The full shortlist for the Mercury Prize with FREE NOW 2023 has been announced.
The prize honours the best album release from the UK and Ireland, with Little Simz scooping the trophy last year for her album ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’.
Clash has a bash at predicting this year’s shortlist earlier in the week – check out our dozen picks now.
A few moments ago 6Music host Tom Ravenscroft counted down the 12 albums nominated for this year’s Mercury Prize with FREE NOW. It’s a typically eclectic bunch, and features some previous winners – notably Scottish group Young Fathers – alongside some first-time nominees, and curveball picks.
Some immediate point – J Hus makes the cut for ‘Beautiful And Brutal Yard’, while Fred again.. also gains a nod for his project ‘Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)’.
Loyle Carner’s powerful ‘Hugo’ is nominated, while wonderful vocalist Olivia Dean makes the shortlist for her album ‘Messy’.
In a neat move, RAYE gains a Mercury nomination with her post-major label burst of independence ‘My 21st Century Blues’.
Here is the full list of nominations for the Mercury Prize with FREE NOW 2023:
Arctic Monkeys ‘The Car’
Ezra Collective ‘Where I’m Meant to Be’
Fred again.. ‘Actual Life 3 (January 1 – September 9 2022)’
J Hus ‘Beautiful And Brutal Yard’
Jessie Ware ‘That! Feels Good!’
Jockstrap ‘I Love You Jennifer B’
Lankum ‘False Lankum’
Loyle Carner ‘hugo’
Olivia Dean ‘Messy’
RAYE ‘My 21st Century Blues’
Shygirl ‘Nymph’
Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’
The winner of the Mercury Prize with FREE NOW 2023 will be announced at a special ceremony in London’s eventim Apollo on September 7th. Ticket information can be found online.
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