Every year, the Polaris Music Prize ventures to nominate a long list of 40 great Canadian albums, then narrow them down to 10 before announcing the Canadian Album of the Year at the annual Polaris gala. This year's event takes place at Massey Hall on September 19, and it's fast approaching — so the 205 jury members have now unveiled the 2023 short list.
The finalists were announced earlier today during the nationwide Polaris Prize Short List Special broadcast on CBC Music, hosted by two-time nominee Rich Terfry.
Among the short-listers are a pair of Exclaim!'s best albums of 2022, Alvvays' Blue Rev and the Sadies' Colder Streams, as well as Feist's Multitudes, DEBBY FRIDAY'S GOOD LUCK, Daniel Caesar's NEVER ENOUGH and Gayance's Mascarade — some of our best albums of 2023 so far. Aysanabee's Watin, Begonia's Powder Blue, Dan Mangan's Being Somewhere and recent Prism Prize winners Snotty Nose Rez Kids' I'm Good, HBU? have also made the short list.
"This year's 2023 Short List highlights the impressive and ever-evolving dynamicism of Canadian music from artists at all stages of their career," jury foreperson Melissa Vincent said in a press release. "As always, our incredible jury members are the engine and heart of the Polaris Music Prize, and we're grateful for their time spent collectively crafting this list. In an age where our attention has become a valuable commodity, these 10 records are deserving of a deep, slow listen. We invite you to sink your teeth in."
One of these 10 albums will be awarded $50,000 courtesy of Slaight Music. Last year's winner was Pierre Kwenders's José Louis and the Paradox of Love.
Tickets for the marquee event where the 2023 winner will be revealed are on sale now — and the Sadies, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Dan Mangan, DEBBY FRIDAY, Aysanabee, Begonia and Gayance have all been confirmed to perform.
2023 Polaris Prize Short List:
Alvvays - Blue Rev
Aysanabee - Watin
Begonia - Powder Blue
Daniel Caesar - NEVER ENOUGH
Feist - Multitudes
DEBBY FRIDAY - GOOD LUCK
Gayance - Masquerade
Dan Mangan - Being Somewhere
The Sadies - Colder Streams
Snotty Nose Rez Kids - I'm Good, HBU?
The finalists were announced earlier today during the nationwide Polaris Prize Short List Special broadcast on CBC Music, hosted by two-time nominee Rich Terfry.
Among the short-listers are a pair of Exclaim!'s best albums of 2022, Alvvays' Blue Rev and the Sadies' Colder Streams, as well as Feist's Multitudes, DEBBY FRIDAY'S GOOD LUCK, Daniel Caesar's NEVER ENOUGH and Gayance's Mascarade — some of our best albums of 2023 so far. Aysanabee's Watin, Begonia's Powder Blue, Dan Mangan's Being Somewhere and recent Prism Prize winners Snotty Nose Rez Kids' I'm Good, HBU? have also made the short list.
"This year's 2023 Short List highlights the impressive and ever-evolving dynamicism of Canadian music from artists at all stages of their career," jury foreperson Melissa Vincent said in a press release. "As always, our incredible jury members are the engine and heart of the Polaris Music Prize, and we're grateful for their time spent collectively crafting this list. In an age where our attention has become a valuable commodity, these 10 records are deserving of a deep, slow listen. We invite you to sink your teeth in."
One of these 10 albums will be awarded $50,000 courtesy of Slaight Music. Last year's winner was Pierre Kwenders's José Louis and the Paradox of Love.
Tickets for the marquee event where the 2023 winner will be revealed are on sale now — and the Sadies, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, Dan Mangan, DEBBY FRIDAY, Aysanabee, Begonia and Gayance have all been confirmed to perform.
2023 Polaris Prize Short List:
Alvvays - Blue Rev
Aysanabee - Watin
Begonia - Powder Blue
Daniel Caesar - NEVER ENOUGH
Feist - Multitudes
DEBBY FRIDAY - GOOD LUCK
Gayance - Masquerade
Dan Mangan - Being Somewhere
The Sadies - Colder Streams
Snotty Nose Rez Kids - I'm Good, HBU?