The First Annual Verge Music Awards featuring Broken Social Scene, The Stills, Sebastien Grainger

That’s tonight and probably the hotest ticket in town here in Toronto.

XM radio’s ‘The Verge’ (channel 52, focusing on new and emerging indie and alternative sounds from Canad) has decided to give away $50,000 to support Canadian music by giving away 25k to the best album and 25k to the best artist. Also, this award (unlike next week’s Polaris prize) is determined by the public in online voting. The long list was created from bands in regular rotation on the station, starting with 150 artists and 73 albums, now we have two shortlists:

Best Artist:

Alexisonfire

Hey Rosetta!

Said The Whale

Stars

The Weakerthans

Best Album:

Red, Yellow, Blue – The Born Ruffians

Bring Me Your Love – City and Colour

Into Your Lungs – Hey Rosetta!

The Con – Tegan and Sara

Welcome To The Night Sky – Wintersleep

Who do you think is going to win?