Arctic Monkeys claim their fifth nomination for the Mercury Prize for there 7th album The Car, making them joint most nominated artists in the award history along side Radiohead.

A popular fan favourite single from the album The Car by Arctic Monkeys “There better be a mirror ball.”  along with singles such as “Perfect sense” and “Hello you” could see a second time win for the band.

Mercury Prize Awards celebrates its 32nd year, although last years show was cancelled out of respect, for Queen Elizabeth’s II death.

This years show will go ahead in all its glory on September 7th at 9pm and will be played on BBC 4 and on iPlayer, along with full coverage, from BBC Radio 6, as well as all BBC online and social media outlets. Showcasing some amazing artists, and their latest albums, viewers and listeners will have a whole host of talent to look forward to.

London’s Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, will hold this years award show and tickets are available to purchase. Hosting this years Mercury Awards is DJ and Television presenter Lauren Laverne. There is no further announcement as to whether she will have a guest presenter along side her.

Each performer announced will feature 10 live and two pre-recorded performances at the award show; however, both Arctic Monkeys and Fred Again will be touring in September and unable to attend this years show. Instead, a special film will be shown, to celebrate both of their award nominated albums.

Mercury awards see’s four nominations for the second time, from acts Jhus, Loyle Carner, Young Father and Jessie Ware.

Jessie Ware on release of her album That! Feels Good! which is the title track to the first song, wrote on her official Instagram page to say, “This album is no longer mine, its all yours!”

Jessie Ware in an interview with NME, commented on how she felt to be nominated for her album That! Feels Good!, a decade on since her last Mercury nomination. She said, “It’s nice to see brilliant artists and lovely to be amongst them. It’s amazing to be up for my second Mercury a decade on, and I feel proud of myself.”

This highly sort after award has previously been won by the likes of Portishead in 1995 with their album Dummy, Badly Drawn Boy in 2000 with album The Hour of Bewilderbeast and Arctic Monkeys in 2006 with album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not.

Mercury Prize Award has no categories, and is open to all musical genres, with 12 shortlisted ‘Album of the Year’ with 1 winner. The artist to win the award will take home, not only the ‘Album of the Year’ trophy, but also a cash prize of £25,000 pounds. Not to mention blow up their social media and public awareness.

Styles, who won the prestigious Album of the Year award for Harry’s House, performed his hit single “As It Was” during the show but was faced with technical difficulties.

The performance had Harry and his backup dancers moving around a spinning turntable, reminiscent of that seen in the “As It Was” music video.

However, the stage unfortunately began to spin in the wrong direction when the performance started. Styles and his dancers were forced to adapt their routine on the spot, resulting in a clumsier performance than had been meticulously rehearsed.

Grammys set designer Julio Himede has opened up about the incident on the BBC’s Eurovision podcast, revealing that Styles “called the team in charge to make sure they were OK.” Himede said the incident was “heartbreaking.“

He continued, “In rehearsals his performance was so polished. I was sitting there admiring how amazing Harry and his dancers were to just run with it and cope with it. To continue the performance live and all of a sudden think, ‘I have to just go in reverse now’, is quite incredible.“

Himede will be designing the sets for the 2023 Eurovision Song Contest and is keen to avoid any similar mishaps. The stage will have to be reset in 60 seconds after performances, with Himede calling it “organised chaos.“

Fans were quick to jump to Harry’s defence after his performance didn’t quite reach the standards he has set for himself as a performer. Fans responded to Brandon Mathis, one of the backup dancers, who revealed that the performance had to be reworked on the spot.

Do you guys know how big of a deal the stage spinning the wrong way is? The dancers and Harry had to do the performance backwards. They were all on the opposite of their marks etc no wonder Harry’s voice was shaking right away, he was freaking out
pic.twitter.com/f6171aqARZ

— Erin ×͜× LTdefenseless28 (@tdefenseless28) February 6, 2023

One fan tweeted that they “would’ve just started to cry” had they been in Harry’s position.

Harry’s better than me because if my stage started spinning backwards I would’ve just started to cry — Julia (@WORLDLWT2) February 6, 2023

This was not the only problematic aspect of Harry’s Grammy attendance this year. Despite winning the most prized Grammy Award for Album of the Year, Harry faced backlash following his acceptance speech.

Controversially, Styles said “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often” and faced immediate criticism for his tone deaf comment. Twitter users were quick to fire back.

harry styles saying “this doesn’t happen to people like me very often” as a white, british man who has a history of dating only the most categorically stunning women in hollywood and whose biggest act of rebellion is wearing sequins and nail polish is extremely rich

— Emily (@emilybernay) February 6, 2023

Despite a bumpy evening, Styles has held onto his reputation as the friendliest man in pop, staying true to his “Treat People With Kindness” message by ensuring those around him were fine following the show’s mishaps.

Buy tickets for Love on Tour here.

Stream Harry’s House here.

When the shortlist was announced judges commented on the official website that “Getting down to 12 albums this year was not easy, simply because there were so many remarkable ones to choose from.” “We feel that these 12 amazing albums each have something to say artistically and socially, all in their own unique, enriching ways.”

Of the 12 nominees, Little Simz is shortlisted for the second time with her critically acclaimed Sometimes I Might Be Introvert. Under The Radar described the album as “The kind of project that cements her status as one of the most talented artists of her generation.” It won Best Album from NME, an Ivor Novello award and Best New Artist at the Brits.

Upon finding out she was nominated, Little Simz told Radio 6: “I am feeling grateful; very, very blessed, this is my second time round now.” “When you’re an artist, a creative making art, you just do it because it’s a release. I had some things to say and this was my way of expressing it and it’s a blessing people have resonated with it.”

Sometimes I Might Be Introvert has been shortlisted for the @MercuryPrize 22’ so grateful. Love to my brother Inflo for always backing it, and pouring love in abundance into the music. And to YOU, the people. Thank you for the continued support on this album pic.twitter.com/JjTwTvEyN5

— Little Simz (@LittleSimz) July 26, 2022

Joining Little Simz on the list is Newcastle rock singer Sam Fender. He has received his debut nomination for Seventeen Going Under, his second album which won two NME Awards. “Seventeen Going Under is a very personal and important record for me and the boys, and for it to be recognised is insane,” he told BBC Radio 6, “It is an absolute honour and I am chuffed. Fingers crossed and we’ll see what happens, but just to be nominated is an honour.”

The most commercially-successful album on the list comes from ex-One Direction bandmate Harry Styles. His third studio album Harry’s House has had 6 weeks at number one on the UK charts. The album had the best first-week sales in Styles’ career. It was the fastest-selling album of 2022 in the UK and debuted at number one on the UK Albums Chart and the US Billboard 200.

The majority of the list is made up of first-time nominees. Indie band Wet Leg are nominated for their debut album, their debut single “Chaise Longue” was a viral hit in 2021; and dance-metal duo Nova Twins are up for their second album, Supernova. 

The full shortlist: 

Forest Floor – Fergus McCreadie

Tresor – Gwenno

Harry’s House – Harry Styles

For All Our Days That Tear the Heart – Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler

Skin – Joy Crookes

Reason to Smile – Kojey Radical

Sometimes I Might be Introvert – Little Simz

Supernova – Nova Twins

Seventeen Going Under – Sam Fender

Prioritise Pleasure – Self Esteem

Wet Leg – Wet Leg

The Overload – Yard Act

Tickets will be available for the ceremony from www.eventimapollo.com.