City of Edmonton Music Prize Shortlist

April 2, 2025 – Edmonton, AB –  Alberta Music, in collaboration with the Edmonton Arts Council, are pleased to announce the 2025 City of Edmonton Music Prize shortlist.

The Edmonton Music Prize awards $20,000 in prize money to Edmonton-based artists or ensembles who have released a music recording within the relevant 12 months calendar year. The prize program is coordinated by the Edmonton Arts Council, in collaboration with the City of Edmonton and our community partners, to enhance Edmonton’s reputation as a hub for extraordinary creation in the arts.

The shortlisted musicians for the City of Edmonton Music Prize are (in alphabetical order):

CELEIGH CARDINAL for Boundless Possibilities

• Celeigh Cardinal’s powerful voice and storytelling have earned her widespread acclaim. Her third studio album, Boundless Possibilities, marks a turning point in her career — an odyssey through grief, the triumphant peaks of independence, and the sacred valleys of spirituality.
• Anchored by its luminous standout track, ​“Light of the Moon”, which earned her the 2024 Songwriter of the Year award at the Western Canadian Music Awards, the album Boundless Possibilities is a radiant testament to her lyrical mastery.
• Instagram: @celeighcardinal
  

KING THIEF for King Thief (Self Titled)

• A fast and fiery punk rock juggernaut, King Thief was born as a musical call to arms for Edmonton’s underground scene in 2019. The gravelly delivery of Eric Neillson’s lyrics sit atop Darren Chewka’s melodic drumming and Nick Kouremenos’ bass mastery. Shawn Moncrieff and Ryan Podlubny haunt listeners with adventurously rhythmic chording and inter-weaving lead-line crescendos.
• Edmonton is well known for its bizarre and unique take on aggressive, melodic music – and King Thief’s self titled debut album hits hard with a straightforward, undeniable energy coupled with melodic ideas, all joining as songs that are interesting while familiar.
• Instagram: @kingthief.music
  

MARGØ for who are you when you’re alone?

• Alternative pop musician, songwriter, composer, and producer margø creates loud music with empowering messages; encouraging her listeners to embrace their uniqueness and practice self-love.
• Margø’s debut album who are you when you’re alone? represents the quiet moments alone in our rooms in the middle of the night when we’re left to face our true selves — and how we learn to live with (and love) every aspect of ourselves, including our flaws.
• Instagram: @ margo4prez