SPECIAL BEST OF MILWAUKEE
M I LWAU K E E M US I C ACOUSTIC MUSICIAN
Evan Christian The term virtuoso shouldn’t be used lightly, but in the case of guitarist Evan Christian, it is well deserved. While he can demonstrate immense technical style while playing plugged in, Christian also has the capability to emote soulful, heartfelt tones when playing acoustically, merging blues, soul and folk together seamlessly. A lengthy discography and back catalog of written works have cemented Christian’s legacy as one of the most skilled musicians in the city. (Allen Halas)
RUNNERS-UP: • Jake Williams • Keith Pulvermacher • Myles Wangerin ALT-COUNTRY/BLUEGRASS BAND
The Whiskeybelles whiskeybelles.com
With big personalities and traditional country charm, The Whiskeybelles have become a staple of the Milwaukee country music scene for several years, including previous Best of Milwaukee Awards. Beyond their stage presence, however, lies a sound rooted in old-school country, with a uniquely Milwaukee flavor to it. The trio of Chrissy Dzioba Clobes, Kimmy Unger, and Sara Moilanen play expertly off of one another
with a hee-haw flare that can entertain generations of country fans. (Allen Halas)
RUNNERS-UP—ALT COUNTRY: • Chicken Wire Empire • Rebel Grace • Road Crew RUNNERS-UP—BLUEGRASS BAND • Chicken Wire Empire • Sawdust Symphony • The MilBillies BLUES BAND
Robert Allen Jr. robertallenjr.com
With several accolades already to his name, Robert Allen Jr. shows why he is one of Wisconsin’s stars within the world of blues every time he touches the stage. With a passion for a genre of music that requires emotional investment, Allen Jr. and his band are stellar, with an energy that the guitar slinger brings not only to his instrument, but his songwriting and vocals as well. The Robert Allen Jr. Band continues to regularly play out, consistently providing listeners with an entertaining experience. (Allen Halas)
RUNNERS-UP: • Altered Five Blues Band • Blind Fiction • Tweed
CLUB DJ
DJ Shawna
djshawna.com DJ Shawna lives by the motto to “dare to be,” and that comes across not only in her open-format DJ sessions, but in the success she’s seen as a live performer throughout the city. A former collegiate basketball standout at the University of Wisconsin, Shawna has taken her talents off the court to becoming the official DJ of the Milwaukee Bucks, as well as standout events like the NCAA Women’s Final Four. There’s no telling where DJ Shawna will turn up next. (Allen Halas)
RUNNERS-UP: • DJ Bizzon • DJ Nustylez • Mr. New York COVER-TRIBUTE BAND/ROCK BAND
Cherry Pie A longtime fixture of Milwaukee’s many festivals, hair metal tribute band Cherry Pie generally gets to make thousands of heads bang every summer. With a repertoire that includes covers of everyone from Def Leppard to Guns N’ Roses, including namesake band Warrant, there’s an undeniable fun atmosphere whenever the tribute act takes the stage. If you crave the nostalgia of ’80s hair metal, Cherry Pie delivers that, from authenticsounding covers to the look and feel of their live shows. (Allen Halas)
RUNNERS-UP—COVER-TRIBUTE BAND: • Clove • Failure to Launch • FM RODEO • Smart Mouth RUNNERS-UP—ROCK BAND: • Almighty Vinyl • Betsy Ade & the Well-Known Strangers • Fightin' Bob ELECTRONIC ARTIST
Immortal Girlfriend Synthwave act Immortal Girlfriend continues to take Milwaukee and the world by storm. The brotherly duo of Will and Kevin Bush have made their name with a sound that evokes images of a cool, latenight drive along the city’s lakefront, which
