Lauren Toyota and Grant Lawrence Announced As 2012 Polaris Gala Hosts
Steve Jordan, Founder and Executive Director of the Polaris Music Prize announced that CBC Radio3‘s Grant Lawrence will be returning for his sixth year as co-host of the Polaris Music Prize Gala. Joining him this year will be MuchMusic's Lauren Toyota, a fellow jurist. Grant and Lauren will share the stage of the Concert Hall Studios at Bell Media's Masonic Temple on September 24 as the invite-only audience and viewers and listeners at home enjoy performances by Cadence Weapon, Cold Specks, Kathleen Edwards, Feist, Fucked Up, Grimes, and YAMANTAKA // SONIC TITAN.
The entire event will stream live on Muchmusic.com and will be broadcast live exclusively on SiriusXM radio (Sirius channels 151 and 152; XM channel 151) and CBC Radio 3. Highlights from the Gala will air in a one-hour special, exclusively on MuchMusic, on Saturday, September 29 at 10 p.m. ET.
Grant will travel from Vancouver for the gala. As a host on CBC Radio3 he's been a great supporter of Canadian music.
“I can’t believe we’re at year seven of the Polaris Prize already! It’s been a great honour to be involved in this amazing process since the very beginning,†said Lawrence. “In year one I was a Grand Juror, and I’ve been lucky enough to somehow be allowed to host the gala ever since. From the podium, I’ve been witness to some incredible musical moments. With the wide array of talent we have up for the Prize this year, 2012 will be no different.â€
No stranger to the stage, Lauren Toyota, the host of MuchMusic's popular New Music Live, is accustomed to making sure a show runs smoothly.
“I’m so thrilled to be part of The 2012 Polaris Music Prize — a show that awards musicians who work so hard and really deserve the attention,†said Toyota. “Getting to host the show this year is such an unbelievable honour. The gala is such a fun night with friends and fellow music lovers so I truly can’t wait!”
To see a complete list of the artists on the 2012 Polaris Music Prize Short List, go HERE.
