Entertainment Ireland

Mercury Prize Nominees Announced

21 July 2009

The shortlist of nominees for the 2009 Mercury Prize has been announced, with Florence and The Machine, Glasvegas and Lisa Hannigan all amongst the hopefuls for the award. The 12 albums, all released in the last year by Irish and British artists, were announced this morning in a ceremony in London's Covent Garden.

The awards ceremony takes place on September 8th and will be selected by a panel of judges, who have yet to be named.

The full nominations for the 2009 Mercury Prize are:

Bat For Lashes - Two Suns
Florence and The Machine - Lungs
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
The Horrors - Primary Colours
La Roux - La Roux
Led Bib - Sensible Shoes
The Invisible - The Invisible
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew
Kasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Speech Debelle - Speech Therapy
Sweet Billy Pilgrim - Twice Born Men

The early favourites for the awards are Bat For Lashes, Florence and The Machine, La Roux, Friendly Fires and Glasvegas.

There are a few notable absentees, such as Little Boots and Micachu and The Shapes. Doves, too, might well feel a little aggrieved not to have made the list. Irish hopes, however, rest squarely on the shoulders of Lisa Hannigan and her nomination will finally confirm that she has stepped out from behind the shadow of Damien Rice and emerged as one of the most highly-regarded musicians in the country.

What do you think of the nominations? Who do you think has missed out? Let us know in the talkbacks!