Photos: 2018 Polaris Music Prize Gala

Photos by: Brendan Albert –

Jeremy Dutcher has won the 2018 Polaris Music Prize for the album Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa.“Psiw-te npomawsuwinuwok, kiluwaw yut. All my people, this is for you,” said Dutcher.

The prize goes to the best Canadian album of the year based on artistic merit without regard to genre, sales history or label affiliation. It was determined by a Grand Jury of 11 music media professionals drawn from the greater Polaris jury pool of almost 200 writers, editors, broadcasters, DJs and personalities from across the country.

Dutcher’s victory came with a $50,000 monetary reward. The nine other short list nominees each received $3,000.

Held at the Carlu in Toronto, the evening featured performances by eight of the 10 Polaris nominees. These included Jean-Michel Blais, Jeremy Dutcher, Hubert Lenoir, Pierre Kwenders, Partner, Snotty Nose Rez Kids, U.S. Girls and Weaves.

Throughout the evening there were a number of testimonials on behalf of the various nominees, including some from past Polaris winners. Arcade Fire’s Win Butler spoke on behalf of Kwenders, Karkwa’s Louis-Jean Cormier supported Lenoir and Tanya Tagaq advocated for Weaves. Babyface, George Stroumboulopoulos, Safia Nolin and Gang Gang Dance’s Lizzi Bougatsos were some of the evening’s other testifiers.

The 2018 Polaris Short List was:

Alvvays – Antisocialites

Jean-Michel Blais – Dans ma main

Daniel Caesar – Freudian

Jeremy Dutcher – Wolastoqiyik Lintuwakonawa

Pierre Kwenders – MAKANDA at the End of Space, the Beginning of Time

Hubert Lenoir – Darlène

Partner – In Search Of Lost Time

Snotty Nose Rez Kids – The Average Savage

U.S. Girls – In A Poem Unlimited

Weaves – Wide Open

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Hubert Lenoir performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Hubert Lenoir performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Hubert Lenoir performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Hubert Lenoir performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Hubert Lenoir performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jean Michel Blais performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Jeremy Dutcher appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Lido Pimento appears at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Partner performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Partner performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Pierre Kwenders performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Snotty Nose Rez Kids performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: US Girls performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Weaves performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 17: Weaves performs at Polaris Prize gala at the Carlu in Toronto, Ontario on September 17, 2018. (Photo: Brendan Albert/Aesthetic Magazine)