Arts & Culture

Polaris Music Award
Where: Massey Hall, 178 Victoria St.
When: Tue., Sep. 17
Vibe: Can-rock love in a room full of smiling people, on and off stage
Highlight: Punk rockers Nobro snapping the room to attention with a blistering mini set that pushed the boundaries
Rating: NNNN (out of 5)

INDIGENOUS ARTIST Jeremy Dutcher became the first musician to win the critics’-powered Polaris Prize twice, picking up the prestigious prize Tuesday night at a packed Massey Hall for his second album, Motewolonuwok.

Dutcher capped off an earlier, highly emotional and riveting performance with the win, after which he told the cheering crowd, referencing his previous victory, “Six years ago, I put out my first record and this award changed my life.” This year’s winner picked up a $50,000 cash prize from the Slaight Family Foundation.

After years as a largely music-industry schmooze fest, Polaris continues to grow itself as an event for the general public with awesome production values to sweeten the deal. Polaris is full value for its move to Massey Hall, taking complete advantage of the video wall and spectacular setting. The show was huge — when it was happening. Polaris will be forever challenged by what makes it great, a format that features three-song mini sets from most of the nominated artists. It’s a great way to consume a bunch of important new artists, but the changeover between acts is a momentum-killer that sucks the energy out of the room and forces each performer to start their set with no momentum, no matter how hard the between-act host tries to keep things moving. Last year’s winner Debby Friday did a good job in a thankless hosting task this year — though it was essential to have a host who was re-introduced in 2024.

Momentum matters, especially for a general public show. My two cents is they should fundamentally split the massive Massey stage in two, having artists alternate performing on each side. While one act plays, the setup is torn down and replaced on the other side. No breaks ever.

Many of the nominated artists performed, with NEXT faves NOBRO stealing the show with their spectacular, first-half-ending, pre-intermission set that stunned many in the crowd who were clearly new to the amazing Montreal punk band. Charlotte Cardin was a last-minute cancelation though her string section played live to a video of the singer performing. Allison Russell was also a no-show — she had a previous gig — but the Memphis-based Collage Dance Ballet did a powerful performance to the singer’s Eve Was Black to kick off the second half of the show.

Here’s the complete list of this year’s Polaris Prize Short List nominees:

• Bambii, Infinity Club
• The Beaches, Blame My Ex
• Charlotte Cardin, 99 Nights
• DijahSB, The Flower that Knew
• Jeremy Dutcher, Motewolonuwok
• Elisapie, Inuktitut
• Cindy Lee, Diamond Jubilee
• Nobro, Set Your Pussy Free
• Allison Russell, The Returner
• Tobi, Panic