Best New Band

Gash brought something electric to the Eau Claire DIY scene this year, quickly garnering a cult following with experimental punk tunes and a devotion to creating spaces to gather. Through the Kitchen Hole, a band made up of six Memorial High grads, first connected through a shared music class and soon graduated to performing at Summerfest in Milwaukee. In third place, Girl Band is a collaborative effort from four local “really cool women” who set out to create fun and unexpected music. — Katy Hackworthy