The nominations for this year’s Mercury Prize have been revealed.
The annual music award for the best album released in the United Kingdom by a British or Irish act may have had to undergo some Covid-inspired changes for 2020 – there was no flashy press launch this year – but it has still thrown up 12 records who will contend for the gong.
The shortlisted albums are:
Anna Meredith – FIBS
Charli XCX – how i’m feeling now
Dua Lipa – Future Nostalgia
Georgia – Seeking Thrills
Kano – Hoodies All Summer
Lanterns on the Lake – Spook The Herd
Laura Marling – Song for Our Daughter
Michael Kiwanuka – Kiwanuka
Moses Boyd – Dark Matter
Porridge Radio – Every Bad
Sports Team – Deep Down Happy
Stormzy – Heavy is the Head
They were selected by a panel of 12 judges, plus chair, which included the likes of Annie Mac, Anna Calvi, Gaz Coombes and Jorja Smith. Albums by British artists with a UK release date between 20 July 2019 and 17 July 2020 are eligible for the 2020 Prize.
David Wilkinson, Mercury Prize Chairman, said “This has been a difficult & challenging year, so we are grateful to all the artists & labels that have supported the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize by entering their albums. Thanks also to the hardworking judges who have spent the last few months in lockdown listening to all the albums that were entered.”
Last year’s Mercury Prize was won by Dave, for his album ‘Psychodrama’. This year’s winner will be announced on Thursday 10 September (hopefully, but let’s not count our chickens) at a ceremony at London’s Hammersmith Eventim Apollo.
