The Toronto Independent Music Awards were hosted for the first time last year in a bid to bring recognition to the best Canadian Indie artists. The TIMAs were a huge success heralding the start of a new era for purely Canadian independent artists. This year’s show is set to take place on October 5^th at the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.

As well as showcasing last year’s winners and bringing the independent musicians from the region together, TIMA bids to give awards for more than 20 categories that will range from “best rock” to “best punk” and also contain out of area awards. Of particular note is the Best Live event. In order to judge the bands that have been nominated for this award, the nominees started playing on Monday nights at Healey’s in Toronto. The Live events began in June and will run until August so get your entries in quick.

For independent musicians who aren’t based in Canada, there are two awards that will still be of interest. The “Best USA” award should be self-explanatory but for those who are struggling, the award is given to the best independent musician or band from the USA. We said it was self-explanatory. The Best International category showcases Indie artists from all over the world.

Visit the TIMA website at http://www.torontoima.com to register or to get more details about the event.