The Welsh Music Prize will take place later in October and the shortlist of 15 artists will find out who takes home the prestigious prize, honouring the creativity and talent in the music industry in Wales. Chosen from a panel of industry experts, and whittled down from a list of 130, the 15 artists selected include established names Manic Street Preachers being nominated for their 14th album and eight debut albums from Art School Girlfriend, Breichiau Hir, Buzzard Buzzard Buzzard, Dead Method, Danielle Lewis, L E M F R E C K, Papur Wal and Sywel Nyw. Gwenno's Tresor album, her third, is also nominated for this year’s Mercury Music Prize.
This years’ ceremony is at Wales Millennium Centre on Saturday, October 26, and will be presented by BBC Radio 1 presenter Sian Eleri. The event will welcome a live public audience, for the first time, as part of Llais, Cardiff’s flagship international arts festival, and include performances by some of the shortlisted performers. The Welsh Music Prize will open Llais, which returns to Cardiff from October 26 to 30 with an eclectic line-up of international acts including John Cale, Pussy Riot, Cate Le Bon (shortlisted for Welsh Music Prize for her album Pompeii), Death Songbook, Abdullah Ibrahim, Midlake, and black midi.
Last year's winner of the Welsh Music Prize was Kelly Lee Owens' Inner Song, which explored the personal pain of her own struggles, while embracing the beauty of the natural world. She has released the theme song for next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup.
