The Polka America Corporation (PAC) is accepting votes from the polka-loving public for its annual PACE Awards in five categories -- Best New Original Song, Best Polish Album, Best Slovenian Album, Best German Album and Best Variety Album. Voting is open until April 15 and the awards will be announced a few days later.
I asked PAC President John Ziobrowski about the absence of a Czech Album category. "We allow the categories to self generate. We add a category when we receive six submissions of a specific style of polka music. We would love to have a Czech category," he said. Don't stress. I am on the case and will make sure there is a Czech music category next year!
You'll see some Texas bands in this year's categories -- Brave Combo, Das Ist Lustig, Czech and Then Some and Jodie Mikula and some favorites of Texas fans -- Mollie B, Alex Meixner, Jimmy Sturr and Lynn Marie.
PAC is a nonprofit organization that encourages, supports and promotes polka music at all levels. Chartered in Wisconsin, the executive committee, board of directors and sub-committees are an all-volunteer group of polka music enthusiasts from many parts of North America.
John explained the awards are completely people’s choice. "The voting is tabulated by an outside agency. PAC has no involvement with nominations or picking the winners, we just provide the format for the polka nation to support their favorite artists."