Without quality venues, musicians would have nowhere to showcase their art. It would be like Vincent Van Gogh without his paintbrush, Michael Jordan without a basketball, or Eau Claire without an ongoing ice cream shop turf war. Readers voted for the Pablo Center at the Confluence (128 Graham Ave., Eau Claire) as the best place for live music in 2021, showing the community’s investment in the facility was well-warranted. In second place is Phoenix Park (330 Riverfront Terrace, Eau Claire), a location where the community has gathered for free local music for more than a decade. Readers voted The Lakely (in The Oxbow Hotel, 516 Galloway St., Eau Claire) into third place, showing the laid-back venue is a valued source for tasty musical offerings in addition to delicious food. — Parker Reed