Polaris TV

When the Polaris Prize gala went down last year, the music-loving public was mostly kept out: only musicians, music industry folk, and media were invited. Those who missed the gala missed not only the awarding of the $20,000 prize to Patrick Watson (who needed the cash because of a $16,000 bill his band just got for crashing a rental car), but also a great show, with six of the nominated acts––Watson, The Besnard Lakes, Joel Plaskett Emergency, Miracle Fortress, Julie Doiron, and Chad VanGaalen––playing short sets of songs from their nominated albums.

While it's a few months late, a "Polaris Music Prize Special" will be running on MuchMusic at 12 a.m. on January 25 and on MuchLOUD at 7 p.m. on January 27 (and on other dates on other networks around the country). The one-hour special will feature performances from every act, as well as interviews with "artists and behind-the-scenes people." The special ought to offer something for everyone: both a glimpse of the spectacle for those who missed it, as well as a backstage look at stuff even those present wouldn't have caught.

Photo of Patrick Watson at September's gala by David Topping.