David Bowie & Arctic Monkeys Favourites To Win Mercury Prize

David Bowie and Arctic Monkeys are joint favourite to win the Barclaycard Mercury Prize with their critically acclaimed records ‘The Next Day’ and ‘AM’.

The 12 UK & Ireland’s ‘Albums of the Year’ were revealed at London’s Hospital Club last night (11th September) and as always bookmakers were quick off the marks with their betting odds.

The oldest ever Mercury Prize nominee aged 66, The Thin White Duke’s ‘The Next Day’ is listed at 4/1 by William Hill alongside th’Arctic Monkeys’ ‘AM’.

Laura Marling’s ‘Once I Was An Eagle’ and Foals’ ‘Holy Fire’ are both at 5/1 while Disclosure’s ‘Settle’ and James Blake’s ‘Overgrown’ are at 7/1.

Three albums are close behind at 8/1 – Rudimental’s ‘Home’, Jake Bugg’s self-titled debut and Laura Mvula’s ‘Sing to the Moon.’

Bringing up the rear at 10/1 are Villagers’ ‘Awayland’, Jon Hopkins’ ‘Immunity’ and Savages’ ‘Silence Yourself’.

“There are 12 strong albums here – representing a diverse range of styles from UK artists – all of which stand a good chance of winning”, says Rupert Adams of William Hill.

“This quality is reflected in the closeness of the odds we’ve given to the 2013 Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year”.

Simon Frith, Chair of Judges, said of this year’s shortlist: “This year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist celebrates a fascinating year for British and Irish music, marked by a wonderful range of musical voices – urgent, reflective, upbeat and tender, acoustic and electronic, and all with something intriguing to say.”

The overall winner will be announced at The Roundhouse in Camden on Wednesday 30th October.

The shortlist is as follows:

Arctic Monkeys - 'AM' David Bowie - 'The Next Day' Disclosure - 'Settle' Foals - 'Holy Fire' James Blake - 'Overgrown' Jake Bugg - 'Jake Bugg' Jon Hopkins - 'Immunity' Laura Marling - 'Once I Was An Eagle' Laura Mvula - 'Sing To The Moon' Rudimental - 'Home' Savages - 'Silence Yourself' Villagers - 'Awayland'