the shortlist for Welsh Music Prize 2023 has been announced, with 15 artists in the running for the prestigious award. Nominees include debut albums from CVC, Dafydd Owain, Hyll, Minas, Overmono and YNYS, plus albums by established artists Cerys Hafana, H Hawkline, Ivan Moult, John Cale, Mace the Great, Rogue Jones, Sister Wives, Stella Donnelly and Sŵnami.
Founded in 2011 and supported by Creative Wales, Welsh Music Prize is an annual award celebrating the best music made in Wales or by Welsh people around the world. The prize is open to albums of all genres and past winners have included the likes of Kelly Lee Owens, Boy Azooga, Deyah, Gruff Rhys, Gwenno and more. Last year’s award was given to Bato Mato by Adwaith.
The shortlisted albums have been whittled down from a longlist of 140 albums by the Welsh Music Prize jurors. Judges now have the difficult task of choosing one of the 15 nominated albums for the coveted prize.
Winners will be announced at this years’ ceremony on 10th October at Wales Millennium Centre, presented by BBC Radio 1 presenter Sian Eleri. The event will welcome a live public audience as part of Llais, Cardiff’s flagship international arts festival which takes place 10th – 15th October. This year the Welsh Music Prize will open Llais for the second year, and include performances by some of the shortlisted performers (announced below).
The charity Help Musicians will also support three Triskel Awardees to grow further with financial support towards their music and careers of up to £5,000 each. The three Triskel Award winners – Half Happy, Dom & Lloyd, Talulah – will receive up to £5,000 worth of support each to assist their careers with advice and expert sessions from Help Musicians.
Welsh Music Prize co-founder, Huw Stephens said: “This year’s shortlist is another great collection of albums from Wales. The Welsh Music Prize is a globally recognised award and an important part of Wales’ music calendar, and this year’s line up at the Welsh Music Prize promises to make it a very special night.”
The Judges for Welsh Music Prize 2023 are:
- Dave Acton (Larynx Entertainment)
- Huw Baines (The Guardian / NME / Kerrang)
- Tegwen Bruce Deans (music journalist)
- Mirain Iwerydd (BBC Radio Cymru)
- Nest Jenkins (ITV Cymru Wales Backstage)
- Eddy Temple Morris (Virgin Radio)
The Welsh Music Prize 2023 Finalists Are:
- Cerys Hafana – Edyf (Cerys Hafana / Self Released)
- CVC – Get Real (CVC Recordings)
- Dafydd Owain – Uwch Dros Y Pysgod (Recordiau I KA CHING)
- H Hawkline – Milk For Flowers (Heavenly Recordings)
- Hyll – Sŵn O’r Stafell Arall (Recordiau JigCal Records)
- Ivan Moult – Songs From Severn Grove (Bubblewrap Records)
- John Cale – Mercy (Domino Recording Co Ltd.)
- Mace The Great – SplottWorld (SplottWorld Ent.)
- Minas – All My Love Has Failed Me (Libertino Records)
- Overmono – Good Lies (XL Recordings)
- Rogue Jones – Dos Bebés (Libertino Records)
- Sister Wives – Y Gawres (Libertino Records)
- Stella Donnelly – Flood (Secretly Canadian)
- Sŵnami – Sŵnamii (Recordiau Côsh Records)
- YNYS – Ynys (Libertino Records)
Recipients of the Triskel Awards (with Help Musicians) are:
- Half Happy
- Dom & Lloyd
- Talulah
Live performances for WMP ’23 are:
- Cerys Hafana (WMP ‘23 nominee)
- Mace the Great (WMP ‘23 nominee)
- Minas (WMP ‘23 nominee)
- Talulah (Triskel Award Winner)
- Dom & Lloyd (Triskel Award Winner)
- Half Happy (Triskel Award Winner)
- Hana Lili (PPL Momentum recipient)
