The Rebelles: Best Locally Produced Play. photo by Michael Traister

After a three-year reign as best singer-songwriter, Tyler Ramsey was unseated this year by blues vocalist Eliza Lynn (it’s doubtful that Tyler is losing much sleep over the upset, but we do wish he’d get around to releasing another solo album). But the oddest trend among the Entertainment winners this year is a tendency for acts and events as yet unperformed to take top honors.

The Rebelles took first place for best play, though Nothing is Sacred ran concurrent to the final days of Best Of voting. Asheville the Movie wins third place in the movie category, even though all any of us have seen is the trailer, and the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam is still months off. Still, if preemptive voting portends great expectations, how can we argue with that kind of enthusiasm?

Beyond the crystal-ball approach to the ballot, music fans proved faithful to local favorites like Mad Tea Party, Stephanie’s ID and Toubab Krewe - as well as a handful of newcomers. Just about a year on the scene and Custard Pie has already racked up a second place (with as many bands as Woody Wood is in, someone needs to give him an award).

- Alli Marshall

Local art gallery

Blue Spiral
38 Biltmore Ave, Asheville
251-0202
BoBo
22 N Lexington Ave, Asheville
254-3426
The Wedge
151 Roberts St, Asheville
254-7123

Local visual artist

Lisa Nance
Rob O’Sheeran
Brooke Priddy
Daniel Nevins

Local band: blues/jazz

Firecracker Jazz Band
Stephanie’s Id
One Leg Up

Local band: country/alt-country

Dave Desmelik
Menage
Sons of Ralph

Local band: folk/old-time/bluegrass

Rib Tips
Mad Tea Party
Steep Canyon Rangers

Local band: hip-hop

The Fist Family
GFE
Sports

Local band: rock

Toubab Krewe
Stephanie’s Id
Custard Pie
Reigning Sound

Local band: indie/noise

Descolada
Stephanie’s Id
Toubab Krewe
The Afromotive

Local singer/songwriter

Eliza Lynn
Tyler Ramsey
Christine Kane

Local club DJ/turntablist

DJ Stowy
DJ Equal
Mark Davis

Local outdoor concert

Shindig on the Green
Bele Chere
Downtown after Five

Local recording studio

Collapseable Recording Studio
Echo Mountain
Giraffe Studio
Hi Five
Whitewater Recording

Local poet/author

Glenis Redmond
David Hopes
Tommy Hays

Locally produced play

The Rebelles Revival: Nothing is Sacred by The Rebelles Burlesque
Stones in His Pockets produced by NC Stage Company
The Tempest presented by the Montford Park Players

Local stage company

North Carolina Stage Company
Asheville Community Theatre
Montford Park Players

Locally produced film

Moon Europa
Rank Strangers
Asheville the Movie

Local video store

Orbit DVD
13 Mildred Ave, Asheville
251-1337
Rosebud Video
197 Charlotte St, Asheville
250-9500
Broadway Video
58 Broadway St, Asheville
254-2123

Place to dance

The Grey Eagle
185 Clingman Ave, Asheville
232-5800
The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville
225-5851
Broadway’s
113 Broadway St, Asheville
285-0400
Scandals
11 Grove St, Asheville
252-2838

Place to hear live music

The Orange Peel
101 Biltmore Ave, Asheville
225-5851
The Grey Eagle
185 Clingman Ave, Asheville
232-5800
Jack of the Wood
95 Patton Ave, Asheville
252-5445

Show (live music or other) of 2006

Tom Waits
Warren Haynes Christmas Jam
The Rebelles Burlesque
Toubab Krewe