EVENT: Last Day To Keep Phog Lounge Alive in CBC Radio 3 Searchlight Competition

For years now, CBC Radio 3 has been carrying the torch promoting independent Canadian music - from Pop to Hip-Hop, from Alt. Country to Rock N' Roll - promoting, encouraging, developing and singing the praises of thousand upon thousands of artists, from Arcade Fire and Tegan & Sara to Elliott Brood and Caribou. There are hundreds of Windsor artists on-line and many have found their way into Radio 3's regular programming and been featured on Podcasts, Top 30's and more.

From time to time, Radio 3 holds "Searchlight" contests, where music fans across Canada vote on what they like and think should be recognized. The current contest is to determine what is the Best Live Music Club in Canada. This isn't a contest to see who has the biggest club or has the best sound system or has the coolest decor, it's a contest to see what club's are bringing their communities the best in independent music, both nationally and locally, showing great diversity in its line-ups as well as providing atmosphere for both artist and patron.

It started a few weeks ago with everyone across the country writing in their nominations. Anyone who was nominated was put on the ballot. Two Windsor venues were nominated, The Kildare House and Phog Lounge. Voting then proceeded on a daily basis at CBC Radio 3's website. After a slow start, Phog Lounge made the first cut. After a week, the entire list of nominations was whittled down to the Top 50 still standing. And out of every venue nominated, from Victoria, BC to Charlottetown, PEI, Phog made the Top 50.

The next round of voting began again and this time instead of hundreds of options, you had just 50. And Phog was one of those options. The rally cry was heard and people from Windsor cast their vote.

Last week, Phog made the third cut. Yes, long after venues like The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto had fallen off the voting list, Phog Lounge still stood.

Well, today is the final day of voting for this very important leg. After midnight tonight, the powers that be at CBC Radio 3 will tally the votes (you can vote once per day) and announce the nominees for the Top 10 Best Live Venues in Canada. And it would be awesome for Phog to get in there. The people at CBC (and many of the "bigger" club owners) are already amazed that this little secret from Windsor made the Top 50, let alone the Top 20.

So what do we, as music fans and Windsor fans, stand to gain from Phog winning this contest? Well, for one bragging rights. Our city, often overlooked by national media as well as national musicians, will now see that not only do we have a venue that will house them, they have a passionate fan base who will support them coming through.

But there's more...

CBC Radio 3 will set up a very special concert at the winning venue with some pretty decent national acts (I'm sure a local will be squeezed on as well - if not, we'll fight to sneak one on!). This concert will be broadcast live on CBC Radio 3 which is also broadcoast on the Sirius satellite radio network (a subscription gets installed in the winning venue as well), CBC Radio 3 clothing for staff, giveaways for patrons, and a winning plaque and trophy to be displayed that everytime you see will bring you pride in knowing that you helped turned Phog Lounge from The Little Venue That Could to The Little Venue That Did.

Come on Windsor. Let the rest of Canada hear you voice. Or at least the subtle click of your mouse.

Click HERE to vote.