Year-end music lists are staple of the muzo journo diet in December. Most of our jury members have posted their versions by now (see the handy links down on the right, but beware that exploring all their recommendations might chew up what's left of your holiday time). And, most excitingly, Polaris Short Listers have also shown up on Best of the Year lists well beyond our borders. With puffed up chests, here are some of our faves:
There's the high-roller option. This is an auction. These are limited in number and are signed by each of the nominated musicians. All of the proceeds from this auction go to MusiCounts.
Or, you can get one of the reproductions, slightly smaller, directly from our site for just $15. Just click on the Posters link to the right of this post! 2$ of each sale of this version also go to MusiCounts.
It looks and sounds amazing! There are dramatic and emotional performances from each of the 2010 Short List artists. Be sure to tune in to Much Music Saturday at 9pm and midnight EST!
We specialize in lists. This may be our favourite: a list of all the records stores in the country who are giving away a free iTunes download card with one track personally selected by each of the Short List nominees. They're in stores from coast to coast. If you like any of what you hear, go back and buy the whole record! Record stores! Still the first and best social networks!
From east to west.
Fred's (St. John's)
Obsolete Records (Halifax)
Frank's Music (Moncton)
Audition Musik (Rimouski)
Archambault (Quebec)
Sillons (Quebec City)
Frequences le disquaire (Saint-Hyacinthe)
Frequences le disquaire (Granby)
Phonopolis (Montreal)
The gala is invite only, but now there's a way to celebrate the Short List and breathlessly await the winner announcement. Our friends at The Drake Hotel in Toronto and music education charity MusiCounts have joined forces to bring you the first ever Polaris Gala Screening Party.
Our new friends at the Canteen Art Shop and Gallery in Ottawa approached us back in the Spring with the idea of doing an art show with our Polaris prints.
"Great idea" we said. So they've gone ahead and done it.
We were approached by TIFF to help them come up with some music for the opening of the TIFF Bell Lightbox building on King Street In Toronto. This is a great way for you to check out a few of this year's Short List artists.
The Sadies are always amazing, and this is a rare chance for you to catch the two Francophone artists Short Listed this year on the same stage, Radio Radio and Karkwa.
Back in '06 we were trying to figure out what to give our Short List nominees to commemorate the occasion. We looked at a bunch of trophy-type awards but really, most of them look kind of silly. It would have to be better than the Oscar, or the Conn Smythe Trophy. How do you top those?
We announced some gala details! Here they are.
DATE: September 20, 2010 at 8pm ET
LISTEN: In North America on SIRIUS Satellite Radio channel 152 and in the world on CBC Radio 3.
WATCH: Live on MuchMusic.com and MuchMusic Saturday September 25 at 9pm and midnight ET.
WHERE: CTV’s Concert Hall studios at Toronto’s Masonic Temple.
Once again this year our über-supportive presenting sponsors Sirius Satellite Radio Canada are giving away a trip to the Polaris gala September 20 in Toronto at the legendary Masonic Temple's Concert Hall. The gala is invite only, with the exception of the winner of this contest. Or tuning into Sirius 152 or Radio 3 …
