Live performances, a red carpet walk of fame and heaps of local talent make up the return of the third annual Underground Music Awards — an awards show created to showcase the talents of underground artists mainly based in Bermuda or North America. Owner of J Rock Communications and creator of www.thaundergound.net, Jonathan Talbot (JT), says the awards show offers something for everyone from artists, to supporters, to family members and spectators.

“From the first time people said they really enjoyed it despite some technical difficulties because they felt like they were at like a BET awards,” he said.

One major change this year is the date and venue. The UMAs have been held in October at Ruth Seaton James for the past two years. This year the show will be at City Hall.

JT said the reason the date was changed was because a lot of artists and supporters weren’t able to attend in October. “We’re trying for summer months for opportunities for the kids,” JT said. “There are some challenges, but we’re overcoming those challenges. So many things are happening in the summer. It’s hotter, more costly with the flights and hotels.

“We had to change locations from Ruth Seaton James because of the mould. I like City Hall, it doesn’t accommodate a lot of people but I like the outside area. People can see it passing by.”

This year is will also see the addition of the Heineken Music Red Carpet Walk of Fame. It will offer the artists and nominees a chance to get their picture taken and get the feel of being at an awards show.

The actual red carpet is 100-feet long and will feature customised human statues created by Xenia Dill. There will also be hip-hip style customised cars. Because of complaints last year, JT has instilled a VIP section for the nominees, artists and sponsors.

The show itself will see old school artists like Spellbound, Lady Tyson and Gina Spence-Farmer presenting awards to the new school artists.

This year’s co-hosts are local reggae artist Ninja Cutty and former ZBM journalist Alia Hamza. JT said he originally had another line-up but this one will be good.

“They have a great connection,” he said. “She’s the one who brought him to my attention. He wasn’t on my list as a host but he’s a part of the underground, he knows all the artists, he knows the struggles there are coming up.”

There will be performances by Joy Barnum, Torie Baker, Tru Shott, Abi Rogers and Jonae Smith — winner of the Roc the Mic competition — as well as performances from overseas artists.

“Artists are putting a lot more into their performances, requesting sets, lights. They aren’t going to come out and sing with a mic, they want the props, the set and the lights.”

Kendra Earl of Indigo Designs designed the set, which will be very different from that of past years.

The great thing about the awards show is that even if an artist doesn’t win, he or she can submit their work every year. Even though Bermudians are known to start everything late and end late, JT said the show will start on time and be finished on time.

“We’re trying to make the show as short as possible but effective because the highlight is the after party right after the show,” he said. “Instead of going out of the front of City Hall, you go out the back.

“There will be a big tent. It’s not really a party party, another opportunity to take photos and play video from red carpet. Some of the nominated DJs will be playing music.”

The awards categories include best producer, best freestyle or diss track, best collaboration, best female vocalist, best song rap, best song R&B, best new artist, best male vocalist, best rap artist male, best dancehall/reggae artist, LA Virgil Artist of the Year, best rap artist female, song of the year and DJ of the year.

The Brian Talbot Lifetime Achievement Award will be given to Suzette Harvey for all her hard work in the field of dance. Ms Harvey is the owner and founder of United Dance Productions.

When asked why Tha Underground is not limited to Bermudians, JT said: “Being that Bermuda is 24 miles long and the industry is within these four corners, I don’t think that it will do our artists any justice if we limit it to just Bermudian exposure.”

The Underground Music Awards will take place on tomorrow night [NOTE]SAT[\NOTE] at City Hall. The Heineken Music Red Carpet Walk of Fame begins at 6 p.m. with the actual awards show starting at 8 p.m. sharp. Tickets are $45 and can be bought at The Sports Source, Music World and the City Hall Box Office.