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Update 6/24/13: The poll is now closed. Thanks for voting!
Update 3/21/13: The poll is now open. Let the voting begin!
The road to the nineteenth annual edition of the Westword Music Showcase is officially being paved. While we’ve already announced some of the acts appearing on the Main Stage this year, below are the acts appearing on this year’s Showcase ballot. With input from folks active in various facets of the scene (readers, bar owners, talent buyers, bloggers, critics, radio personalities and promoters), we’ve assembled an exhaustive list of the city’s top acts in nearly forty categories. It’s a veritable tip sheet of the best and brightest from our scene.
See also:
– Westword Music Showcase initial acts revealed
– Buy tickets to the nineteenth annual Westword Music Showcase on 6/22/13
– The People of 2012 Westword Music Showcase
Putting together the Westword Music Showcase ballot every year is an arduous but ultimately rewarding process. When we poll our committee members, aside from laying out some requisites (we ask them to abstain from nominating any acts that they are personally affiliated with, have a business relationship with, or are in any other way associated with, and advise that any such nominations are disregarded along with the rest of their ballot), we have a very specific request for them to consider when making their nominations. Rather than merely listing the acts that have name recognition, we ask them to point out the ones that left the biggest impression on them over the past year.
“Think about it like this,” we say. “If you had one chance to introduce a group of influential tastemakers from across the country to the absolute best music our city has to offer, what are the acts you’d list? Or like this: If you could take casual music fans on a personally guided tour of our scene and leave them with a lasting impression of the absolute best music this town has to offer, which acts would you highlight? Which ones instantly come to mind? That’s what we’re looking for — those acts.”
We then weighed their informed opinions against our own. The result? The ballot below. And now that we know which acts are on our ballot, we’re going to set about putting together the lineup, which we’ll post in the next month or so. In the meantime, here are the nominees for the very best musical acts in town. In a few days, when the polls open, you’ll have a chance to vote for your favorites — and if you don’t see your favorite act represented, there’s a blank line in each category, where you can write them in.
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
POP – TRADITIONAL
Eldren
Flashbulb Fires
Foxfield Four
PLACES
Rachel & the Kings
Regret Night
Tyler Ward
You Me & Apollo
POP – ALTERNATIVE
Chemistry Club
The Epilogues
Monroe Monroe
My Body Sings Electric
Petals of Spain
The Royal
Take to the Oars
Vices I Admire
POP – INDIE
Fingers of the Sun
The Haircut
The Jekylls
Esme Patterson
Sauna
Vitamins
ROCK – TRADITIONAL
The Big Motif
Calder’s Revolvers
The Congress
Fox Street All Stars
The Foot.
Kinetix
Musketeer Gripweed
Something Underground
ROCK – ALTERNATIVE
Bad Weather California
Dragondeer
In the Whale
The Knew
The Outfit
The Swayback
ROCK – INDIE
A Mouthful of Thunder
Achille Lauro
Ending People
FaceMan
Fierce Bad Rabbit
Hearts in Space
Hindershot
Instant Empire
The Kissing Party
Land Lines
The Morning Clouds
School Knights
Shady Elders
Snake Rattle Rattle Snake
Tjutjuna
Twin Peaks
Continue on to see the other acts on this year’s ballot
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible, so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
ROCK – GARAGE
Thee Dang Dangs
The Blue Rider
The Dirty Few
The Manxx
The Omens
ROCK – HEAVY
The Blackouts
Il Cattivo
Lola Black
MF Ruckus
Warhawk
Zebroids
ROCK – PROGRESSIVE
Confluence
El Toro de La Muerte
I Sank Molly Brown
PANAL S.A. DE C.V.
Rubedo
Yerkish
ROCK – ROOTS
4H Royalty
Arliss Nancy
Carmelita’s Lovers
The Gromet
Mosey West
The Parlor Pickers
Strange Americans
Thief River
Tin Horn Prayer
ROCK – JAM/IMPROV
Technicolor Tone Factory
Frogs Gone Fishing
Jet Edison
The Magic Beans
Smack Thompson
Whiskey Tango
Wonderlic
Yamn
Continue on to see the other acts on this year’s ballot
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible, so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
HIP-HOP – MC (MALE)
Anxious
Cavem Moetavation
Myke Charles
Extra Kool
H*Wood
Hypnautic
Input
Innerstate Ike
Kid Vegas
Mr. Midas
Molina Speaks
Pries
Quiz
Trev Rich
Sole
SP Double
Spoke in Wordz
Time
Turner Jackson
Whygee
HIP-HOP – MC (FEMALE)
Bianca Mikhan
Kitty Crimes
Koo Qua
Lady Speech
Qbala
Xencs L. Wing
HIP-HOP – GROUP
2MX2
American Trash Republic
BLKHRTS
Black Mask
Cobraconda
Diamond Boiz
Fresh Breath Committee
Prime Element
The ReMINDers
Stay Tuned
Two Fresh
Wheelchair Sports Camp
HIP-HOP – BAND
Beats Noir
BigWheel Electrosoul
Broken Tongues
Filthy T
Foodchain
MTHDS
No 1 Left Standing
Whiskey Blanket
HIP-HOP – PRODUCER
Yonnas Abraham
Big J Beats
Boonie Mayfield
Es Nine
Gyp Dahip
Kid Hum
Mass Prod
Qnox
Shae Money
Continue on to see the other acts on this year’s ballot
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible, so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
PUNK
The A-OKs
Allout Helter
Bad Engrish
Boldtype
Dead Ringer
Elway
Frontside Five
The Gamits
King Rat
Pitch Invasion
Potato Pirates
Red Stinger
Reno Divorce
Synthetic Elements
POST-PUNK
Accordion Crimes
Drunken Arrows
Force Publique
Glass Homes
Glass Hits
Joy Subtraction
The Photo Atlas
Wire Faces
HARDCORE
Asylum
Before We’re Done
Burial Plot
Git Some
Of Feather and Bone
Orphans
METAL
Allegaeon
Arcanium
Black Acid Devil
Call of the Void
In the Company of Serpents
Havok
Iconocaust
IAMTHESHOTGUN
Immortal Dominion
Kill Syndicate
Kitzeh
Kingdom of Magic
Native Daughters
Speedwolf
Switchpin
METAL – EXTREME
Cephalic Carnage
Dissonance in Design
Enemy Reign
Vale of Pnath
Vimana
Continue on to see the other acts on this year’s ballot
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible, so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
AMERICANA
Elephant Revival
Grant Farm
Kristina Murray & Two Hearted Jones
The Railsplitters
Rocktin Grove
AVANT-POP
A. Tom Collins
Champagne Charlie
Chimney Choir
Ian Cooke
James and the Devil
The Raven and the Writing Desk
The Widow’s Bane
FOLK
Dovekins
Glowing House
I’m With Her
Mariposa
Paper Bird
Poet’s Row
Princess Music
Safe Boating Is No Accident
Shel
Yawpers
BLUEGRASS
Good Gravy
Finnders & Youngberg
Head for the Hills
Long Road Home
SINGER-SONGWRITER
Danielle Ate the Sandwich
Patrick Dethlefs
Rob Drabkin
Reed Foehl
Lizzie Huffman
John Common & Blinding Flashes of Light
Mike Marchant
Joshua Novak
Anthony Ruptak
Joe Sampson
Caleb Slade
COUNTRY
Bonnie & the Clydes
Casey James Prestwood & the Burning Angels
Ethyl & the Regulars
Halden Wofford & the Hi*Beams
Marty Jones & the Great Unknowns
New Ben Franklins
Continue on to see the other acts on this year’s ballot
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible, so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
ELECTRONIC
Eminence Ensemble
Human Agency
Juno What?!
Octopus Nebula
Project Aspect
Signal Path
ELECTRONIC – EXPERIMENTAL
ALERT
CacheFlowe
Hollagramz
Ieungliss
Kevin Costner Suicide Pact
Men in Burka
Tollund Men
ELECTRONIC – POP
Flashlights
option4
South of France
ManCub
Roniit
JAZZ
Ron Miles
Go Star
Greg Harris Vibe Quintet
Greg Garrison
Matt Skellenger
Convergence
SHIRLEY
Jon Wirtz
BLUES
The Austin Young Band
Dan Treanor’s Afrosippi Band
The Delta Sonics
Willie Houston
The Lionel Young Band
Eddie Turner
Continue on to see the other acts on this year’s ballot
2013 WESTWORD MUSIC SHOWCASE BALLOT
Important: if your act is listed on the following pages, please send us your contact info (name, phone number, email and physical addresses) as soon as possible, so that we can make sure we have your current contact information and ensure you’re included in our Showcase coverage this year.
FUNK/SOUL/R&B
Devan Blake Jones
Bop Skizzum
Demon Funkies
Filthy Children
Funkiphino
Amanda Hawkins
Ten Pound Elephant
The Love Royale
REGGAE/DUB
Apex Vibe
Coral Thief
The Dendrites
Desciples
Dubskin
Judge Roughneck
SlaughterHouse Rootz
Tatanka
WORLD
Atomga
Euforquestra
The Indulgers
Izcalli
Potcheen
Quemando
Trichome
DJ – EDM
Dragon
Coult-45
Hipp-E
Ishe
Vinnie Maniscalco
Raw Russ
Robotic Pirate Monkey
John Templeton
DJ – Hip-Hop
Brik-A-Brak
Cysko Rokwel
DJ Ktone
DJ Lazy Eyez
DJ Low Key
DeeJay Tense
DJ Top Shelf
DJ Vajra
DJ – Dance
boyhollow
Double // Shadow
DJ Narky Stares
Mile High Soul Club
MU$A
Ginger Perry
Rockstar Aaron
Shannon von Kelly
Nominating Committee: David Barber (Rock On Colorado), Morris Beegle, Jonathan Bitz (Syntax), Doug Bohm (SoCo Nightlife), Nicole Cacciavillano (Sub.Mission), Steve Cervantes (Zombie Rock Presents), Britt Chester (Westword), Matty Clark (hi-dive), Nicole Cormier (Hip-Hop Roll Call), Greta Cornett (Road 34/FoCoMA/FoCoMX/Bohemian Nights at NewWestFest), Bree Davies (Westword), Ben Desoto (hi-dive), Virgil Dickerson (Illegal Pete’s/Greater Than), Guy Errickson (Naked Stage), Scott Foley (KFRC), Brian Frederick (Westword), James Freeman (That’s The Thing About That), A.H. Goldstein (Westword), Scott Happel (Oriental Theater/Sacred Chao), Brianna Hernandez (Early Bird // Night Owl), Josiah Hesse (Westword), Leonard Jackson, Ru Johnson (Denver Post), Tiffiny Kallina (The Ruckus), Dan King (Boulder Outlook Hotel), Scott LaBarbera (Oriental Theater), Chris Kresge (Rocky Mountain Music Network/The Colorado Sound), Brad Lopez (Westword/Metallix), David McIntyre (Oskar Blues), Jeff McQuilkin (The Oomph Music Blog), David Meyer, Matt Miner (Westword), Tom Murphy (Westword), Jim Norris (3 Kings Tavern), Ruthie Owen, Sid Pink, Danny Sax (AEG), Dutch Seyfarth (Westword/ Colorado Music Gear Swap & Trade Show), Loren Speer, Lance Stack (The Flat Response), Michael Stein (Meadowlark), Amber Taufen (Westword), Chris Thomas (Herman’s Hideaway), Clifton Thompson, Kai Turner (KRFX/Strictly Blues), John Wenzel (Denver Post), JR Wolfe, David Zaharia (VooDoo).
