Hey Rosetta! continues to make its mark on the Canadian music scene. The band�s second album, Into Your Lungs (And Around In Your Heart And On Through Your Blood), has been named one of the top 40 Canadian albums on the 2009 Polaris Music Prize Long List.

The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Recreation, today congratulated Hey Rosetta! on their achievement.

"Once again, the musical talent of Newfoundland and Labrador has been recognized on the national scene," said Minister Jackman. "It�s a proud day for the province�s music industry � and the first time a band from Newfoundland and Labrador has been nominated for this prize."

Hey Rosetta! is a St. John�s-based band, composed of six members: Tim Baker (vocals/piano/guitar); Adam Hogan (guitar); Josh Ward (bass); Phil Maloney (drums); Kinley Dowling (violin), and Romesh Thavanathan (cello). The band has showcased at Junofest, the East Coast Music Awards (ECMAs), Canadian Music Week and the Northeast Music and Film Festival and Conference. At the 2006 Music Newfoundland and Labrador Awards, Hey Rosetta! received four awards: Group of the Year; Pop/Rock Group of the Year; CBC Galaxie Rising Star of the Year; and Album of the Year for their debut album Plan Your Escape. This past March, at the ECMAs held in Corner Brook, the group took home three awards, including: Group Recording of the Year, Recording of the Year, and Alternative Recording of the Year all for the Into Your Lungs album.

Founded in 2006, the Polaris Music Prize is a $20,000 prize awarded to the best full-length Canadian album. Judged by a jury of 181 Canadian music journalists, broadcasters, programmers and bloggers, the prize is based solely on artistic merit, with no consideration for the album�s genre or record sales. From the 40 nominees on the long list, a short list of 10 albums will be announced on July 7 at the Drake Hotel in Toronto. The grand-prize winner will be announced at a gala event on September 21, also in Toronto.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador continues to support the province�s music industry, including the provision of $325,000 in annual funding to Music Newfoundland and Labrador (MusicNL) for operational and programming support.

For more information on the Polaris Music Prize, visit: www.polarismusicprize.ca/

- 30 -

Media contact:

Heather May
Director of Communications
Department of Tourism, Culture and Recreation
709-729-0928, 697-5061
heathermay@gov.nl.ca