Indie favourites among finalists for Polaris Music Prize

Broken Social Scene, Sarah Harmer and K'naan are among the nominees for Canada's newest music prize.

The 10 finalists for the inaugural Polaris Music Prize, which honours the year's best full-length Canadian album, were announced Tuesday by organizers.

The award, worth $20,000,is inspired by the U.K.'s famed Mercury Prize.

Steve Jordan, executive director of the prize and a former music industry insider, praised the list as "particularly diverse and eclectic.

"The quality of this shortlist is a tribute to our jury's musical expertise and a testament to how rich and varied the music scene is in this country," he said in a statement.

The nominees are:

• Broken Social Scene for Broken Social Scene.
• Cadence Weapon for Breaking Kayfabe.
• The Deadly Snakes for Porcella.
• Final Fantasy for He Poos Clouds.
• Sarah Harmer for I'm A Mountain.
• K'naan for The Dusty Foot Philosopher.
• Malajube for Trompe L'oeil.
• Metric for Live It Out.
• The New Pornographers for Twin Cinema.
• Wolf Parade for Apologies to the Queen Mary.

The finalists were drawn from submissions by more than 120 music journalists, reviewers and broadcasters across Canada.

All forms of contemporary music including but not limited to pop, rock, hip hop, electronic, jazz, classical, country and blues are eligible. However, compilations of previously released material, including remixes, are not eligible.

Fans will get a chance to hear from each nominee when a 10-track compilation album featuring their music hitsstores Aug. 22.

A gala concert and ceremony will follow on Sept. 18, when the winner of the first Polaris Music Prizeis announced from the Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto.