Jessie Ware and The Lottery Winners stoke excitement for next week's UK Number 1 album race

The race for next week's Official Albums Chart Number 1 hasn't even started yet, and already the battle lines are being drawn! 

As Enter Shikari celebrate their first-ever chart-topping album in the UK, eyes are already on the albums looking to supplant them at the top next week, and let's just say, we're already hearing a lot of fighting talk.

Two of the biggest acts in with a chance of securing their first Number 1 LP next week are London-based, Mercury Prize-nominated disco diva Jessie Ware with her exuberant fifth record That! Feels Good! (and it sounds just as good too) and Leigh indie-rock natives The Lottery Winners. 

At a special fan launch party for That! Feels Good! Jessie apparently took to the stage to encourage fans to purchase the record - her second that dips its toe into the lush world of post-disco handbag house, following 2020's revelatory What's Your Pleasure? - and help her get to the top of the charts.

MORE: Jessie Ware's Official Charts history in full here

"Thank you to everyone who has supported me and who is continuing to support me," Jessie said. "Buy the record, please, because I really want to beat The National."

Jessie is of course referencing US-based, alt-pop group The National, headed by Aaron Dessner, who is now best known as the architect for Taylor Swift's lockdown opuses (and UK Number 1 albums!) folklore and evermore.

The National just released their ninth studio album The First Two Pages of Frankenstein, which also handily includes a collaboration with none other than Ms. Taylor Alison Swift herself, the Alcott. The National have one UK Number 1 album to their name, they previously reached the summit in 2017 with Sleep Well, Beast.

Another band worth keeping an eye on, and already thinking of inventive ways they can use an Official Albums Chart Number 1 Award, are the Lottery Winners, who hail from the Leigh area of Wigan.

While the foursome have yet to clinch a Top 10 record in the UK, they've just released their fifth album, Anxiety Replacement Therapy, which includes collaborations with Shaun Ryder, Boy George and Frank Turner (what an eclectic mix!) and they're clearly hoping to go all the way.

MORE: The Top 40 biggest albums of 2023 so far

In an interview with Manchester Evening News, The Lottery Winners stated that if they were to claim Number 1 with Anxiety Replacement Therapy next week, they'd be sure to bring it home.

"We just need Leigh to get behind us now, the finish line is in sight," singer Thom Rylance said. "If we win that trophy, we’ll put it in the middle of the Spinning Gate in a little glass cabinet so everyone can have it."

But another act that you can't count out is London rapper Nines, who memorably reached Number 1 in 2020 with his third record Crabs In A Bucket. 

After a three year hiatus, Nines is back with a new album - Crop Circles 2 - and just yesterday clinched this week's highest new entry in the Official Singles Chart with Tony Soprano 2. Can he clinch that second Number 1? Or perhaps Jessie or The Lottery Winners will be celebrating their first-ever chart-topper?

It's certainly all to play for - so make sure you back your favourite in the race. The Official Chart Update, which tracks the albums leading the race for Number 1, will drop this Tuesday (May 2) on OfficialCharts.com from 5pm. 

Keep an eye on OfficialCharts.com from Tuesday May 2 at 5pm GMT to see who takes the lead in this week's race for the UK's Number 1 album!