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2023 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW nominees announced
It's the most prestigious award in British music.
By George Griffiths
It's the most prestigious award in British music, and the nominees for the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW have just been announced.
Due to take place this year on September 7, the Mercury Prize has now unveiled the 12 acts in contention to win the award for Best British Album of the Year.
Last year, Little Simz took home the Mercury Prize 2022 for her searing fourth album, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
In order to be eligible for the Mercury Prize, the albums must be recorded by a British or Irish artist, with a UK release date between 16 July 2022 and 14 July 2023.
Who are the nominees for the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW?
Here are the 12 nominees for the Mercury Prize 2023:
Arctic Monkeys - The Car
Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant To Be
Fred again.. - Actual Life 3
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
When does the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW take place?
This year's 2023 Mercury Prize with FREE NOW ceremony will take place at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo on Thursday September 7.
Who are the previous winners of the Mercury Prize?
The most recent recipient was Little Simz, who won in 2022 for her critically acclaimed fourth record, Sometimes I Might Be Introvert.
You can re-visit every act who has won the Mercury Prize in our guide here.
Join the conversation by joining the Official Charts community and dropping comment.
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itsnoodleszn_
now this is one of my favourite times of the year in terms of quality music. some really good albums shortlisted but loyle carner is my winner, he’s crazy good and so much better than other uk rappers out there. nobody knows (ladas road) was a masterpiece
A
Alfie
Mercury Nominees 2023
Welcome to this edition of my annual ramblings, except this one isn't really 'annual'. It's the Mercury Prize nominations for 2023, and they've just been announced. And now I get to talk about them. Simple as that, really.
Arctic Monkeys - The Car No shocks that these lot have been nominated. Won it in 2006, and have been trying ever since.
RAYE - My 21st Century Blues That album RAYE made after Escapism did so well. Got stopped from topping the album chart in February by Shania Twain.
Fred Again.. - Actual Life 3 Dance fever hits like a mach truck, it seems. What with all the chart success and packed Glastonbury sets he's achieved, you can probably bet on this man winning it.
J Hus - Beautiful and Brutal Yard Was literally on top of the album chart a couple weeks ago. Includes the current smash Who Told You, which is also one of the few songs right now I actually LIKE.
Jessie Ware - That! Feels Good! Officially no longer able to inspire Radio 1 anymore, she nonetheless comes up with another rich and fulfilling album. Free Yourself is the undisputed highlight here.
Loyle Carner - Hugo Had to play third fiddle in the album chart during Taylor Monkey week back in 2022. Doesn't stop him from being nominated though.
Olivia Dean - Messy Generic singer songwriter, nothing really noteworthy here. I guess she'll just make up the numbers, as the likes of Erasure, Jamelia and Maximo Park have done in the past.
Young Fathers - Heavy Heavy Winners in 2014, and still achieving Top 10 albums. Can't sit still for 5 minutes when it comes to making different types of music.
Ezra Collective - Where I'm Meant To Be The token jazz act. This means they have no hope of winning it.
Shygirl - Nymph This squeaked to 34 in September, yet it seems the critics haven't forgotten about it. Th4t m3Ans 5he MusT b3 g0od.
Jockstrap - I Love You Jennifer B Not gonna lie, I completely had no idea this album was up for the Mercury. Naturally, that will probably result in them not being victorious.
Lankum - False Lankum The token folk act. NEXT.
Oh wait, that's all the nominees. Welp. Time for us to predict whether the winner will go down the same paths as Primal Scream, PJ Harvey and Elbow, or just end up as another Talvin Singh, Benjamin Clementine or Speech Debelle. Everyone is hoping it ain't the latter. Bye.
(P.S. I bet nobody apart from me will ever read this review. Guess this means I'll be forgotten about for the rest of time then.)
(edit: This aged well)
THIERRY
Thanks Alfie for your article..Interesting as usual..and yes, i always read your reviews...may not always agree with it but still reading it as you speak your mind and honest about the artists you like or dislike!!
A
Alfie
Yeah.
I already regret my comment of Ezra Collective.