AN album by Radnorshire guitarist Toby Hay is one of 12 nominated for this year’s Welsh Music Prize.

The Longest Day is in the running for the award alongside efforts from the Manic Street Preachers and Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys.

The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Cardiff on November 7 and chosen by a panel of industry experts who, since the awards were first run in 2011, have often opted to honour lesser known acts.

Who is Toby Hay?

The 27-year-old is a 12 string guitarist from St Harmon, near Rhayader, who releases his instrumental folk records through his Cambrian Records label. The Longest Day, which is described as folk and jazz influenced, was recorded after Toby travelled to the USA and even includes a song dedicated to his sheepdog Bear.

It is Toby’s second LP after The Gathering released in May in 2017. Toby had previously put out EPs. Toby regularly tours and is also a favourite at the Green Man Festival in Crickhowell.

What is the Welsh Music Prize?

The prize is intended to celebrate "the finest music made in Wales or by Welsh people around the world" and champions the best new music in the country.

What has Toby said about his nomination?

"It is a real honour. This year was a very strong year for Welsh music. I think that the WMP is a positive force in terms of reaching out beyond the Welsh media and audience. Helping to spread the word further afield and hopefully bring attention to music that may have other wise gone relatively unnoticed outside of Wales."

Who else is nominated for the Welsh Music Prize?

The 12 nominated albums are:

Alex Dingley - Beat the Babble

Astroid Boys - Broke

Boy Azooga - 1,2, Kung Fu!

Bryde - Like An Island

Eugene Capper & Rhodri Brooks - Pontvane

Catrin Finch & Seckou Keita - Soar

Gwenno - Le Kov

Gruff Rhys - Babelsberg

Manic Street Preachers - Resistance is Futile

Mellt - Mae’n Hawdd Pan

Seazoo - Trunks

Toby Hay - The Longest Day

For more details on the Welsh Music Prize visit its website welshmusicprize.com

You can find Toby Hay's website at tobyhay.com

Toby Hay hopes award nomination will be a boost for Radnorshire, in this week’s Brecon & Radnor Express - on sale now