Shortlist announced for 2018 Edmonton Music Prize

Trombone player Audrey Ochoa, indigenous singer-songwriterCeleighCardinaland Ukrainian-Canadian folk groupZaitsaare some of the acts on theshortlistfor this year's Edmonton Music Prize.

The $10,000 award honours an outstanding album and an artist's contributions to the local arts scene. The winner will be announced Feb. 5.

Two previous prize winners are also on theshortlist: soul-pop singerNuelaCharles and metal ambassadors Striker. The other nominees are:

• Jesse and the Dandelions, a group of psych-rockers;
• MarcoClaveria, a Chilean-Canadian folk musician;
• Scenic Route To Alaska, a trio of folk-rockers fromRiverdale;
• VISSIA, a singer-songwriter who started her own label, Hurry Hard Records;
• Lindsey Walker, a singer-songwriter.

The Edmonton Music Prize is sponsored by the City of Edmonton through the Edmonton Arts Council.