The Mercury Prize shortlist for 2020 has been announced, with a few surprises in store.
12 albums have been nominated, with Dua Lipa’s Future Nostalgia and Stormzy’s Heavy is the Head in the running for the prize.
Acts like Laura Marling and Charli XCX got a mention on the list, which rounds up the biggest and best names in music for the year.
With two months to go, the official winner of the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize will be announced on September 24 2020.
Last year’s winner was Dave, for his hugely acclaimed album Psychodrama.
The Mercury Prize shortlist for 2020 has been announced (Image: REUTERS)
The award is said to “celebrate and promote the best of British music recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres”.
Anna Meredith’s FIBS, Charli XCX’s how i’m feeling now, and the Georgia album Seeking Thrills are also up for the award.
On top of that, Kano’s Hoodies All Summer, Spook the Herd by band Lanterns on the Lake and Laura Marling’s Song for Our Daughter are contenders.
Dua Lipa has also been nominated for the prestigious prize (Image: Instagram)
Finally, Michael Kiwanuka’s KIWANUKA, Moses Boyd’s Dark Matter, Porridge Radio’s Every Bad and Sports Team’s Deep Down Happy made the list.
The judging panel, which is made up of DJs, songwriters, music consultants and more claimed each nominee created an album with a shared sense of “irresistible urgency”.
Typically, there would be a live event for the Mercury Prize in September, but the get-together has been cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Last year’s winner was Dave, for his hugely acclaimed album Psychodrama (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Geoff Taylor of the BPI, which organises the Hyundai Mercury Prize, said: “Extraordinary music for extraordinary times.
“The Mercury Prize is back, reminding us that the creative brilliance of our artists is a constant, even when the world is turned upside down.
“We believe it’s all the more important this year for the Mercury Prize to shine a spotlight on 12 exceptional Albums of the Year, spanning an eclectic gamut of genres and uniting the biggest names in music with the most exciting new talent.
“These records tell stories, dig deep into the personal experiences of their creators and represent the best in contemporary music.
“We congratulate all the shortlisted artists and thank our expert judges and our partners, Hyundai and YouTube Music, for supporting this year’s Prize.”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
