NEWPORT band, Skindred have made the shortlist for the 2016 Welsh Music Prize.

Created in 2011 by BBC Radio 1 DJ, Huw Stephens and music promoter, John Rostron, the Welsh Music Prize champions the best original music in Wales. Previous winners have included Gwenno Saunders, Future of the Left and Super Furry Animals’ Gruff Rhys.

The Newport band have already scooped a number of prizes including Best Live Band at the 2011 UK Metal Hammer 'Golden Gods' awards and the 2011 Kerrang! Devotion Award.

For updates on this year’s shortlist as it is announced follow @welshmusicprize

Lead vocalist, Benji Webbe said: “We’ve been representing Newport from the very beginning and could not be more proud to be among those nominated.

“Volume, our latest album went Top 40 in the British charts and as a band we are very much still growing and getting bigger and better year on year so to be recognised for this means a great deal to all of us.

“This coming bonfire night (November 5th) we will be celebrating with a home town show at Neon in Newport. This is going to be a such an explosive show after what has been a brilliant summer playing some of Europe’s biggest and best festivals. So Welsh people turn up and come see how a real band does it and again thanks to all those that have nominated us for this great award.”

One winner will be chosen by a panel of the following industry experts - Amy Wadge (Songwriter & Musician), Ashli Todd (Spillers Records), Derek Lloyd (hmv), Dwynwen Morgan (BBC Radio Cymru), Gwyn Eddior (Y Nyth and BBC Horizons), Jen Long (DICE), Lowri Cooke (Cultural Critic), Neal Thompson (Focus Wales), Nici Beech (Artistic Curator and TV Producer), Noel Gardner (Buzz Magazine), Oliver Morris (UK Music) and Sarah Dennehy (Festival of Voice).

John Rostron, Welsh Music Prize said: “This is an incredibly strong shortlist for the Welsh Music Prize. Twelve very different records, made by some well established artists and some new emerging stars with songs that embrace a whole host of genres, sounds and influences. Congratulations to them all. So many great albums are being released from Wales at the moment - it’s a really good time to be listening to new music and finding some new favourites."

This year’s event is sponsored by hmv, Ton Media, Otley Brewery and Jack Daniels. Joining the sponsor line-up is musical rights management organisation, PRS for Music and Wales’ natural mineral water, Brecon Carreg.

The Welsh Music Prize 2016 will be held on Thursday 24 November 2016 at The Depot, Cardiff. Tickets are on sale now - £15 event only, £30 including street food and drink. To get your tickets and for more information about the Welsh Music Prize go to welshmusicprize.com