Sam Fender is among the many artists within the operating for this 12 months’s Mercury Prize because the ceremony heads to his residence metropolis – with Pulp additionally shortlisted for his or her huge comeback, and Wolf Alice breaking a file.
Different acts introduced by judges at this time embrace the genre-bending FKA Twigs, indie-pop star CMAT and post-punk band Fontaines DC, who’re all up for the award for the second time.
Folks musician Martin Carthy is now believed to be the oldest ever nominee at 84 – and joins his daughter, Eliza Carthy, and late spouse Norma Waterson, on the record of Mercury Prize shortlist alumni.
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FKA Twigs and PinkPantheress (under) are additionally nominated. Pics: Andy Kropa/Invision/AP – Scott A Garfitt/Invision/AP
Different first-timers embrace Jacob Alon and Joe Webb, who’re each nominated for debuts, in addition to Emma-Jean Thackray, Pa Salieu and PinkPantheress.
It is a large 12 months for the occasion, which can happen outdoors London for the primary time after greater than 30 years – at Newcastle’s Utilita Area on 16 October.
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English Instructor gained the prize final 12 months, for his or her debut album This May Be Texas. Pic: Sky Information
Final 12 months, it was famous by winners English Instructor that they had been the primary act from outdoors London to select up the prize in 10 years. This 12 months’s nominees embrace artists from Leeds, Sheffield, Gloucestershire, Coventry and Kent, in addition to the capital, and extra acts from, Scotland, Wales and Eire.
‘Sam Fender reveals what is feasible’
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Sam Fender performing in 2023. Pic: Graham Finney/Cowl Photographs through AP
Forward of the present, a week-long fringe pageant will happen throughout Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, North Tyneside, South Tyneside, Durham and Northumberland to highlight the North East’s music scene.
One of many greatest stars to emerge from that scene in recent times is after all Sam Fender, from North Shields. The indie-rock singer-songwriter was first nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2022, for his second album, Seventeen Going Below, and returns to the shortlist this 12 months together with his third chart-topper, Folks Watching.
“The success of artists like Sam Fender shows what is possible for young musicians in our region,” North East Mayor Kim McGuinness stated earlier this 12 months. “Hosting the Mercury Prize in the North East gives us the opportunity to showcase our home-grown talent.”
The 2025 Mercury Prize nominees
CMAT – Euro-Nation
Emma-Jean Thackray – Weirdo
FKA Twigs – Eusexua
Fontaines DC – Romance
Jacob Alon – In Limerence
Joe Webb – Hamstrings And Hurricanes
Martin Carthy – Rework Me Then Into A Fish
Pa Salieu – Afrikan Alien
PinkPantheress – Fancy That
Pulp – Extra
Sam Fender – Folks Watching
Wolf Alice – The Clearing
Earlier Mercury winners Pulp and Wolf Alice are each nominated for the fourth time.
For Wolf Alice, who first made the lower with their debut My Love Is Cool in 2015 and gained with their second album Visions Of A Life in 2018 earlier than a 3rd nod for Blue Weekend in 2021, this newest recognition for The Clearing implies that each single one of many 4 albums they’ve ever launched has been within the operating.
They beforehand held this accolade with Laura Mvula and Anna Calvi, who’ve been each nominated for all three of their studio albums.
Pulp had been first nominated for his or her fourth album His’n’Hers in 1994 and gained with Totally different Class, probably the most well-known albums of the Britpop period, in 1996. A nomination for This Is Hardcore adopted in 1998 – and now Extra, their first album in additional than 20 years, has earned them a nod as soon as once more.
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Pa Salieu pictured on the Mobo Awards in 2021. Pic: PA
Former Ivor Novello nominee Pa Salieu receives his Mercury nod for Afrikan Alien, launched in November 2024 – just some months after he was launched from jail.
The rapper and singer was convicted in 2022 for his half in an assault which occurred in 2018. “I done sh*t I don’t even forgive myself for,” he instructed British Vogue in an interview when the album was launched. He stated he had been writing songs in jail. “It’s the lessons you learn. Everyone has a right to learn.”
And CMAT returns for the second 12 months in a row, after being nominated for her second album, Crazymad, For Me, in 2024, and now Euro-Nation.
Mercury Prize information and figures
PJ Harvey is the one artist so far with two wins, for Tales From The Metropolis, Tales From The Sea, in 2001, and Let England Shake in 2011, from 4 nominations
Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys tie for probably the most nominations, with 5 every – Arctic Monkeys have one win, for his or her debut No matter Folks Say I Am, That is What I am Not, in 2006, whereas Radiohead are but to select up the prize
The bands’ frontmen additionally every have one different nod – Thom Yorke for solo file The Eraser in 2006, and Alex Turner for The Final Shadow Puppets’ debut album, The Age Of The Understatement, in 2008
Wolf Alice are actually the one act with 4 albums to have been nominated for each single file – in 2015, 2018, 2021 and now 2025. Their second album, Visions Of A Life, gained in 2018
Pulp additionally be a part of the ranks of artists with 4 nods, together with Laura Marling and Harvey. Pulp gained for Totally different Class in 1996
The Mercury Prize launched in 1992, when Merely Crimson’s Stars, U2’s Achtung Child, and The Jesus And Mary Chain’s Honey’s Lifeless had been among the many nominees – and Primal Scream’s Screamadelica took the inaugural award.
It celebrates music by British and Irish acts and spans an enormous vary of various musical genres and artists all through all levels of their careers, from newcomers to veterans.
In addition to English Instructor, different current winners embrace Michael Kiwanuka, Arlo Parks, Little Simz and Ezra Collective.
