1st Place: Bon Iver at The State Theatre
2nd Place: Jim Pullman at Decadent Cabaret
3rd Place: Mojo Lemon at Owen Park

If you were in the Chippewa Valley at any point in 2008, chances are you either took part in or overheard conversations about the smoking ban and Bon Iver. Locals followed the ongoing saga of Justin Vernon like crazy, from late show appearances and music festivals to music blog reviews and magazine cover stories. And the whole thing climaxed in December, when the boys of Bon Iver decided to wrap up their tour and momentous year with a sold-out show at The State Theatre. Good winter, indeed. The House of Rock’s annual celebration of rock and glam celebrated 30 years in March, and the highlight of the awesome weekend was a Pixies tribute set by Jim Pullman Band with Elizabeth (of Quinn Elizabeth) and Trevor Ives (of Meridene). It was so good that they did an encore performance at the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series. Blues band Mojo Lemon had a memorable performance as well this year, playing the highly successful new blues series in Owen Park in June. – Trevor Kupfer