Choice Music Prize shortlist announced

It’s that time of year again – the list of nominees for the Choice Music Prize was announced mere minutes ago, with ten of Ireland’s finest acts set to battle it out for the €10,000 prize.

As with previous years, it is quite an eclectic shortlist – Two Door Cinema Club fly the flag for immediate indie pop, Adebishi Shank are the post-rock pick, while Imelda May brings the rockabilly. Everyone from established heavy-hitters Villagers and Cathy Davey to the more underground likes of rising acts Halves and O Emperor are present and correct. Here’s that all-important shortlist in full (and in alphabetical order):

Adebesi Shank - This Is The Second Album Of A Band Called Adebisi Shank (Richter Collective)
The Cast of Cheers - Chariot
Cathy Davey - The Nameless (Hammer Toe Records)
Fight Like Apes - The Body Of Christ & The Legs Of Tina Turner (Model Citizen)
Halves - It Goes, It Goes (Forever & Ever) (Hate Is The Enemy)
Imelda May – Mayhem (Universal)
James Vincent McMorrow – Early In The Morning (Universal)
O Emperor - Hither Thither (Universal)
Two Door Cinema Club - Tourist History (Kitsune)
Villagers - Becoming A Jackal (Domino)

The selections were made by a panel of 11 Irish music media professionals in the areas of print, radio, television and the internet. The full list of judges and further details can be found on [link]www.choicemusicprize.com[/link].

A winner will be chosen by the judging panel at the Choice Music Prize Live Event in Vicar Street, Dublin on Thursday March 3. Today FM will broadcast the event live as a special four hour extended programme.

The prize fund of €10,000, which was won by Adrian Crowley last time around, is provided by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) and the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA). Each of the acts nominated will receive a specially-commissioned award, courtesy of the Recorded Artists Actors & Performers Ltd (RAAP).

Tickets for the Choice Music Prize live event will go on sale from all Ticketmaster outlets and [link]www.ticketmaster.ie[/link] this Friday January 14, priced €22 including booking fee.