Here is the 2020 Polaris Music Prize short list

The winner of this year's $50,000 prize for best Canadian album of the year will be announced at a virtual event on October 19

by Richard Trapunski on July 15th, 2020 at 10:00 PM

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The Polaris Music Prize has announced this year’s 10 album short list for the best Canadian album award.

A large jury of critics, journalists and radio hosts voted on the list and a yet-to-be-determined 11-person grand jury will pick the winner, who will be awarded $50,000. Last year’s winner was Haviah Mighty’s 13th Floor.

This year’s gala event is not happening due to the coronavirus pandemic. Instead, a “special cinematic tribute” will take place virtually on CBC Gem, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube on October 19.

It’s a diverse list this year with a variety of genres represented. Six artists (Junia-T, Pantayo, Lido Pimienta, Jessie Reyez, U.S. Girls, and Witch Prophet) hail from Toronto. There are also three previous Polaris winners on the list: Caribou, Kaytranada, and Pimienta.

There are some welcome surprise Polaris first-timers, too, including trans horrorcore rapper Backxwash, Filipinx kulintang-punk-R&B ensemble Pantayo, and Indigenous shoegazers nêhiyawak.