The Mercury Prize 12 Albums of the Year have been unveiled and with the ceremony being held in Newcastle for the first time, Geordie Sam Fender is the one to beat
Sam Fender will be hometown favourite for this year’s Mercury Prize which has moved to Newcastle for the first time. Bookies made Sam’s People Watching one of the faves to scoop the annual best album prize yesterday after the 12 shortlisted nominees were unveiled which included nods for CMAT, FKA Twigs and Fontaine’s DC.
Wolf Alice – winners in 2018 – made history by becoming the first act to have all their albums nominated for a Mercury with their current fourth LP, The Clearing adding to their impressive run.
Other notable nods go to Pink Pantheress for her mixtape Fancy That, Pulp’s comeback LP More and veteran folkster Martin Carthy who at the age of 84 becomes the oldest ever nominee.
Other notable nods go to Pink Pantheress for her mixtape Fancy That, Pulp’s comeback LP More and veteran folkster Martin Carthy who at the age of 84 becomes the oldest ever nominee.
Moving the awards out of London is reflected by a nominee’s list featuring just one act from the capital with further shortlisted names including Coventry’s Pa Salieu, Emma-Jean Thackray (Leeds), Joe Webb (Wales) and Jacob Alton (Scotland).
But it seemed Pa Salieu was on an intergalactic mission as he graced the nominations announcement with his presence.
The wordsmith, who insists “I’m not a rapper”, may hail from Coventry but he’s got bigger fish to fry.
Pa said on the carpet: “I’m a black King, I’m a black Queen, from a different planet I’m here to bring knowledge because I’m an alien.”
Meanwhile, multi-instrumentalist Emma Jean Thackray said she’s up for a fight at the Mercury Prize next month.
She quipped: “I’m from Leeds so I might just to try and sort of wear my Leeds (utd) shirt.
“Doesn’t that really annoy them? And then we’ll have a fight.”
Her album Weirdo deals with grief so being nominated is a cathartic experience: “I’m not so good at allowing myself to celebrate and, feel good about stuff.
“I’m usually always thinking about, ‘okay, what’s the next thing?’
“So, I’m gonna work really hard on making sure I fully celebrate and appreciate this.”
There were a few surprise omissions too namely The Cure getting overlooked for their acclaimed Songs Of A Lost World and the usually ubiquitous Little Simz.
The winner will be announced at a ceremony in Newcastle on October 16.
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