Best 4 AM bar
The Owl
Second Place
Berlin
Third Place
Alice’s
Best blues band
Lil’ Ed & the Blues Imperials
Second Place
Toronzo Cannon
Third Place
The Smiley Tillman Band
Best classical ensemble
Chicago Symphony Orchestra
Second Place
Chicago Sinfonietta
Third Place
Lyric Opera Orchestra
Best classical music event
Grant Park Music Festival
Second Place
Thirsty Ears Festival
Third Place
The Godfather Live, 50th Anniversary (Chicago Philharmonic)
Best country band
Lawrence Peters
Second Place
Totally Cashed
Third Place
Dry County Line
Best dance party
Nocturna
Second Place
Fortune
Third Place
Global Currency
Best dive bar
Simon’s
Second Place
Rainbo Club
Third Place (tie)
Empty Bottle
Liar’s Club
Best emerging band
Calicoloco
Second Place
The Dearlys
Third Place
big bird.
Best emerging local label
Sooper Records
Second Place
Ur Mom Records
Third Place
Take a Hike Records
Best established bar
Hopleaf
Second Place
Empty Bottle
Third Place
Gman Tavern
Best gay bar
Berlin
Second Place
Sidetrack
Third Place
Roscoe’s Tavern
Best gig poster designer
Ryan Duggan
Second Place
Mikaela Jane
Third Place
Molly Rian
Best hip-hop DJ
DJ Ca$h Era
Second Place
DJ Bonita Appleblunt
Third Place
DJ Cymba
Best hip-hop group
Pivot Gang
Second Place
Mother Nature
Third Place
Greenlights Music
Best hip-hop party
606 Open Mic at Subterranean
Second Place (tie)
Global Currency at Sleeping Village
Energy (Smallworld Collective) at the Promontory
Best hip-hop producer
Montana Macks
Second Place
Cutta
Third Place
Custom Made
Best hotel bar
LondonHouse Rooftop
Second Place
Broken Shaker at Freehand Chicago
Third Place
ROOF on theWit
Best house music DJ
Derrick Carter
Second Place
Ariel Zetina
Third Place
Zeetus Lapetus
Best individual blues musician
Buddy Guy
Second Place
Joanna Connor
Third Place
Jamiah Rogers
Best individual hip-hop artist
Pinqy Ring
Second Place
Rich Jones
Third Place
Psalm One
Best individual jazz musician
Makaya McCraven
Second Place
Dee Alexander
Third Place (tie)
Sen Morimoto
Isaiah Collier
Best international or world music act
Funkadesi
SurSecond Place
abhi Ensemble
Third Place
Dos Santos
Best jazz ensemble
Chris Greene Quartet
Second Place
Isaiah Collier & the Chosen Few
Third Place
Alvin Cobb Jr. Trio
Best lesbian bar
Nobody’s Darling
Second Place
Dorothy
Third Place
Big Chicks
Best LGBTQ party
Queen!
Second Place
Strapped
Third Place
Slo’ Mo
Best local album of the year
Blue Skies by Dehd
Second Place (tie)
Please Have a Seat by NNAMDÏ
Few Good Things by Saba
Best local label
Drag City
Second Place
Sooper Records
Third Place
International Anthem
Best music festival
Riot Fest
Second Place
Pitchfork
Third Place
Square Roots Festival
Best music podcast
Car Con Carne
Second Place
Sound Opinions
Third Place
Emo Social Club
Best music venue
Thalia Hall
Second Place
Metro
Third Place
Empty Bottle
Best music venue bartender
Gary Kessler
Second Place
Adriana Rose
Third Place
Adam Geiger
Best neighborhood bar
Hopleaf
Second Place
Empty Bottle
Third Place
Gman Tavern
Best new bar
Dorothy
Second Place
Hi Lo
Third Place
Easy Does It
Best non-orchestra classical ensemble
Third Coast Percussion
Second Place
La Caccina
Third Place
Fourth Coast Ensemble
Best pop artist
Cole DeGenova
Second Place
Justice Hill
Third Place
Dawn Xiana Moon
Best punk band
Naked Raygun
Second Place
Meat Wave
Third Place
Bev Rage & the Drinks
Best R&B artist
Jamila Woods
Second Place
KAINA
Third Place
Shawnee Dez
Best recording studio
Electrical Audio
Second Place
Uptown Recording
Third Place
Classick Studios
Best rock band
Dehd
Second Place
Local H
Third Place
Pinksqueeze
Best singer-songwriter
Girl Named Nino
Second Place
Mitch Mead
Third Place
Dawn Xiana Moon
Best streaming concert series
Audiotree
Second Place
City Winery
Third Place
Fulton Street Collective
Best suburban music venue
FitzGerald’s
Second Place
Evanston SPACE
Third Place
The Darkroom
Best venue for blues music
Kingston Mines
Second Place
Rosa’s Lounge
Third Place
Buddy Guy’s Legends
Best venue for classical music
Millennium Park
Second Place
Symphony Center
Third Place
Lyric Opera
Best venue for dance music
Smart Bar
Second Place
Berlin
Third Place
Podlasie Club
Best venue for hip-hop
Subterranean
Second Place
The Promontory
Third Place
Golden Dagger
Best venue for jazz
The Green Mill
Second Place
Jazz Showcase
Third Place
Constellation
Best venue for magic shows
Chicago Magic Lounge
Second Place
Liar’s Club
Third Place (tie)
Golden Dagger
Logan Arcade
Best venue for rock music
Empty Bottle
Second Place
Metro
Third Place
Thalia Hall
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