WELSH MUSIC PRIZE 2016: THE SHORTLIST

09 September 2016 - Press release

Welsh Music Prize announce the twelve albums nominated for 2016

Today (Thursday 8 Sept) the Welsh Music Prize 2016 shortlist of emerging musicians from the past year has been revealed.

Created in 2011 by BBC Radio 1 DJ, Huw Stephens and music promoter, John Rostron, the Welsh Music Prize champions the best original music in Wales. Previous winners have included Gwenno Saunders, Future of the Left and Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys.

The twelve shortlisted artists for 2016 are…

9Bach
Winners of Best Album at the 2015 BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards for their second album, Tincian, they have been shortlisted for their 2016 album Anian.

Alun Gaffey
Former member of psychedelic pop and indie band, Race Horses, is on the shortlist for his debut, self-titled, solo album.

Cate Le Bon
Bilingual singer-songwriter and previous Welsh Music Prize nominee, Cate Le Bon is up for her fourth album, Crab Day.
 
Climbing Trees
Pontypridd’s Cymrucana four-piece and BBC Introducing regulars have been nominated for their second album, Borders.

Datblygu
Welsh rockers, Datblygu have been making music since the early eighties, their 2015 album is competing for the award.

Meilyr Jones
Pitting against his former Race Horses band member, Meilyr is on the list for his first solo venture, 2013.

Plu
The alt folk band which represented Wales at Folk Alliance International, Kansas City in February, are nominated for their album Tir a Golau. They are the second Sbrigyn Ymborth label album on the list along with Alun Gaffey.

Right Hand Left Hand
A rock duo who have been on the live music scene for more than a decade are hoping for a win with their 2016 self-titled album.

Simon Love
It Seemed Like a Good Idea at the Time, the debut solo album from Simon Love, formerly of John Peel and Marc Riley favourites, The Loves has earnt a spot on the list.

Skindred
Newport’s metal, come reggae, come dubstep rockers already have a number of titles including Best Live Band at the 2011 UK Metal Hammer 'Golden Gods' awards and the 2011 Kerrang! Devotion Award. Their album, Volume is hoping to add Welsh Music Prize 2016 to the trophy cabinet.

Swnami
Winners of this year’s Welsh Language Album of the Year award at the Eisteddfod, Swnami’s self-titled album is bidding for its second award of the year.

The Anchoress
The debut album, Confessions of a Romance Novelist from singer and storyteller Catherine Anne Davies, aka The Anchoress is the last but not least album on the shortlist.

One winner will be chosen by a panel of the following industry experts - Amy Wadge (Songwriter & Musician), Ashli Todd (Spillers Records), Derek Lloyd (hmv), Dwynwen Morgan (BBC Radio Cymru), Gwyn Eddior (Y Nyth and BBC Horizons), Jen Long (DICE), Lowri Cooke (Cultural Critic), Neal Thompson (Focus Wales), Nici Beech (Artistic Curator and TV Producer), Noel Gardner (Buzz Magazine), Oliver Morris (UK Music) and Sarah Dennehy (Festival of Voice).

John Rostron, Welsh Music Prize said: “This is an incredibly strong shortlist for the Welsh Music Prize. Twelve very different records, made by some well established artists and some new emerging stars with songs that embrace a whole host of genres, sounds and influences. Congratulations to them all. So many great albums are being released from Wales at the moment - it’s a really good time to be listening to new music and finding some new favourites."

This year’s event is sponsored by hmv, Ton Media, Otley Brewery and Jack Daniels. Joining the sponsor line-up is musical rights management organisation, PRS for Music and Wales’ natural mineral water, Brecon Carreg.

The Welsh Music Prize 2016 will be held on Thursday 24 November 2016 at The Depot, Cardiff. Tickets are on sale now - £15 event only, £30 including street food and drink. To get your tickets and for more information about the Welsh Music Prize go to welshmusicprize.com or follow @welshmusicprize