It's not all junk food and arts and crafts, of course. Some 50-plus of this year's best things/places/people/events in Denver come from the world of music, covered here every day on Backbeat. For ease of perusal, we've spotlighted those below. Click on any of the category titles to read about this year's winner. And let's start some healthy debates in the comments or on Facebook or Twitter. It's already time to start looking for next year's best.
Best Jukebox Skylark Lounge
Best Karaoke Bar Armida's Mexican Restaurant & Lounge
Best Open Mic The Meadowlark
Best Jazz Jam The Meadowlark
Best Blues Jam Ziggies
Best Blues Club Ziggies
Best Jazz Club Dazzle Restaurant & Lounge
Best Dance Club Beta
Best New Club ViewHouse
Best Dance Party of the Summer Global Dance Festival
Best Club Night Mile High Soul Club
Best Dance Party of the Year Decadence
Best Disco Revival Denver Disco
Best DJ Party DJ Ktone's Birthday Bash 6: Denver Got Next
Best Beach Parties Inkmonstr Pool Party Series
Best Theme Parties Crowdsurf Concerts
Best DJ Set DJ Muggs
Best DJ Showcase Electronic Tuesdays
Best Hip-Hop Hangout Cold Crush
Best Hip-Hop Brunch Table 6
Best Club Patio Bar Standard/Milk Bar
Best Club Smoking Area Vinyl
Best Cocktails at a Music Venue The Soiled Dove Underground
Best Metal Brewery TRVE Brewing
Best Metal Fest Denver Black Sky
Best Mic Stand Lola Black
Best Vending Machine Larimer Lounge
Best Bathrooms at a Music Venue Red Rocks Visitor Center
Best Experimental Mix Watt? Amplified and Supercharged Music Expression
Best Musical Mix Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Best Mix of Music and Comedy Greater Than Social Club
Best Underground Venue Lannie's Clocktower Cabaret
Best New Venue The Sidewinder Tavern
Best Place to See New Bands Seventh Circle Music Collective
Best Unexpected Place to Hear Local Music Untitled at the Denver Art Museum
Best DIY Promoter Zach Smith
Best Underground Talent Promoter The Hundred/Home
Best Reunion Show 40th Day
Best Album-Release Show Chimney Choir
Best Album-Cover Design Scavenger, The Raven and the Writing Desk
Best Flier Art Ethan McCarthy
Best Stage Art FaceMan's shark stage
Best Music TV Sounds on 29th
Best Music Video "Culture Over Currency Vol.1" Collective Culture Cypher
Best Band Name Change Wiredogs
Best New Band Inner Oceans
Best Concert of the Year Prince and 3rd Eye Girl
• BACKBEAT'S GREATEST HITS • - The fifty best rap lyrics of all time - The ten biggest concert buzzkills - Five more concert buzzkills - From Phish to Floyd, the ten best light shows
Follow @Westword_Music