In a rare surprise, the Wisconsin Area Music Industry (or WAMI!) has actually recognized a musician from our area. At their annual WAMI Awards ceremony yesterday, the organization named Eau Claire-based Bon Iver as “artist of the year” – the top honor available. Didn't see that coming. Nominated in four WAMI categories, Bon Iver’s Justin Vernon took home just the one award.

Traditionally, when nominating artists and doling out its awards, folks at the Milwaukee-based WAMI seem to have trouble looking northward. Theories abound, but many industry insiders believe that, once you get to Baraboo, the Circus World Museum (with its vintage circus posters and fabulous antique wagon showroom) somehow sucks up people’s attention, rendering them unable to focus on anything else in that direction. As a result, Madison and Milwaukee area artists tend to fill up the winning slots.

No one’s asking us, but hey, if they did, we’d say a small army of northern Wisconsin rock, jazz, and blues musicians could easily stand beside the (equally talented) award-winners of the Madi-wuakee area.

We’re not sure what happened this year to open WAMI’s eyes to the music of Wisconsin’s northland. Perhaps the scene up north has finally achieved a critical mass of musical artistry, and the pile of talent was finally big enough to be seen from the south. Perhaps, the area’s PR managers have learned some new tricks. Or perhaps it’s that Bon Iver – a band that’s more famous than Barack Obama and Jesus (combined) in terms of the national indie music scene – was juuuust successful enough to squeak into the WAMI Field of Vision (WAMIFOV). Who can say?

At any rate, we’re very glad to see the Wisconsin Area Music Industry recognize music from our area (much like what Minnesota Public Radio has been doing for years). And we hope it continues. Here’s a list of this year’s winners.

P.S. The Stone’s Throw was nominated in “Best Music Venue” category. Woo-hoo!