The 40th WAMI Awards were worth the wait and a welcome celebration of the return of Wisconsin music.
Held Sunday, Oct. 17 at Milwaukee’s Turner Hall, the evening included a slate of impressive performances in addition to the honors.
Your 2021 WAMI Award winners are:
Artist of the year: Unity The Band
Album of the year: "Power Petting," Black Belt Theatre
Song of the year: "Love Lies Bleeding," Rose of the West
New artist of the year: 7000apart
Male vocalist of the year: Bobby Rouse
Female vocalist of the year: Jennifer Schafer
Singer-songwriter of the year: Kurt Gunn
Rising Star of the year: Lilie Fouts
Alternative rock artist: Marielle Allschwang & the Visitations
Bluegrass/Americana artist: Them Coulee Boys
Christian/gospel artist: Samuel Elias
Blues artist: The Jay Stulo Band
Country artist: Buffalo Gospel
Cover artist: Almighty Vinyl
Folk/Celtic artist: The Roving Scallywags
Hard Rock artist: Last Crack
Metal artist: Morta Skuld
Punk artist: IfIHadAHiFi
Jazz artist: Mr. Chair
Polka artist: Stas Venglevski
Pop-rock artist: Rose of the West
Hip-hop/rap artist: Klassik
R&B/soul artist: Bryon Cherry
World/reggae/ska/Latin: Something to Do
Club/DJ/dance/electronic artist: DJ Bizzon
Horn/big band artist: Stephen Cooper and the Nobody Famous
Tribute artist: The Docksiders
Bass: Cedric LeMoyne
Drummer: Mike Malone
Guitarist: Sean Williamson
Keyboard: Joe Hite
Reeds/brass: Matt Antoniewicz
Strings: Tim McIlere
Best studio engineer/producer: Eric LaBrosse
Best recording studio: Kneeverland Productions
Best live club/venue: The Saloon on Calhoun
Best live engineer sound/lights: Craig Vetrone
President's Award: Geoff Landon
People’s Choice Awards:
Southeast -- Artist: Tangled Lines, Radio station: 102.9 The Hog, Fan of the year: Brenda Blackhalo, Music teacher of the year: Marty Morgan, Music venue of the year: The Saloon on Calhoun
Northeast --Artist: That '90s Band, Radio station: 101 WIXX, Fan of the year: Doris Budwit, Music teacher of the year: Renee Millard, Music venue of the year: Stone Toad Bar & Grill
Northwest -- Artist: The Dweebs, Radio station: 92.9 The X, Fan of the year: Chris Evanston Music teacher of the year: Victoria Shoemaker, Music venue of the year: Schuggy's
Southwest -- Artist: Cherry Pie, Radio station: 101.5 WIBA, Fan of the year: Kati Schirmer, Music teacher of the year: Tara Imhof, Music venue of the year: Fawn Creek Winery
Hall of Fame: Viola Smith, Semi-Twang, The Esquires, Kevn Kinney
Wall of Honor: Madison Area Music Association, Eddie Butts, Bob Babisch, Vic Thomas, Marilynn Mee, Gary Shaw