•CMAT, Fontaines D.C., Wolf Alice and FKA Twigs perform live/Andy Ford for NMEThe shortlist for the Mercury Prize 2025 has been revealed, featuring a mix of established acts and rising stars, per nme.com. The 12 “Albums of the Year” were announced by Lauren Laverne on BBC Radio 6 Music.
Among the nominated albums are Pulp’s comeback record More, Fontaines D.C.’s Romance and Wolf Alice’s The Clearing. The list also includes acclaimed works from PinkPantheress (Fancy That), Sam Fender (People Watching), CMAT (Euro-Country), FKA Twigs (Eusexua), and Pa Salieu (Afrikan Alien). Other nominees are Emma-Jean Thackray, Jacob Alon, Joe Webb, and Martin Carthy.
The awards ceremony will take place at the Utilita Arena in Newcastle on Thursday, October 16. The event marks a move from its traditional London location to the North East, as part of a new partnership aimed at celebrating regional talent.
Wolf Alice, previous winners of the 2018 prize, and CMAT, who was nominated last year, are both returning to the shortlist. The period of eligibility for this year’s awards was extended, allowing CMAT’s ‘Euro-Country,’ released on the final day, to secure a spot. Last year’s winner was English Teacher with their debut LP, ‘This Could Be Texas.’
The event will be broadcast live by BBC Music, with live performances from many of the shortlisted artistes.
