Drake, Buffy Sainte-Marie make short list for Polaris Music Prize

TORONTO – Folk icon Buffy Sainte-Marie, Toronto rapper Drake and Vancouver rock outfit the New Pornographers have all made the short list for the Polaris Music Prize.

It’s the third time Drake has found himself in the running for the $50,000 award, given to the Canadian artist who made the best album of the previous year.

Sainte-Marie made the cut for the first time with her recent “Power in the Blood.”

Other newcomers to Polaris short-list recognition include: Toronto acts Alvvays, Jennifer Castle and jazz trio BadBadNotGood (who collaborated with Ghostface Killah); Vancouver piano-pop songwriter Tobias Jesso Jr.; and Calgary’s Viet Cong.

Prior winner Caribou, masterminded by Dundas, Ont., native Dan Snaith, is up again for the critically acclaimed “Our Love.”

Montreal-based Braids rounded out the field of 10 nominees.

The Polaris is selected by a jury of broadcasters, bloggers and journalists.

The winner will be announced at a live gala on Sept. 21 at the Carlu in Toronto.

Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version misstated the award’s cash prize.