88Nine RadioMilwaukee Music Awards
A number of Milwaukee's best bands took the stage last night at Turner Hall and 88.9 RadioMilwaukee handed out awards for 2012's best new music.
Field Report took home the honors of “Album of the Year” at the 2012 88Nine RadioMilwaukee Music Awards. All photos by Benjamin Wick.
Performances by top local artists including Jaill, Field Report, Juniper Tar, Klassik and Vic and Gab were punctuated with station staff presenting awards to some of our finest local talent.
88Nine Radio Milwaukee Music Award nominees Vic and Gab performed at the celebration at Turner Hall Ballroom.
The awards honor artists in classic categories like “Album of the Year” and “Band of the Year,” but also include unique recognitions for “Catchiest Song,” “Best Disc We Missed,” and “Bandcamp Release of the Year.” An elaborate stage set by local video and projection specialists Video Villains added a sense of prestige to the night and helped showcase nominees for “Best Album Artwork” and “Video of the Year.”
The event has grown each year since the inaugural ceremony in 2007, the year RadioMilwaukee hit the airwaves. The station curates the categories and and leaves the voting up to the fans via their website. Jordan Lee, Assistant Program Director at 88Nine says putting the final vote to the people is a demonstration of the station’s interest in community engagement. More than 3,000 fans took part in the vote – up considerably since the event’s inception.
Lee says he’s optimistic about the current state of music in Milwaukee with previously underappreciated bands getting national recognition and younger bands making names for themselves through hard work and constant touring. A little radio play doesn’t hurt either.
88Nine RadioMilwaukee “Solo Artist of the Year” Award winner, hip hop/jazz musician Klassik.
Here’s the list of the winners:
- Album of the Year: Field Report – Field Report
- Song of the Year: Jaill – “Waste a Lot of Things“
- Solo Artist of the Year: Klassik
- Band of the Year: Hugh Bob and the Hustle
- Catchiest Song: Surgeons in Heat – “Flying Away“
- Best Album Artwork: Into Arcadia – Escaper (artwork by Brooklyn Henke)
- Best Music Video: Altos – “Sing (For Trouble)” (directed by Sean Williamson)
- Bandcamp Release of the Year: Great Lake Drifters – For Your Consideration
- Best Disc RadioMilwaukee Missed (overlooked): Wolfgang Schaefer – Typewriter
- Best Live Show: Juniper Tar
- Milwaukee Music Ambassador Award: Evan Rytlewski
