Adele and Tinie Tempah are among the nominees for this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize.The artists are in the running alongside 2001 winner PJ Harvey and Elbow – who won the prize in 2008.Katy B, Metronomy, King Creosote and Jon Hopkins, Anna Calvi, Ghostpoet, James Blake, Everything Everything and Gwilym Simcock also make the list.The winner of the £20,000 prize, which is open to UK and Ireland artists, will be announced on 6 September.The nominees, who have all released albums over the past year, will perform during the ceremony and the winner will be announced live on BBC Two.ast year, London-based three-piece The xx was presented with the award.
Adele received her nomination for her latest album 21, which has spent a total of 17 weeks at the top of the UK chart so far this year.It is the second time the musician has been up for the prize, after her debut record 19 lost out to Elbow’s The Seldom Seen Kid.In May, she topped a Guardian newspaper poll of the UK’s most influential people in the music industry.Disc-Overy by rapper Tinie Tempah went to number one in October last year and in May he was presented with an Ivor Novello award for his single Pass Out, which appears on the record.Tempah is among the acts who have been shortlisted for their debut albums, along with Everything Everything (Man Alive) Anna Calvi (Anna Calvi), Katy B (On A Mission), James Blake (James Blake) and Ghostpoet (Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam).
Harvey, who has already been named a favourite alongside Adele, will compete for the award with her eighth album Let England Shake.Also included is electronic group Metronomy for their third album The English Riviera.The prize, which is judged by industry experts, is well known for selecting eclectic artists, who may not have enjoyed huge commercial success.Jazz pianist Gwilym Simcock’s Good Days at Schloss Elmau and Diamond Mine – King Creosote’s collaboration with Jon Hopkins – both reached number 75 in the album charts when released.
Simon Frith, chair of judges said the list of nominees “highlights the remarkable possibilities of what can be achieved with music – the grand gesture and telling detail, albums that are dramatic, ambitious and artful, emotional and affectionate, funny and profound”.He added: “Much of the music here evokes a sense of place and time, providing a wonderful snapshot of Britain’s varied musical life.” – BBC
