Final Performers Announced, Grand Jury Revealed For 2019 Polaris Gala
The Polaris Music Prize, presented by CBC Music, has added four more performers for the Polaris Gala. In addition, Polaris has revealed the 11-person Grand Jury who will determine this year’s prize-winning album.
Taking place September 16 at The Carlu in Toronto, Polaris Short List-nominated acts FET.NAT, Les Louanges, Haviah Mighty and Snotty Nose Rez Kids are now confirmed to perform at the Polaris Gala. They join previously-announced Short List-nominated performers Marie Davidson, Dominique Fils-Aimé, Elisapie, PUP and Shad. Jessie Reyez will also be in attendance.
The 2019 winning album will be determined at this year’s gala. CBC Music’s Raina Douris will host the gala, which will also be live-streamed globally at cbcmusic.ca/polaris.
Extremely limited public tickets to the gala are on sale now via Ticketmaster.
The 11-member Grand Jury that will select this year’s winning album is:
Jacques Boivin – ecoutedonc.ca (Québec City, QC)
Stephen Cooke – Chronicle Herald (Halifax, NS)
Erin MacLeod – Freelance Journalist (Montréal, QC)
Christine McAvoy – 3AM Revelations (Vancouver, BC)
Max Mertens – Freelance Journalist (Toronto, ON)
Nneka Nnagbo – Ottawa Beat & Melted Magazine (Ottawa, ON)
Ryan B. Patrick – Exclaim! (Toronto, ON)
Chantal Rondeau – Indigenous Today (Whitehorse, YT)
Fanny St-Amand – Belle et Bum (Montréal, QC)
Richard Trapunski – NOW Magazine (Toronto, ON)
Melissa Vincent – A.Side (Toronto, ON)
The Polaris Music Prize awards $50,000 to the artist who creates the Canadian Album of the Year, judged solely on artistic merit, without consideration for genre or record sales. Additionally, the nine other nominated acts whose albums made the 2019 Short List will receive $3,000 each courtesy of Slaight Music.
Albums eligible for 2019 Polaris Music Prize consideration must be released between May 1, 2018 and May 31, 2019. An independent jury of music journalists, broadcasters and bloggers from across Canada determine the Long List and Short List. Eleven people from the larger jury pool are then chosen to serve on the Grand Jury. This Grand Jury convene on the night of the Gala to select the Polaris Music Prize winner.
The past winners of the Prize are: Jeremy Dutcher (2018), Lido Pimienta (2017), 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).
