2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlist revealed

12 musically diverse albums are nominated

Wolf Alice
Author: Scott ColothanPublished 22nd Jul 2021
Last updated 22nd Jul 2021

Wolf Alice, Celeste, Arlo Parks and Mogwai are among the 12 artists shortlisted for the prestigious 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize.

Celebrating the past British and Irish albums of the past year, once again there is an eclectic array of artists on the shortlist from the worlds of rock music, electronica, jazz, soul, post-rock, pop, indie, contemporary classical and grime.

The 12 albums were chosen by an independent judging panel, which includes Absolute Radio presenter Danielle Perry, and the winners will be announced at The 2021 Awards Show on Thursday 9th September 2021 at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith.

The 2021 Hyundai Mercury Prize shortlist:

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


The Mercury Prize judges said: “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.

“There was an embarrassment of riches for this year’s Hyundai Mercury Prize judges to choose from, but the final twelve show how diverse, vibrant and far-reaching British music continues to be. Choosing one winner out of twelve albums that bring so much hope for the future will be a challenge indeed.”

Alongside our very own Danielle Perry, the judging panel features musicians Anna Calvi, Hazel Wilde, Jamie Cullum and last year's Mercury Prize winner Michael Kiwanuka, together with music industry figures Phil Alexander, Annie Mac, Gemma Cairney, Mike Walsh, Will Hodgkinson, Tshepo Mokoena and chair Jeff Smith.

Albums by British artists with a UK release date between 18th July 2020 and 16th July 2021 are eligible for the 2021 Prize.

Since its inception as the Mercury Music Prize in 1992 when Primal Scream’s seminal masterpiece ‘Screamadelica’ won, albums by Suede (‘Suede’), Portishead (‘Dummy’), Pulp (‘Different Class’), Badly Drawn Boy (‘The Hour of Bewilderbeast’) PJ Harvey (‘Stories from the City, Stories from the Sea’ and ‘Let England Shake’), Dizzee Rascal (‘Boy in da Corner’), Franz Ferdinand (‘Franz Ferdinand’), Arctic Monkeys (‘Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not’), The xx (‘The xx’), Elbow (‘Seldom Seen Kid’), Dave (‘Psychodrama’) and Michael Kiwanuka ('Kiwanuka') have all triumphed over the past 29 years.

Radiohead have appeared on the shortlist a record five times, yet, despite being one of the most critically acclaimed acts of the past 25 years, they have failed to scoop a single Mercury Prize win.

Now read:

Hyundai Mercury Prize 2020: A guide to the Albums of the Year

Watch Michael Kiwanuka's amazing reaction to winning the Hyundai Mercury Prize 2020

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