The winner will be announced at this special awards night at the Mandela Hall this November. More than 70 judges were contacted from the music industry and music media. They were invited to cast their votes for the best album of the last 12 months. There will be a second round of voting and the winning album will be announced at the November 11 event.

The shortlisted acts are:

Arborist - Home Burial
Arvo Party - Arvo Party
Bap Kennedy - Reckless Heart
The Divine Comedy - Foreverland
Gross Net - Quantitative Easing
Hannah Peel - Awake But Always Dreaming
Invaderband - Invaderband
Joshua Burnside - Ephrata
Malojian - This Is Nowhere
Our Krypton Son - Fleas & Diamonds
Robocobra Quartet - Music For All Occasions
Sea Pinks - Watercourse

Previous winners are:
2016: Ciaran Lavery – Let Bad In
2015: SOAK – Before We Forgot How To Dream
2014: Robyn G Shiels – The Blood Of The Innocents
2013: Foy Vance – Joy Of Nothing

Charlotte Dryden, CEO of the Oh Yeah Music Centre says: “It’s been yet another great year for music from Northern Ireland. The shortlisted 12 are just a taste of what we have to offer, but what a strong example in this list. The continued partnership with Blue Moon for the NI Music Prize and the Sound of Belfast Festival is also a magnificent endorsement from them on our belief in the power of local music. It’s also great to welcome PPL as supporters of the Prize and we are delighted to continue the relationship with PRS on the Legend Award. It’s going to be a great ten days and the Prize and Legend Awards evening will be a fitting end to another celebration of all that is great about local music.”

This event will feature during the closing night of the Sound of Belfast programme, November 2-11.