The “shortlist” of Canada’s 2011 edition of the Polaris Music Prize, which honors the best indie acts North of the border, was announced Wednesday following a “longlist” announcement last month.
Arcade Fire, Ron Sexsmith, Austra and Destroyer are among the artists still in the running for the prize, which pays $30,000 and will be awarded in September at a Toronto ceremony.
The Polaris Prize is voted on by more than 200 journalists from all over Canada, the Montreal Gazette reports.
Buzzing indie act Braids, Galaxie, Hey Rosetta, Colin Steston, Timber Timbre and The Weeknd round out the short list, which focuses on the best record from a Canadian act the past year (releases are judged only on artistic merit).
2010’s winner was Karkwa for the album Les Chemins De Verre.
