Despite numerous setbacks and difficulties throughout the music industry over the last year, it has remained a bumper year for quality British and Irish talent as the Mercury Prize 2021 nominees are announced.
Arlo Parks, Black Country, New Road, and Celeste make a bold impression this year with all the artists celebrating nominations for their debut albums, while previous winners Wolf Alice also find themselves on the shortlist. There was also a first for Berwyn's 'Demotape/Vega', which has become the first nomination from an artist not born in the UK or Ireland to pick up a nod, thanks to a recent rule change.
This year's Mercury Prize winner will be announced on the 9th September at London’s Hammersmith Apollo, and you can see the full list of nominees below.
Mercury Prize 2021 Shortlist:
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
Berwyn – Demotape/Vega
Black Country, New Road – For the First Time
Celeste – Not Your Muse
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders and the London Symphony Orchestra – Promises
Ghetts – Conflict of Interest
Hannah Peel – Fir Wave
Laura Mvula – Pink Noise
Mogwai – As the Love Continues
Nubya Garcia – Source
Sault – Untitled (Rise)
Wolf Alice – Blue Weekend