The Nationwide Mercury Prize exists solely to champion UK music by promoting the 12 Albums of the Year by British or Irish artists. All genres of music are eligible and all albums are treated equally. The Nationwide Mercury Prize is Europe’s Number One Arts Prize in terms of media coverage and influence. The 12 Albums of the Year are announced in July each year with the overall winner of the Prize decided on the night of the Awards Show in September. The music on the album is the only thing taken into account.
2008 Key Dates
22 July - Albums of the Year Launch
9 September - Awards Show
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Nationwide Mercury Prize Recommends...
Nationwide Mercury Prize Recommends is a new part of the official Prize website where we’ll be bringing you some suggestions about music that we think you might like – all done completely separate to the main Nationwide Mercury Prize that celebrates the UK ‘Albums of the Year’.
Visit www.nationwidemercurys.com/recommends and you’ll find suggestions about all sorts of music from around the world that we feel are worth checking out. It’s totally free and we’ll be updating the page regularly with the latest videos, tracks, albums, news and competitions – so keep heading back there if you want more.
Here’s a sample of what you’ll get
Tricky
‘Slow’
Domino
The Knowles West Boy returns with the latest cut from his Domino debut. Beneath the riotous clamour of guitars and drum machines you may notice the melody: the song is a cover of Kylie’s Number One single from 2003. The B Side business is taken care of by Bullion, a producer in the ascendant.
Click HERE for full details
Fleet Foxes
‘He Doesn’t know Why’
Directed by Sean Pecknold
Sean Pecknold created an intricate stop motion animation for the last Fleet Foxes video ‘White Winter Hymnal’. This time around he shoots the band (fronted by his brother, lead singer Robin) in their studio for an ever shifting performance piece, made even more peculiar by the gradual inclusion of a herd of goats.
Click HERE for full details
The Cure
‘4:13 Dream’
Suretone
This summer saw The Cure revived, with a string of single releases and a World tour that included a sold out show at Wembley. Their new album, their 13th in almost 30 years, heralds a new sound and direction; in a recent interview Robert Smith said “People will be surprised.
Click HERE for full details
Acoustic Ladyland
The Croft, Bristol
Monday 17th November
Seb Rochford and Pete Wareham have enjoyed high praise for their latest Polar Bear album, the self-titled follow up to the Nationwide Mercury Prize album ‘Held On The Tips Of The Fingers’. With Acoustic Ladyland, one of many projects in which the pair are involved in, Post Punk and Jazz are lashed together in a frenetic whirl. This is one of a handful of gigs and an opportunity to hear new material.
Click HERE for full details
