To be announced on March 8th, the 12th Australian Music Prize will be unveiled in Sydney. The shortlist, revealed today, has seen a diverse list of Australian artists grouped together in the final pool – following deliberation by the 16 member panel over the weekend, from the longlist of 61 albums, we now have the final nine.
Included are albums from previous AMP shortlist artists in The Peep Tempel (originally shortlisted in 2014 and now in 2016 with Joy) and Big Scary, who won the $30,000 prize in 2013 with Not Art and are now up for the award again with their latest album, Animal. Fleshing out the shortlist are albums by Camp Cope, A.B Original, Olympia, D.D Dumbo, The Avalanches, King Gizzard and The Lizard Wizard and Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds.
Of their inclusion in the shortlist this year, Sarah Thompson of Camp Cope has commented: “Being shortlisted for the AMP has blown our minds. We spent one and a half days and $1000 making this record, so to see where it’s come is just nuts. We’re so appreciate of everyone who’s supported it and us over the past 12 months. Being recognised by the judges and our peers is a huge honour. I have no idea how three scummy little punks fell into the realm of any sort of prize, but we are stoked and really appreciate it – thanks so much for including us!”
The annual “Amped Up In Conversation” event will be held in Sydney on March 8th, where the winner of the $30,000 cash prize (thanks to PPCA) will be unveiled.
THE 12th AMP SHORTLIST
A.B ORIGINAL – Reclaim Australia
THE AVALANCHES – Wildflower
BIG SCARY – Animal
CAMP COPE – Camp Cope
D.D DUMBO – Utopia Defeated
KING GIZZARD & THE LIZARD WIZARD – Nonagon Infinity
NICK CAVE & THE BAD SEEDS – Skeleton Tree
OLYMPIA – Self Talk
THE PEEP TEMPEL – Joy
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