Polaris Heritage Prize winners Peaches, members of Sloan and other past Polaris Music Prize nominees join the Massey Hall Band in celebration on August 3
TORONTO, ON – July 21, 2016.
The Slaight Family Polaris Heritage Prize, produced by Blue Ant Media and supported by Slaight Music, poses and attempts to answer the question: who would have won or been nominated for Polaris before it started in 2006? The four inaugural winners from 2015 were:
Blue by Joni Mitchell (60s & 70s)
The Trinity Session by Cowboy Junkies (80s)
Twice Removed by Sloan (90s)
The Teaches of Peaches by Peaches (00s: 2000-2005)
In celebration of these integral albums, a unique event featuring a cast of guests – Polaris Prize nominees, all – will pay tribute to the four winning albums at The Great Hall in Toronto on Wednesday, August 3, hosted by CBC Radio 2’s Rich Terfry.
Joining the Massey Hall Band, a 15-piece alternative big band, will be guests joining the Band include: Polaris Heritage Prize winners Peaches, Chris Murphy and Jay Ferguson from Sloan, and past Polaris Music Prize nominees The Weather Station (2015, Loyalty), Tanika Charles (2016, Soul Run), Amelia Curran (2010, Hunter, Hunter) Michelle McAdorey (2016, Into Her Future) and more.
“The idea behind the Heritage Prize – our version of a Hall of Fame – is to spur discussion and discovery of timeless recorded art from our history,” says Polaris Founder and Executive Director Steve Jordan. “Combining Massey Hall Band’s interpretations of the Prize-winning classics and the contributions of the special guests will make for an exciting, inventive and suitably musical tribute for these albums.”
Don’t miss this extraordinary celebration, of what music writer Sarah Liss said represents “the breadth and depth of what our national anthems could – and should – be.”
In addition, Polaris Heritage Prize winner Peaches brings her current tour to Toronto the following evening (August 4) as part of Live at Massey Hall. Tickets and information available, here.
We acknowledge the financial support of FACTOR, the Government of Canada through the Department of Canadian Heritage (Canada Music Fund) and of Canada’s Private Radio Broadcasters.
We acknowledge the OMDC for their continued support of the Polaris Music Prize
About the Massey Hall Band:
Imagine the type of alternative big-band a guy like Tom Waits might put together. Then imagine they figured out a way to soak up all 120-plus years of Massey Hall history, and perform it, through a 21st-century filter. This should give you something of a sense of the Massey Hall Band, comprised of adventurous players from across the jazz spectrum, reinterpreting and reinventing the music you thought you knew. From Lightfoot to Feist, Blue Rodeo to Constantines, Dylan to REM and beyond, the Band explores, expands and rewrites the Songbook.
Watch multiple Polaris nominee Bry Webb (2008: Constantines – Kensington Heights; 2012 and 2014 for solo records Provider and Free Will, respectively) perform with the Massey Hall Band: https://youtu.be/KCik9IYzxVg
About the Polaris Music Prize
Polaris Music Prize, produced by Blue Ant Media, is a not-for-profit organization that annually honours and rewards artists who produce Canadian music albums of distinction. A select panel of music critics judge and award the Prize without regard to musical genre or commercial popularity.
About Slaight Music
Slaight Music was started in 2011 with a mandate to support the Canadian Music community through a variety of initiatives, and to develop Canadian talent via strategic partnerships with industry peers.
About Blue Ant Media
Blue Ant Media is a privately held international media company that owns and operates 10 media brands including Cottage Life, Love Nature, Smithsonian Channel Canada and Makeful. Blue Ant Media creates and distributes content worldwide ranging from nature to DIY, outdoor living to music, engaging fans across television, digital, magazines and live events. The company also owns Omnia Media, a YouTube network and Choice TV, a broadcast channel in New Zealand. Blue Ant Media is based in Toronto and has offices in Los Angeles, London (UK) and Auckland. Blueantmedia.ca