Ladies and gentlemen, we present the first category with a new winner this year. Ousting The Atria as your favorite music venue of 2011 is Murphy’s Pub.

With 21 different venues nominated Murphy’s was only able to take in 10% of the votes but that was enough to take the top spot. For the pub located at 15 Simcoe St. N. in downtown Oshawa 2011 was the first full year they were in business, having opened their doors halfway through 2010. 2011 also saw new venue The Bombshell open on the second floor above them, which apparently only helped business.

Murphy’s continues to shine in Oshawa with a location in the heart of downtown Oshawa and a friendly atmosphere and staff. Weekly events like Hairy Holler’s Sunday open jam and Derek Giberson & The Professors Of Funk every Friday night are building a reputation while 2011 also saw the pub play host to out-of-town acts like Ron Hawkins, B.A. Johnston, and Waterbodies.

2011 saw The Robert McLaughlin Gallery enter the concert-hosting game with their First Fridays series as well as Mad Cafe, Cocoa & Joe, and The Garden Grove yoga studio as bands looking to play all-ages shows sought alternatives from the bars that dominate the music scene in Oshawa. Unfortunately The Garden Grove closed its doors this December. It remains a struggle for music fans under 19 years of age to see shows, let alone play them.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Murphys-Pub-Grill/117018305019394