Monday night at The Carlu in Toronto the Polaris Music Prize was awarded to Lido Pimienta (left) for the album La Papessa.
The annual prize awards $50,000 to the Canadian Album of the Year, based solely on merit, regardless of genre, or sales numbers. A Grand Jury of independent music journalists, broadcasters, and bloggers determine a long list of albums, released between June 1, 2016 and May 31, 2017 before narrowing it down to the short list of 10 albums.
To determine the Album of the Year, the Grand Jury is also reduced to a short list of 11 jurists who then award the Polaris Prize.
In addition to the $50,000 awarded to the winner, the remaining 9 finalists each receive $3000 from Slaight Music.
The 2017 runners-up include;
A Tribe Called Red – We Are The Halluci Nation
BADBADNOTGOOD – IV
Leonard Cohen – You Want It Darker
Gord Downie – Secret Path
Feist – Pleasure
Lisa LeBlanc – Why You Wanna Leave, Runaway Queen?
Tanya Tagaq – Retribution
Leif Vollebekk – Twin Solitude
Weaves – Weaves
The Polaris Gala was hosted by CBC Radio 2 morning host and Polaris juror Raina Douris and featured performances from 6 of the Top 10 finalists; including include Lido Pimienta, Weaves, Leif Vollebekk, Tanya Tagaq, Feist and Lisa Leblanc. The evening also featured the exclusive worldwide debut of Leonard Cohen’s new video for “Leaving the Table,” directed by Christopher Mills. To watch highlights and more music from the Polaris Prize Gala visit cbcmusic.ca/polarisprize
Lido Pimienta joins the illustrious list of Polaris Prize Winners; Kaytranada (2016), Buffy Sainte-Marie (2015), Tanya Tagaq (2014), Godspeed You! Black Emperor (2013), Feist (2012), Arcade Fire (2011), Karkwa (2010), Fucked Up (2009), Caribou (2008), Patrick Watson (2007) and Final Fantasy (Owen Pallett) (2006).
