’s truly humbling to know that the nomination panel of industry professionals feels this strongly about our music,” Henry said.
Alongside Farine, fellow Leechburg resident and drummer Matt Knapp and bassist Dave Stanoszek of Apollo, Sourmash got its start in 2010, and the current lineup has been together since 2013.
“The members of this band appreciate all kinds of music, and we each have our own influences,” Henry said. “The challenge is to draw from those influences without sounding like them. We strive to use what we learned from our predecessors to create something unique and exciting.”
The origin of Sourmash’s hard-driving, Josie-nominated song “Wild Willie” came from Henry’s own family.
“I spent a lot of time listening to personal anecdotes of my dad’s life,” he said. “In my head, it turned into a modern-day cowboy movie, built from those stories. When I finally sat down with my acoustic guitar, the lyrics and music just came out.”
Sourmash bills itself as a “biker band,” and has built a reputation performing at motorcycle rallies in addition to each member regularly riding a bike to gigs.
“In the summer months, we travel on our motorcycles while one of our crew hauls the equipment trailer,” Henry said. “It is absolutely a fun way to tour and it’s a big reason this band feels like a family.”
The Josie Awards will take place Sept. 17-18 in Pigeon Forge, Tenn.
“By this time next year, we’ll have a new album,” Henry said. “Hopefully, we can build from the recognition of the Josie Music Awards and the album will be well received by our audience.”
For more on the band, see SourMashRocks.com.
