Dots Not Feathers won Best New Band. Photo by Kelly Hogan

The RFT Music Awards were announced at the Firebird this week, and we only just now finished fighting off the hangover. 18andCounting, Prince Ea and Sleepy Kitty all played memorable live sets, with Prince Ea inviting Teresajenee up for a characteristically glorious guest spot and Sleepy Kitty running a four-guitarist relay. As for the awards: The acceptance speeches ranged from thought-provoking to laugh-inducing. A good night for St. Louis music -- we can't wait to start putting together next year's showcase and awards.

Our incomparable Art Director Tom Carlson was on hand to film the proceedings; he put together a video with a few of the best speeches, performance highlights and the most Crass joke. Watch below.

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The cover of Sleepy Kitty's upcoming Infinity City.

The RFT Music Awards Party is tonight at 7 p.m. at the Firebird. In addition to the announcement of all this year's winners, the evening will feature performances by 18andCounting, Prince Ea and Sleepy Kitty. The latter has something unique planned: Rather than play a traditional set, Sleepy Kitty will be playing the song "Seventeen" off its upcoming debut Infinity City as a seventeen minute guitar relay with three of St. Louis' finest shredders making guest appearances: Jason Hutto of Warm Jets USA, Kevin Bachmann of Troubadour Dali and Gabe Doiron, formerly of Old Lights. Listen to the studio version of the song below.

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See that? She's dancing, not singing.

The poll is closed, the votes have been tabulated, and I have sitting right here on my desk the 2011 RFT Music Award winners. We will be announcing which St. Louis musicians will carry the crown into 2012 next Tuesday, June 21st, at the Firebird. It's free and open to the public, although we are asking that you RSVP to RSVP@riverfronttimes.com

In case trophies aren't your thing: This year's Awards will feature performances from 18andCounting, Prince Ea and Sleepy Kitty, so we promise a good time regardless of whether you or your favorite band actually wins. The festivities start at 7 p.m.

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Pretty Little Empire. Photo by Steve Truesdell.

Ed: The RFT Music Showcase was Saturday. It was hot, it was crowded and you would have needed to be in ten places at once to see all the good stuff. Among those who tried was Diana Benanti -- she brings you part two of her highlights below. Read part one here.

Pretty Little Empire: The room was packed, the band played like all four members' good ol' boy hearts were on fire, easily oscillating from slow burning folk simmer to rolling rock boil--all while delivering ardent harmonies. Not enough can be said for a band that plays like everyone in it is going to die tomorrow. It was accessible enough to appease the unsuspecting diners, and there were more than a few diehard fans singing along.
I Was Drinkin': Water out of the Copia bathroom faucet. Like a lady.
I Was Thinkin': How Justin Johnson was born for this shit, and whether or not Pretty Little Empire is the new Theodore in terms of popularity. Judging by the large, jubilant in Copia's well-appointed dining room, it just might be. Yeah, I was thinking about how they're all cute too.

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Jason Stoff

70-plus bands and artists invaded Washington Avenue and some of its bars and restaurants for this Saturday for a twelve-hour crash course on St. Louis' music scene. In case you missed/don't remember/wish to relive the Showcase, we present these videos of a few fan's perspectives on the festivities.

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Sleepy Kitty's Paige Brubeck. Photo by Jon Gitchoff

There was no shortage of music to be had this weekend--the Float Yr Face fest was a sweaty success, Oberhofer played the Old Post Office Plaza, a shitload of cicadas serenaded the county, and oh yeah, the RFT Music Showcase was a smash. Amid the pink-shirted bachelorette parties, clean cut Wash Ave. regulars and that one guy driving up and down the street holding a mannequin head out the window, music lovers descended on the strip for twelve hours of music and more than a little swamp ass.

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Jennifer Silverberg

Seems a little redundant at this point to introduce you to the Force. You've heard their names, seen their videos, worn the pits and lands off your copy of Everybody Wins, and you'll be seeing them on the Showcase mainstage for free, free, free. We talked to Finsta, Hot 104.1 personality, host of STL Home Jamz, and co-creator of the Force. The rap collective is known for their hustle, and they're our number one must-see act at this year's festival. Finsta gives us the skinny on the tao of The Force, upcoming projects, and why you need to become a brain stain to make it in hip hop.

Tef Poe, Rockwell Knuckles, Nato Caliph, Tech Supreme and Indiana Rome play at 7 p.m. at the outdoor stage at 11th and Washington.

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The 2011 RFT Music Showcase is practically here: This Saturday from 2 p.m. to 2 a.m. on Washington Avenue. In our continued attempt to prepare you for the madness of 78 music acts in one day, we will be compiling preview tracks from artists playing the showcase; you can listen below. This will be continually updated with more previews and streaming music as we get closer to the Showcase.

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You can't say we didn't tell you. The 2011 RFT Showcase is tomorrow, and we have spent the better part of two months preparing. There's been a crazy amount of information to keep track of, so we thought we'd package it all here in case you're looking for a last-minute recommendation or a reason to keep your eyes peeled for some STL ink.

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Our continually growing sampler of tracks from 2011 RFT Showcase performers has outgrown its initial installment -- you can still listen to those fifteen tracks right here. There are twenty-four more below, with handy-dandy photos and biographical information. Sit back, hit play, and dream about how awesome this Saturday will be.

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