The 28-year-old host of The Cosmic Haligonian Music is the epitome of a volunteer CKDU radio programmer. Petrie—now into his ninth year at the station—plays the best and most current local alt-country every Thursday from 3:30 to 5pm. “A certain familiarity builds up I guess,” Petrie says. “They’re interested in hearing Gabe Minnikin, Matt Mays or whoever come on and talk about their music. It’s the only chance a lot of people get to hear these artists talk about what they’re doing.” It’s his devotion to the local scene and his knowledge of the alt-rock/alt-folk genres that earns Petrie best local DJ for the second year in a row. “I suspect that a lot of people who like local music can’t go to shows at 10 o’clock at night,” he says. “I picture a bunch of single moms at home wondering what’s going on on the air.”
Runner-up: Tom Bedell, Q104