The full performance line-up and host of the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Awards Show have been announced.
Lauren Laverne is set to front the ceremony on Thursday 9 September, with Arlo Parks, BERWYN, Black Country, New Road, Celeste, Ghetts, Hannah Peel, Laura Mvula, Mogwai, Nubya Garcia and Wolf Alice playing live.
BBC Music 6 DJ Lauren, 43, said: ‘I’m delighted to be hosting the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Awards Show.
Up front: Radio DJ Lauren Laverne, 43, is to host the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Awards on Thursday 9 September, with the ceremony airing on BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music
‘It’s a fantastic shortlist showcasing the incredible creativity of the British & Irish music scene – and I’m looking forward to seeing some amazing live performances at the show.’
The awards will take place at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith in London and tickets are now available to watch the exciting line-up.
The Prize’s broadcast partner, BBC Music, will air the event on BBC Four as Hyundai Mercury Prize 2021 Live: Album of the Year from 9pm to 10.15pm and BBC Radio 6 Music will broadcast it hosted by Tom Ravenscroft from 8pm to midnight on the night.
Nominees: Celeste (pictured in April) and Arlo Parks led the stars shortlisted for Hyundai Mercury Prize’s Album Of The Year award, which was announced last month
The evening will culminate in the announcement of the overall winner of the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize for Album of the Year.
The shortlist for the for Album Of The Year was revealed last month on BBC Radio 6 Music.
Celeste, Arlo Parks, and Wolf Alice lead the musicians in contention for the prestigious accolade which promotes the best of British and Irish music, with 12 albums named in total.
Exciting: Celeste’s debut album Not Your Muse and Arlo’s debut Collapsed in Sunbeams are among the nominees, with Wolf Alice’s Blue Weekend also shortlisted (Arlo pictured in May)
Alongside the trio, Berwyn, Black Country, New Road, Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & The London Symphony Orchestra, Ghetts, Hannah Peel, Laura Mvula, Mogwai, Nubya Garcia, and SAULT’s latest releases have also been nominated.
Celeste’s debut album Not Your Muse and Arlo’s debut Collapsed in Sunbeams are among the nominees, with Wolf Alice’s Blue Weekend also shortlisted.
Laura Mvula also secures her third nomination with Pink Noise, for which she eschewed her classical influences in favour of 1980s soul and pop.
All three of her studio albums have been shortlisted for the Mercury Prize but she is yet to win.
Regular nominees: Wolf Alice (pictured in 2018) won the 2018 Mercury Prize with their second album Visions Of A Life, while their 2015 debut My Love Is Cool has also been tapped
The shortlist also sees Scottish post-rock group Mogwai score their first nomination, more than 25 years after they were founded in Glasgow.
As The Love Continues, their 10th record, also earned them their first number one in February this year.
Their previous chart peak had come in 2017 when they reached number six with Every Country’s Sun.
Prior to that only one of their records had cracked the top 10.
Success: Laura Mvula also secures her third nomination with Pink Noise, for which she eschewed her classical influences in favour of 1980s soul and pop
Both post-rock band Black Country, New Road and jazz saxophonist Nubya Garcia both also earn nominations for their debut albums
Trinidad-born singer and rapper Berwyn’s Demotape/Vega also features among the nominees, after he claimed third place in the BBC Music Sound of 2021 poll.
Wolf Alice won the 2018 Mercury Prize with their second album Visions Of A Life, while their 2015 debut My Love Is Cool was also tapped.
Singer-songwriter PJ Harvey remains the only act to have won the Mercury Prize twice for 2001’s Stories From The City, Stories From The Sea and 2011’s Let England Shake.
In the running: Arlo Parks debut album Collapsed in Sunbeams is among the nominees for Album Of The Year
Tough competition: The singer will go against Celeste in the category
Congratulations: Nubya Garcia (L) and Hannah Peel (R) posed with her trophy after making the shortlist
The shortlist recognises artistic achievements across all genres of music, and it was selected by an independent judging panel.
On the panel is Anna Calvi, Annie Mac, Danielle Perry, Gemma Cairney, Hazel Wilde, Jamie Cullum, Jeff Smith, Michael Kiwanuka, Mike Walsh, Phil Alexander, Tshepo Mokoena, Will Hodgkinson, and Jeff Smith.
Following the nominations, the judges said in a statement: ‘It is testament to the strength of British music that, during a year which saw musicians face the toughest challenges of their lives, so many remarkable albums came out nonetheless.
In the running: Nominated artist Ghetts held the shortlist trophy during the announcement of the shortlist for the Hyundai Mercury Prize Albums of the Year
Nominated: Berwyn showed off his gong at the photocall at the Langham hotel
Shortlisted: Tyler Hyde and Lewis Evans of Black Country New Road pictured at the Mercury Prize Launch 2021 photocall
About time: The shortlist also saw Mogwai score their first nomination, more than 25 years after they were founded in Glasgow (frontman Stuart Braithwaite pictured in 2017)
‘There was an embarrassment of riches for this year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize judges to choose from, but the final 12 show how diverse, vibrant and far-reaching British music continues to be.
‘Choosing one winner out of 12 albums that bring so much hope for the future will be a challenge indeed.’
Michael Kiwanuka won last year’s Mercury Prize with his third album Kiwanuka, fending off competition from Stormzy, Laura Marling and Dua Lipa, he is now a new addition to the judging panel.
Music: Trinidad-born singer and rapper Berwyn (pictured) also features among the nominees for his album Demotape/Vega, after claiming third place in the BBC Music Sound of 2021 poll