The initial line-up of performers at this year’s Mercury Prize awards ceremony has been announced, along with confirmation of the host. Nominees Wolf Alice, Arlo Parks, Ghetts, Celeste, Mogwai, BERWYN, Hannah Peel, Laura Mvula, Nubya Garcia and Black Country, New Road will each play a song from their shortlisted album at the ceremony held on September 9 at London’s Eventim Apollo.
BBC Radio 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne will return to host the ceremony again, with BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Four both broadcasting the awards ceremony live.
Laverne said: “I’m delighted to be hosting the 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize Awards Show. 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.”
Extra tickets have also been released for the ceremony. Visit the event’s official website for further information.
Last year’s ceremony, which saw the prestigious music prize being awarded to Michael Kiwanuka for his 2019 album Kiwanuka, was dramatically scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic.
6 Music will be celebrating previous winners with ‘The Mercury Prize: Winners’ Playlist’ on September 7 (4am-5am BST), which will be available to listen to on BBC Sounds alongside mini guides to each of this year’s shortlisted albums.
BBC Four will broadcast ‘Hyundai Mercury Prize 2021 Live: Album of the Year’ (9pm-10.15pm BST) while ‘The Mercury Prize on BBC Radio 6 Music’ will be hosted by Tom Ravenscroft (8pm-12am BST).
The full list of Mercury Prize nominations for 2021 are as follows:
Arlo Parks – Collapsed in Sunbeams
BERWYN – DEMOTAPE/VEGA
Black Country, New Road – For The First Time
Celeste – Not Your Muse
Floating Points, Pharoah Sanders & 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