Best of the Chippewa Valley

Reader Polls

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2022

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2023

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2024

The Best of the Chippewa Valley 2025

Best Local Album Released In The Last Year

While Bon Iver may be excluded from winning Best Overall Band nowadays, that didn’t stop them from winning Best Local Album Released In The Last Year for their sentimental EP, Sable. And while the top slot went to a longtime local favorite, a debut album took second place. Sad Records and Country Tunes by Wyatt Thomson is making waves in the Chippewa Valley for its raw emotion and nostalgic vibes of a time long gone by. The third-place finisher is Splash by Sue Orfield & Joan Hutton, another example of tasteful jazz being laid to tape. —Parker Reed