Tourism, Culture and Recreation
June 18, 2009Hey Rosetta! Makes 2009 Polaris Music
Prize Long List
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
2009 06 18 10:45 a.m.