Australian Music Prize Longlist Released

Perth rock group The Drones won the first Australian Music Prize last year for Wait Long by the River and the Bodies of Your Enemies Will Float By. They could snag a second Amp, this time on the strength of Gala Mill. They've made it as far as the longlist anyway, which means there's a mere 25 artists in contention for the prize now.

Others vying for the $25,000 award are Augie March, The Grates, Howling Bells, and Sarah Blasko.

The group of 25 were chosen from almost 200 applicants. A shortlist of 8 will be revealed on January 31st. March 7th, the winner will be announced and can collect that cool $25,000 Australian dollars, at the moment the equivalent of $19,567.94 in the U.S., $22,903.30 in Canada, £9,999.41, €15,138.93, or ¥2,355,001.57.

Augie March begins a 14-stop tour of Australia on February 24th. Howling Bells have shows starting next month, in Australia, and then in the UK. The Drones and Sarah Blasko are currently touring in Australia. The Drones are scheduled to play at ATP Festival in April.

The above names are likely to appear on the shortlist; I think the "sure bets" are Augie March, Sarah Blasko, and Howling Bells, with The Drones left off only because they won last year. They'll still likely get a nomination, but not another victory. A win by Augie March or Sarah Blasko wouldn't surprise me.

The Amp Longlist:

Amanda Handel/GL Seiler - Ghosts and Angels

Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir (with the beautifully aching "Stranger Strange")

Black Cab - Jesus East

Bob Evans - Suburban Songbook

Brendan Gallagher - On Eve St

Dane Tucquet - Bury Me In My Headphones

Dappled Cities - Granddance

Fourth Floor Collapse - Books With Broken Spines

Gerling - 4

Gotye - Like Drawing Blood

Hilltop Hoods - The Hard Road

Howling Bells - Howling Bells

Jackie Marshall - Fight n' Flight

Lisa Gerrard - The Silver Tree

Princess One Point Five - The Truth

Sarah Blasko - What The Sea Wants, The Sea Will Have (with the eloquently angry "Queen Of Apology")

Sodastream - Reservations

Something For Kate - Desert Lights

The Drones - Gala Mill (with the rollicking "I Don't Ever Want To Change")

The Grates - Gravity Won't Get You High

The Knives Of Neptune - Lakes

Tim Steward - How Does It End

Tobias Cummings and The Long Way Home - Join The Dots

True Live - The Shape Of It

You Am I - Convicts