Mercury Prize 2018: Florence and the Machine, Lily Allen and Noel Gallagher take on rising stars

Lizzie Edmonds
Updated
Chart success: Florence Welch is in the running: Getty Images
Chart success: Florence Welch is in the running: Getty Images

Noel Gallagher, the Arctic Monkeys and Lily Allen are vying with rising stars such as Jorja Smith and Wolf Alice in the battle for this year’s Mercury Prize.

The shortlist of 12 albums was announced today, setting up a clash between mainstream stars and chart newcomers.

Gallagher’s post-Oasis group High Flying Birds and Florence + the Machine are among the established acts picked from more than 200 entries by the judging panel.

Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino, the first album from Arctic Monkeys in five years, and No Shame by Allen are other high-profile contenders.

Big name: Noel Gallagher is in the running
Big name: Noel Gallagher is in the running

Lesser-known albums include King Krule’s The Ooz, Nadine Shah’s Holiday Destination, and Novelist Guy by Lewisham grime artist Novelist.Smith’s Lost & Found, Everything Everything’s A Fever Dream and Wolf Alice’s Visions Of A Life are all albums from newcomers with chart success.

The jazz entry comes from Sons of Kemet with Your Queen Is A Reptile. Another more unusual entry is Everything Is Recorded, an “impromptu collective” led by Richard Russell, the producer who discovered Adele, with contributions from Damon Albarn, Mark Ronson and last year’s winner Sampha.

This year’s judges include Radio 1 DJ Clara Amfo, singers Ella Eyre and Lianne La Havas, musicians Jamie Cullum and Marcus Mumford, and Radio 1Xtra DJ MistaJam. Jeff Smith, head of music at BBC 6 Music and Radio 2, is the panel chairman.

Comeback: Lily Allen’s album No Shame, released after four years away from the limelight, is among the new material from well-known acts (Dave Benett)
Comeback: Lily Allen’s album No Shame, released after four years away from the limelight, is among the new material from well-known acts (Dave Benett)

David Wilkinson, chairman of the Mercury Prize, said: “It’s been another exciting year for UK music, so it’s going to be a tough decision for the panel.”

The winner of the 2018 Hyundai Mercury Prize will be announced on September 20 at the Eventim Apollo, at a live show with performances from the shortlisted artists.

Process, by south London singer-songwriter Sampha, beat entries from Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and The XX to the prize last year.