Polaris Music Prize shortlist features Peaches, Tanya Tagaq competing for $30,000
Canada's most prestigious music award will crown its winner at Toronto's Massey Hall on September 22, with 10 albums in contention.
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Canada's most prestigious music award has unveiled its 10-album shortlist, with the winner set to be crowned September 22 at Toronto's Massey Hall.
The Polaris Music Prize, awarded annually to the Canadian album judged to have the greatest artistic merit, comes with a $30,000 cash prize courtesy of the Slaight Family Foundation. Competing albums span genres including electronica, hip-hop, rock, folk, and experimental music, with artists ranging from established names to emerging talent.
On the shortlist are Angine de Poitrine's Vol. II; Aquakultre's 1783; Begonia's Fantasy Life; Bibi Club's Amaro; Charlotte Cornfield's Hurts Like Hell; Beverly Glenn-Copeland's Laughter In Summer; Rochelle Jordan's Through The Wall; Les Louanges' Alouette!; Peaches' No Lube So Rude; and Tanya Tagaq's Saputjiji. Tagaq previously won the prize in 2014 for Animism and was shortlisted again in 2017.
Hosting the ceremony is Odario Williams of CBC Music's Afterdark. Tickets are on sale now on the Massey Hall website, with code POLARIS20 offering 20% off. A weekly CBC Music series called The Ten launches July 19, featuring discussions with music writers and Polaris jurors examining each shortlisted album every Sunday at 6 p.m. through September 13.
For the first time this year, all jurors will vote on the winning album rather than a select grand jury, based on discussion and debate sessions taking place over the coming months.