BEST LIVE THEATER VENUE/PRODUCTION

Muni/Hairspray Our very own Springfield Muni is one of the largest, all-volunteer, community theater groups in the nation. With more than 50 years of experience providing the finest in musical theater to central Illinois, this jewel of an outdoor venue, set near Lake Springfield, supports four full-blown productions each summer, presenting popular American musicals on the stage. For IT readers, Hairspray was by far the choice for best production this season among all local productions. Directed by Craig Williams and produced by Whitney Rosen and starring Aimee Jarzembowski as Tracy Turnblad and Jesse Trieger as Link Larkin with the usual cast of many on the stage and behind the scenes, this contemporary show (on Broadway just in 2002) struck a vibrant chord throughout our community with a peculiarly positive message and plenty of fun music.

BEST PLACE FOR KARAOKE

Sluggo’s AMF Strike and Spare 2660 W. Lawrence Ave., 787-6111 Springfield does love its karaoke, as poignantly apparent from the many listings found weekly in IT’s pub crawl. Nothing cements this observation more than a visit to any karaoke night at a local club and a gander at the intrepid entertainers. But of all the myriad opportunities available to wannabe starlets to warble the night away, locals voted Sluggo’s as the best place to be seen and be heard. Perhaps it’s the special Karaoke Cocktail or the mere fact of Sluggo’s longtime support of the karaoke scene or the special talents of host Greg Bomke or the peculiar combo of strikes, spares and gutter balls with singing words on a screen. Regardless, the combination of factors produced a winner among IT readers. Runner-up: DJ Up All Night at the Blue Grouch

BEST LOCAL ROCK BAND

Hipbone Sam Band Whether acting as an amiable open jam host or a gregarious front man for his band, Hipbone Sam (a.k.a. Kevin Hawkins) instills a constant and spirited presence on the local music scene. From humble beginnings as a solo acoustic guitarist hosting various open mics, HBS now presents two weekly jams (Tuesdays at Koo Koos Nest and Thursdays at Blue Grouch), featuring the full-band, jam experience for lucky onstage guests. Combining that with gigging nearly every Friday and Saturday night at a some local club (and plenty of Sundays afternoons, too) makes him the hardest working man with a band in Springfield’s bar business arena and a deserving winner of this coveted award. Other bands in the running include Nil8, GRIM, Lazer Dudes and Screamin’ Vatos.

BEST RAP/HIP-HOP BAND ARTIST

Gypsy Collabo Within the burgeoning Springfield world of rap and hip-hop (we’re finally getting there) more than 30 different artists (including one apparently called “Springfield has hip-hop?”) received varying amounts of votes, but local rockin’, rappin’, hip-hoppin’ band Gypsy Collabo left them all in the dust by a huge amount. Conceived in 2002 when the rock band Tipsy Gypsys met upand-coming hip-hop collective Collabo, the group prides itself on combining a modern pop appeal with an old-school band approach, creating a blended style particular to Gypsy Collabo members David Hale III, Derek Anderson, Jon McGrath, Colin Helton and Matt Scherer. Other artists receiving honorable mention include Agent Orange, Deuce Fam, 95 Mental, DBO and C-Note.