Milwaukee Music

CHOCOLATIER

IndulgenceChocolatiers

211 S. Second St.

indulgencechocalatiers.com

Chocolates and truffles and bars. Oh my! Is this the stairway to chocolate heaven? The vote is in. And the answer is “yes!” There’s cocoa mix and dipped fruit and seasonal chocolate and ... well you know the rest. Simply, indulge. (Harry Cherkinian) FINALISTS:

• Freese's Candy Shoppe • Kilwins Milwaukee Bayshore • Tabal Chocolate

FARMERS MARKET

West Allis Farmers Market

6501 W. National Ave.

thatswhywestallis.com/farmers-market

From mid-May until the end of November, three times a week, the West Allis Farmers Market plays host to a changing line-up of farmers, gardeners, food trucks and other vendors. The permanent stalls with a solid roof overhead means rain or shine the market goes on. (Susan Harpt Grimes) FINALISTS:

• Shorewood Farmers Market • South Shore Farmers Market • Tosa Farmers Market

GROCERY - ALL PURPOSE Outpost Natural Foods - Bay View

2826 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.

outpost.coop

Founded at the start of the ’70s, Milwaukee's longest-running natural food co-op helped introduce the city to the concept of healthy eating. All four locations of Outpost Natural Foods are good places to look for organic, seasonable produce, as well as a fantastic array of wholesome packaged goods hard to find elsewhere. You don’t have to be a member to shop at Outpost. (David Luhrssen) FINALISTS: GROCERY – ALL PURPOSE

• Festival Foods • Fresh Thyme Market • Metro Market • Sendik's Food Market • Woodman's Food Market FINALISTS: GROCERY – ORGANIC

• Beans & Barley • Fresh Thyme Market • Whole Foods Market

GROCERY - ETHNIC

Cermak Fresh Market

Multiple locations

cermakfreshmarket.com

The Chicago-based chain is a natural fit for Milwaukee. In the competitive world of groceries Cermak offers variety of ethnic foods catering to Mexican, Puerto Rican, Greek, Italian, Polish, Russian and other European and Latin American cultures. (Blaine Schultz) FINALISTS:

• Glorioso's Italian Market • El Rey • Pacific Produce

GROCERY-GOURMET/TAKE-OUT DELI

Glorioso's Italian Market

1011 E. Brady St.

Voted a readers’ favorite for both grocery and take-out deli, this family-owned business has been serving the Milwaukee community for over 70 years. So, they definitely know their way around a meatball with pasta. What could be easier while you shop for food is to order it up and eat it too? (Harry Cherkinian) FINALISTS: GOURMET GROCERY

• G. Groppi Food Market • Sendik's Food Market • Whole Foods Market FINALISTS: TAKE-OUT DELI

• Allie Boy’s Bagelry & Luncheonette • Beans & Barley • Benji's Deli • Bunzel's Meat Market • Danielle's Deli • G. Groppi Food Market • Rupena's Fine Foods • West Allis Cheese & Sausage Shoppe

WINE SELECTION

Ray's Wine & Spirits

8930 W. North Ave.

rayswine.com

Over the past 60 years, Ray’s Wine and Spirits has become well-established as the local go-to place for a big wine selection with a knowledgeable staff who can help you navigate your options. With over 8,000 wines from all around the globe, you’re sure to find a new or different wine every time you visit. (Susan Harpt Grimes) FINALISTS:

• Corvina Wine Company • Discount Liquor Inc • Nonfiction Natural Wines • Thief Wine Shop & Bar

MILWAUKEE MUSIC

ACOUSTIC MUSICIAN Peter Thomas

Peter Thomas is a cellist with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra but he is also a co-founder of MusiConnect, which brings music to people in safe spaces during this pandemic. The concerts are free and typically done in driveways of people’s homes. (Harry Cherkinian) FINALISTS:

• Catelyn Picco • Jake Williams • Matt Davies

ALT COUNTRY

Bella Cain

Few groups in Milwaukee’s music scene operate to the scale of country band Bella Cain. In a normal year, the band plays over 100 shows, with regularly touring production crew as a full-fledged unit. The band’s sound has gradually started to incorporate original material, transforming the once cover-only band into new territory. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS:

• RAT BATH • Rebel Grace • Richie Allen • The Midnight Purchase

BLUEGRASS BAND

The Whiskeybelles

Purists may scoff at characterizing the Whiskeybelles as a Bluegrass band. With music based in traditional country, the female trio are familiar faces at local outdoor festivals. Sure, all bands faced challenges during the pandemic but Whiskeybelles guitarist-vocalist Chrissy Dzioba Clobes became a mother of twins and had weathered carpal tunnel surgery. (Blaine Schultz) FINALISTS:

• Chicken Wire Empire • The MilBillies • Thriftones

BLUES BAND

Milwaukee Blues Rock Collective

Playing for the love of the music, the quintet adds piano and Hammond organ sounds to Alison Helf Ryan’s vocals. MBRC’s solid grooves appeal to fans of high caliber blues and rock, as their energetic State Fair shows demonstrate. (Benjamin Dover) FINALISTS:

•Altered Five Blues Band • Blues Disciples • Tweed

CLUB DJ

DJ Shawna

DJ Shawna has evolved over the past several years, picking up plenty of high-profile gigs, such as the official DJ of the Milwaukee Bucks as well as a Pridefest fixture. There’s good reason for that as well, as she looks to incorporate Milwaukee music into her open-format sets and get crowds moving no matter what the occasion. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS

•DJ Kenny Perez •DJ King James •Mr. New York

COVER/TRIBUTE BAND

Failure to Launch

FTL has been a Cover Band Finalist for a number of years and given their high energy performances, audiences keep coming back for more. They do it all: country, pop, dance, hip-hop, rock—music for every generation. (Harry Cherkinian) FINALISTS:

•FM Rodeo •Smart Mouth •The Now

ELECTRONIC ARTIST

Immortal Girlfriend

The duo of brothers Kevin and William Bush continue to push themselves and the subgenre of chillwave music to Milwaukee’s masses. With a sound that feels like the chase scene in a cool indie movie, Immortal Girlfriend have quickly become one of Milwaukee’s most buzzed about bands. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS:

• LUXI • Moonbow • Ronco

FOLK BAND

The Midnight Purchase

Led by songwriter Orlando Pena, whose story dates back to woodshedding at an Illinois goat farm, the Midnight Purchase is a young Americana band whose sound is wise being their years. After a winter break for family and holiday time they are slated for more recording. (Blaine Schulz) FINALISTS:

•Chris Haise Band • Thriftones

JAZZ COMBO We Six

The resident faculty ensemble of the Milwaukee Jazz Institute, the long-running sextet includes some of Milwaukee’s most acclaimed jazz musicians. They released an album, Vivid Dreams, performed with Phil Woods and Brian Lynch and conduct music education workshops. (Frank Grey) FINALISTS:

•Ellen Winters Group •J. Ryan Trio •The Carlos Adames Group

METAL BAND

snag

Merging the sounds of post-hardcore and conventional metal with environmentally themed content, snag. deliver outward angst to the world at every opportunity. The band’s album Death Doula has earned them national acclaim as one of the next big acts in screamo. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS:

• Conniption •Illusion of Fate •Sam McCullough

MUSIC PRODUCER

Vincent Van Great

Vincent Van Great has evolved greatly in his time around Milwaukee music. From producer to performer, hip hop to R&B, Van Great has touched on it all. His Troublemakers EP alongside songstress Amanda Huff is certainly a local highlight for 2021. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS:

• Moonbow •Rizzy B • SpaceCrime

POLKA BAND

TheSqueezettes

Anchored by Mike Chaltrey’s distinct sousaphone and drummer-vocalist Michael Eells; driven by the twin Baldoni accordions of Linda Mueller (lead accordion) and Pamela Scesniak (rhythm accordion), this polka-inspired group blends humor and tradition. Where else but Milwaukee would you find such a high-energy band fronted by ex-burlesque chanteuse-turned-oldschool torch singer, Chanel le Meaux? (Benjamin Dover) FINALISTS:

• Copperbox • November Criminals •The Happy Schnapps Combo •Val Sigal

RAP/HIP-HOP ARTIST

B.U.

A combination producer/emcee, B.U., short for Better Understanding, can be lethal on the microphone when given the opportunity. Citing influences from a variety of genres, his emotional delivery commands attention. The Blackworld Music Group head is sure to make you remember his name. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS:

•Browns Crew •Ernie Z •Gego y Nony

ROCK BAND Tigera

There seems to be a definite personal chemistry that make this young band go, as evidenced by the short documentary video behind their song “Moment Maker.” They’ve also released a new tune “Every Other Day,” just in time for Christmas. If guitarist Ben Koshick’s name sounds familiar, his family tree leads back to Jack Koshick and the Odd Rock Café. (Benjamin Dover) FINALISTS:

•Sam McCullough • Wonderful Bluffer •Xposed 4Heads

VOCALIST - FEMALE Amanda Huff

As a solo act, part of the duo You Win!!! or on her 2021 collaboration EP with Vincent Van Great, Amanda Huff can win you over with her powerful vocal range. Her bellowing vocals wash over any audience she’s performed for, with raw talent and a flare for the dramatic that are unforgettable. (Allen Halas) FINALISTS:

• B~Free •Valerie Lighthart •Ashley Patin (Smart Mouth)

VOCALIST - MALE Adam Fettig

fmrodeo.net

Known as the voice and guitarist for country band FM Rodeo, Adam Fettig is well-known musician at many local area clubs, pubs and universities. Check out his next shows—solo and with the band—when he’s in town. (Harry Cherkinian) FINALISTS:

•Steven Binko •Austin Riche (Smart Mouth) • Jü