Celebrations for the 20th annual Polaris Music Prize Gala were in full force at Toronto’s Massey Hall on September 16 with a spectacle of the best talent from across the country!
Hosted by 2019 winner, Haviah Mighty, the night showcased some of Canada’s biggest and upcoming singer-songwriters; and featured performances by nine out of the 10 Short List nominees.
Winning the $30,000 prize, as voted on by over 200 music journalists and broadcasters, went to Montreal’s Yves Jarvis; whose album All Cylinders wowed the jury with its masterful genre-bending and unwavering commitment to experimentation. Jarvis also performed during the set, showing off his guitar prowess on songs like, “With a Grain” and “One Gripe.”
The 20th anniversary of the Polaris Music Prize marked the best occasion to announce new and exciting changes to the Prize; including the inaugural SOCAN Polaris Song Prize, which awards $10,000 to the best song that is similarly voted by the jury. This first SOCAN Polaris Song Prize went to Mustafa’s “Gaza is Calling.”
Additionally, for the first time, the Slate Family Polaris Heritage Prize winners were announced during the Gala event. The Slate Family Polaris Heritage Prize celebrates two classic Canadian albums created before Polaris began in 2006; with one voted by a jury, and the other voted on by the public. This year’s winners were Jane Siberry’s whimsical and dreamy, The Speckless Sky, and the groundbreaking indie-pop favourite, Grab That Gun, by The Organ.
The Polaris Music Prize also took the opportunity at Massey Hall to announce new initiatives to better spotlight Canadian talent; including a submission portal for musicians to submit their work directly for jury consideration, and the Polaris Festival, featuring more than 15 music-themed events across Canada during September.
For highlights from this year’s Polaris Music Prize, please make sure to visit youtube.com/@cbcmusic!