Venus Music Prize announces shortlist, will donate cash to winner's charity of choice

Our friends over at Wears the Trousers are holding their annual Venus Music Prize, aimed at honouring British female talent over the last 12 months and helping charity in the process.

Launched as a cheeky rival to the Mercurys, the Venus aims to address the “too populist, too major-label focused, too male, too unrepresentative of what’s really going on in British music” trend that has sprung up in such awards .

A dozen female-fronted British albums have been chosen and include TLOBF picks Katy B and PJ Harvey.

Wears The Trousers want readers to choose their favourite from the shortlist. The winner will be announced on 6 September, the same day as the Mercury Prize. More importantly, instead of £20 grand in the winner’s pocket, a tidy £50 will be donated to the charity of the winner’s choice.

The shortlist is:

Alessi’s Ark – Time Travel
Andreya Triana – Lost Where I Belong
Anna Calvi – Anna Calvi
CocknBullKid – Adulthood
Emmy The Great – Virtue
Esben & The Witch – Violet Cries
Gazelle Twin – The Entire City
Katy B – On A Mission
PJ Harvey – Let England Shake
Planningtorock – W
Poly Styrene – Generation Indigo
The Unthanks – Last

Vote now over at Wears The Trousers