1st Place: Rock Fest
2nd Place: UWEC Jazzfest
3rd Place: Wamfest

One might expect the top three local music festivals to be our biggest three (Rock Fest, Country Fest, and Country Jam) but that’s not entirely the case with a group of voter/readers who tend to be familiar with a little more than just the mainstream around here. However, the behemoth that is Rock Fest could not be denied, as the massive annual party in Cadott garnered the top slot this year thanks in part to bands including Stone Temple Pilots, Matchbox Twenty, Godsmack, and more. UWEC’s Jazz Festival is a really big deal in the academic jazz world, drawing thousands of musicians, families, and fans every spring. However it’s most likely their recent expansion by adding more community-based jazz events to their schedule that got them on this year’s list. Rounding out the top three was Wamfest, a three-day festival in August at the Wigwam Tavern in downtown Eau Claire, complete with a bikini contest, a massive beer bong, plenty of bands, and more. So I guess that one is like a mini-Rock Fest. Put the Jazz Festival in the middle and it makes for an interesting musical sandwich. – Nick Meyer