Indie-rock band Endless Interstate is having quite the new year: the musicians have been nominated for a 2015 New England Music Award (NEMA) in the “Best Band” in Maine category. The band is composed of three former Liquid Daydream members (1990-2002) - Chris Muccino, guitarist; Matthias Sampson vocals, mandolin, guitar and percussion and Jordan Warsky on drums and percussion; bassist Dan Bodmer, Tyson Soule, guitar, and keyboardist Chuck Benton. Muccino and Sampson co-founded Endless Interstate.

Music lovers decide what artist ultimately wins in each category. Voting is happening NOW on the NEMA website. Here's the link: http://nemusicawards.com/nomineesvote.

Muccino said he was notified of the band's inclusion in the Best Maine Band category by email on Jan. 11.

“It's really starting to set in as to what this award means and honestly it is an honor just being nominated!” said Muccino. “This award, for me, is really an accumulation for the hard work as a musician over the past 25 years ... To date this is our ninth CD together - for Jordan, Matt and I - of original music since 1994. It is nice to feel some recognition for the work it takes to release a CD and to promote it.  Looking forward to what 2016 brings!

“Our band is so happy to be nominated for this year's Best in State Award. Regardless of the outcome, the past winners representing our state is very impressive and to be nominated just validates all the work we have put in as a band,” said drummer and percussionist Jordan Warsky.

“When our latest album, “New Fire” was finished we all knew it was representative of years of making music together. We felt that it was the most complete album we have released,” Warsky said. ”The recording process for this album was only made possible by partnering with our longtime friend and accomplished engineer, Anthony Gatti. We are looking forward to the awards ceremony and are hopeful that the votes go in our favor!

Last year Endless Interstate released “New Fire” in late March of 2015 and held the release parties at The Frontier in Brunswick, Mainly Brews in Waterville and the Empire in Portland. The band was invited to participate in WBLM's “Greetings From Area Code 207” program featuring bands who perform original work. Speaking of Maine's area code, Endless Interstate also appeared on WCSH Channel 6's “207” show. The band also had lots of airplay on WBLM, WTOS and college radio.

Endless Interstate is currently in the studio working on new material for CD number four.

The individuals comprising the nominating committees in Maine, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Vermont are involved in the music industry. They include radio personalities, event planners, journalists from music publications, talent buyers, record label executives and others.

Joe Graham, director and co-founder of the New England Music Awards, said the submissions (nominating) process is open to anyone – from the bands to fans to music industry types. Last year, 4,000 bands were nominated on NEMA's website, Reverbnation and others.

Each year the nominations lists are whittled down to 100 artists by the committee members for inclusion in the “Best of” categories in the music genres of blues, country, rock, pop, metal and roots. Other award categories are new and live acts, songwriter of the year, male and female performer, producer, song and video of the year and others.

“Each state has its own group of committee members that cover all the genres and styles who come back to us with their choices,” Graham said.

NEMAs acknowledge New England's musicians, “... whose dedication, spirit and achievements over the last year have, without a doubt, established them as a contributing force to the most robust and diverse music scene in the country.”

“There's some rockin' bands in Maine!” Graham said. “If you look at the categories, you'll see Maine's musicians in a lot of them.”

In the Best Rock Band category, Endless Interstate is in good company with Gunther Brown, Lovers of Fiction, Muddy Ruckus and Builder of the House.

Awards will be presented on Saturday, April 9 at the Blue Ocean Music Hall & Event Center in Salisbury Beach, Massachusetts. Emcees for the ceremony: The cast and crew of Evolvement Radio Evo Rad. Interested in attending to cheer the guys on? Visit the venue's website for tickets, etc., www.blueoceanhall.com.

For more about Endless Interstate, visit www.endlessinterstate.com and follow this link: http://www.boothbayregister.com/article/endless-interstate-s-new-fire-burns-emotion/49579.

Now get online, here's that link again: http://nemusicawards.com/nomineesvote and take action!