The Mercury Prize 2017 shortlist has been revealed, with Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and The xx each making the cut for this year’s music prize.
The award, given to the best album released in the UK and Ireland as voted for by a panel of experts, has also seen Sampha, J Hus, Blossoms, Alt-J, Kate Tempest, Glass Animals, Dinosaur, Loyle Carner and The Big Moon nominated. It’s a big year for urban artists as Stormzy is already the frontrunner to pick up the gong, ahead of Sampha and Kate Tempest with odds of 7/2.
- Alt-J: Relaxer
- The Big Moon: Love in the 4th Dimension
- Blossoms: Blossoms
- Loyle Carner: Yesterday’s Gone
- Dinosaur: Together, As One
- Glass Animals: How to Be a Human Being
- J Hus: Common Sense
- Sampha: Process
- Ed Sheeran: ÷
- Stormzy: Gang Signs & Prayer
- Kate Tempest: Let Them Eat Chaos
- The xx: I See You
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Not everyone was happy with the choices, though. Metal magazine Kerrang! issued a very blunt response on Twitter, calling the picks “irrelevant, bland, snobby shite.”
What an absolute pile of irrelevant, bland, snobby, shite the 2017 @MercuryPrize shortlist is. Another year, no recognition for YOUR music
— Kerrang! (@KerrangMagazine) July 27, 2017
The shortlist was announced during an event with Central London, with the Mercury Prize Awards Show set to take place at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith on September 14. Many of the acts nominated for the prize are expected to perform during the event. Tickets can be purchased here.
