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Music

Readers’ Choice 2015: Music

Best Band

Lemon Bucket Orkestra

lemonbucket.com, @lemonbucket

A super-band Lemon Bucket Orkestra definitely are, and not just because they boast 15-plus members. Their merging of Balkan, klezmer, gypsy and punk music into a high-energy, danceable sound has taken them to South Korea and Europe and draws local crowds big enough to fill the Opera House, which they’ll do on November 27 in support of new album Moorka. Plus, the ensemble’s talents aren’t limited to clubs and concert halls their interactive Ukrainian folk opera, Counting Sheep, won them 4Ns from NOW’s theatre critics at this year’s SummerWorks.

Runner-up: Alvvays alvvays.com, @alvvaysband

Best Concert Hall

Massey Hall

178 Victoria, 416-872-4255, masseyhall.com, @soundboardto

It’s easy to credit Massey Hall’s enduring popularity with its hallowed halls, graceful balconies, fine acoustics, legendary concerts and top-notch programming. (This year alone saw Emmylou Harris, Tame Impala, Hozier and Wynton Marsalis come through its doors.) But it’s initiatives like Live At Massey Hall – which pairs complementary Canadian musicians, sets admission at $18.94 (a number that matches the year the venue opened) and films it for a video series – that makes it all the more deserving.

Runner-up: Danforth Music Hall 147 Danforth, 416-778-8163, thedanforth.com@thedanforthmh

[See a full list of this year’s results here.]

Best Record Store

Sonic Boom

215 Spadina, 416-532-0334, sonicboommusic.com, @SonicBoomMusic

Sonic Boom has seen a lot of recent changes – namely, moving from Honest Ed’s, opening and shuttering a Kensington Market location and now existing solely at a 13,000-square-foot space on the edge of Chinatown – and you’re sticking with them all the way. It is, after all, the country’s largest independent record store, has the most inventive window displays and boasts a truly mouth-watering selection of new and used rare vinyl. Cassettes, CDs, turntables and audio accessories, too.

Runner-up: Rotate This! 801 Queen West, 416-504-8447, rotate.com, @RotateThisYYZ

Best Live Music Club

Horseshoe Tavern

370 Queen West, 416-598-4226, horseshoetavern.com@HorseshoeTavern

Thanks to well-connected promoters Jeff Cohen and Craig Laskey, we can ask things like, “Hey, did you snag a ticket to Pixies at the Horseshoe?” (which happened in June after the band’s gig with Robert Plant fell through). The 68-year-old Queen West venue specializes in the best indie rock, alt country, electro pop and more, while Tuesdays are dedicated to Dave Bookman’s free Nu Music Nites, giving emerging bands time on the legendary stage. Plus, you can order a late-night Papa Burger from the A&W window at the front of the bar.

Runner-up: Lee’s Palace 529 Bloor West, 416-532-1598, leespalace.com, @LeesPalaceTO

Best Rapper

Drake

drakeofficial.com, @Drake

Your pick for best rapper is a guy who’s constantly in the news, most recently for his hilarious dancing (non-dancing?) in his Hotline Bling video. But we’re thinking the local love has more to do with Drake’s obsession with the city he’s dubbed The 6ix, his global ambassadorship for the Raptors and his always sold-out OVO Fest. And let’s not forget that he released two hyped albums this year, the Polaris Prize-nominated If You’re Reading This It’s Too Late and What A Time To Be Alive, a collab with Future. No rest for the funky.

Runner-up: illvibe illvibemusic.com, @illvibemusic

[See a full list of this year’s results here.]

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