‘People Watching’ is Fender’s third album and has been praised for its honesty, heart, and ambition. The judges said it stood out for being “cohesive, bold, and deeply moving.” The record is rock album with personal stories about growing up, friendship, and loss.

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One of the most touching moments of the night came when Fender dedicated the award to Annie Orwin, a woman who inspired the title track and whose passing deeply affected him. Many fans and critics have said this emotional honesty is what makes ‘People Watching’ his best work yet.

Before this, Fender had already built a strong reputation with his earlier albums ‘Hypersonic Missiles’ (2019) and ‘Seventeen Going Under’ (2021). Those records made him one of Britain’s most successful young rock artists, but ‘People Watching’ also includes two Top 10 singles.

This year’s Mercury Prize was special because of where it was held. For the first time in the prize’s history, the ceremony took place outside London. Organisers said they wanted to “celebrate music from all parts of the UK” and make the event more inclusive.

That decision made Fender’s win meaningful. He told the crowd it felt “surreal and beautiful” to accept the prize in his home region, in front of local fans and his family.

The night also featured performances from several of the twelve shortlisted artists, including FKA twigs, Fontaines D.C., CMAT, and Wolf Alice. Folk legend Martin Carthy, aged 84, became the oldest artist ever nominated for the prize and performed Scarborough Fair with his daughter Eliza Carthy and sitar player Sheema Mukherjee.

Fender received a £25,000 prize and a specially designed trophy. In his speech, he thanked his band, his fans, and his hometown community for their support.

Here are the 12 albums in the running:

• CMAT – ‘EURO-COUNTRY
• Emma-Jean Thackray – ‘Weirdo’
• FKA twigs – ‘EUSEXUA’
• Fontaines D.C. – ‘Romance’
• Jacob Alon – ‘In Limerence’
• Joe Webb – ‘Hamstrings & Hurricanes’
• Martin Carthy – ‘Transform Me Then Into A Fish’
• Pa Salieu – ‘Afrikan Alien’
• PinkPantheress – ‘Fancy That’
• Pulp – ‘More’
• Sam Fender – ‘People Watching’
• Wolf Alice – ‘The Clearing’

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This year, only two debut albums made the list: Jacob Alon and Joe Webb. The rest are by artists who already have a strong following.

Some well-known names are back again: Wolf Alice (nominated for all four of their albums so far) and Pulp, the Britpop icons who recently returned with new music. Folk legend Martin Carthy, now 84, makes history as the oldest Mercury nominee ever. On the newer side, artists like CMAT, Fontaines D.C, and FKA twigs continue to push boundaries with fresh sounds, while PinkPantheress earns her first Mercury nod.

 

 

 

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The range of genres represented satisfactorily diverse, however the lack of electronic representation is mildly disappointing. PinkPantheress brings pop, while Martin Carthy provides timeless folk. Emma-Jean Thackray mixes jazz with slightly more experimental sounds, and Pa Salieu offers the shortlist’s only rap entry. For fans of guitars, Sam Fender and Wolf Alice are also in the mix, however are not favoured to win.

Another big change this year is the location of the prize ceremony. For the first time, it won’t be held in London. Instead, the event will take place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena on October 16. The winner will receive £25,000, but just being nominated can bring an artist major attention.

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The Mercury Prize is designed to shine a spotlight on albums that stand out, not just in terms of sales but also creativity. Past winners, like English Teacher in 2024, have seen their careers grow quickly after taking home the award.

This year’s shortlist proves that the Mercury Prize is still relevant, still aiming to combine a mixture of sounds, styles, and stories.