The Audience Award One of the main awards has now been decided by you the audience. The winner will be announced at the Poll Winners concert in March. A huge thanks to all those who contributed. It was wonderful to see such a wide-ranging list of nominations (left) and the way so many of the musicians have touched your lives.
Here are the bands who were voted onto the final shortlist. Click on each name to read more about them and click on the 'listen' icon to hear a selected track from each band. A large selection of your comments can be found by clicking on the list to the left.
Richard Dorrell, Norwich:
'Sainkho probably won't come close to winning this, but she deserves to be represented. Six years ago, she was attacked by a white Russian who disapproved of Tuvan culture and was nearly killed, yet she had the strength and conviction to continue her work promoting Tuvan shamanic music, bringing it to new heights with a water-wild range of intonation. Such courage should be recognised.'
Elaine Erb, USA :
'Too few artists make me really stand up and take notice anymore. Sainkho has delivered a compelling, intriguing, and exciting new release that defies any rules of music but clearly follows her muse.'
