Mark it down on your calendar: Newza VIII is coming Nov. 2! Check back soon for more details.

A big congratulations to Holy Joe & The Principles 2.0, the winners of Newzapalooza 2011.

Celebrity judges chose the Toronto Star group as the top media act out of seven bands, which included strong sonic entires from the Globe, CP, Maclean's, CityTV, Jazz FM, Reuters and the Toronto Sun. It was a great crowd, and thanks to all who came or couldn't and picked up tickets anyway. Organizers agreed it was the best show yet, including a superb set by Andrew Cash and Charlie Angus. The NDP rockers played nice and so did celeb judge Tony Clement. Gazebo jokes were kept to a respectable minimum.

In the process, Star types and others helped raise over $9,000 for the Children's Aid Foundation.

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