Grand Salvo Added To $30,000 Prize Shortlist

Melbourne's Grand Salvo are the latest band announced into this year's The Coopers Amp shortlist, joining Hermitde, Jess Ribeiro and Urthboy in the hunt for the $30,000 prize.

As the list of nine is revealed intermittently, Grand Salvo – the moniker of Paddy Mann – has become the fourth artist added with Slay Me In My Sleep. The record was recorded in Berlin, where Mann lived with his girlfriend, and speaking to theMusic.com.au last year he said, “Everyone seems to try it once. I wasn't so much into touring or playing a lot of gigs, but I did really want to record and write while I was there. And it was a pretty good place to do that, [with] a lot of open-minded people."

It resulted in a record that we described as, “a grandiose, majestic folk epic with all the emotional toil of a classic novel”

Now based back in Melbourne, Mann will join the other shortlisted artists at the inaugural Amp Alive showcase at Federation Square, Friday 1 February. The free event kicks off at 6pm and will be hosted by Clare Bowdtich and Kevin Mitchell. A special performing guest has also been announced, with the only hint given is that they are triple j-friendly and will be announced on the short-listed soon.

There have been a number of changes to the prize this year, the organisers dropped the entry price and then asked industry and fans to submit albums for consideration. After 230 records were identified, three rounds of eligible albums were selected for the long-list. The first 26 records were announced October, the second round of 21 albums in November and the final 24 in December.

Past winners include:

2005: The Drones - Wait Long By The River And The Bodies of You Enemies Will Float By
2006: Augie March - Moo, You Bloody Choir
2007: The Mess Hall - Devils Elbow
2008: Eddy Current Suppression Ring - Primary Colours
2009: Lisa Mitchell - Wonder
2010: Cloud Control - Bliss Release
2011: The Jezabels - Prisoner