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Albums of the Year 2010 Dates
22 February 2010
The key dates for the2010 Barclaycard Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year' are:
Tuesday 20 July: Albums of the Year Launch
- shortlist announcement
Tuesday 7 September: Awards Show
- overall winner announcement
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Cover Versions
08 January 2010
Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year by La Roux, Florence + the Machine and Bat For Lashes have all appeared in a list celebrating the best album covers of 2009. The twenty-strong list was topped by Muse's fifth studio album 'The Resistance' and also featured recent sleeves from Editors and Massive Attack.
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Copenhagen's Surprise Guest
16 December 2009
Thom Yorke usually shies away from media attention, but the Radiohead front man was on uncharacteristically communicative form in Copenhagen this week. Well known for his environmental campaigning, Yorke made a surprise appearance at the Climate Conference as he was keen to see what was happening. Most surprising was his method of entry: he had to borrow a press pass to get in! “I’m here on a press pass just like you guys,” he joked with reporters “can you imagine they’d let me in any other way? Let’s just see how long it lasts before I get kicked out!”Watch a full interview with Thom talking about the Climate Conference here:
http://tinyurl.com/thomyorkeincopenhagen
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Friendly Fires limited edition single
26 November 2009
Friendly Fires have a treat in store for fans attending their Christmas party at London's Coronet next week. The band have revealed that a re-recorded vinyl-only version of album track 'On Board' will be available during the course of the night. On the flipside the 12" single will feature an exclusive remix of 'On Board' by Joakim. Finishing off 2009 with a bang, the party features live performances from Friendly Fires and The Invisible as well as DJ sets from Hot Chip and Motor City Drum Ensemble. More information to follow in next week’s Recommends…
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Richard Hawley and Alex Turner
21 November 2009
When Alex Turner picked up the Mercury Prize for Arctic Monkeys debut album 'Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not', the singer let his sharp tongue do the talking. "Someone call the police, Richard Hawley's been robbed" he joked. There was no phone call made to the boys in blue, but that hasn't stopped the two denizens of Sheffield striking up a friendship. Turner recently joined Hawley on stage at an intimate show at London's Union Chapel, performing 'Only Ones Who Know'. When asked if the pair were working together on any projects, the famously tight-lipped Hawley nearly let the cat out of the bag. "Well, we are gonna, you know... I really want, um... I'm not saying. No, I'm not! I'll get shot!" he told BBC 6Music.
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Lungs Expanded
16 November 2009
Florence + The Machine will end a monumental year with two sell-out shows at London's Brixton Academy, but for those fans unable to get a ticket consolation comes by way of a specially expanded edition of debut album Lungs. The massive four-disc set is a comprehensive account of Florence Welch’s journey through the past 12 months, bringing together an Abbey Road session, a live show at The Tivoli Ballroom, a round up B sides, rarities and remixes, acoustic versions and all of the videos. There are also extracts from sketchpads and notebooks Florence kept throughout the writing and recording process and an essay by her favourite author David Vann. The expanded edition is out at the end of the month.
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Portico Quartet and Sweet Billy Pilgrim Tour
26 October 2009
Portico Quartet and Sweet Billy Pilgrim kicked off their UK tour last week, providing a rare chance to see two Mercury Prize shortlisted bands on the same bill! They'll be playing at Koko in London next Monday (2 Nov) before heading further north to play a number of dates across England and Scotland. Check out porticoquartet.com for more details.
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Florence + The Fire Brigade
12 October 2009
Florence Welch and her band were on their way to a concert in Germany when the trailer carrying all their equipment caught fire. Unperturbed by the danger, Florence grabbed a nearby recorder and turned the incident in to something all the more musical. “"You could hear the harp's strings ping in the fire,” she recently told The Sun “Strange sound. We recorded it and I want to use it in a song!"
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Thom Yorke forms a new band
27 September 2009
Thom Yorke has been enjoying a purple patch of late, with new solo material finding it's way in to the world on a seemingly weekly basis. Capitalising on this prolific streak, the Radiohead front man has assembled an all-star line up of musicians to help him play some of the material live. The as yet unnamed band features Red Hot Chili Peppers bassist Flea, Brazilian born multi-instrumentalist Mauro Refesco, Beck, REM and Elliot Smith collaborator Joey Waronker and long time Radiohead cohort Nigel Godrich, and has two shows booked at LA’s Orpheum Theatre.2009 Awards Show - Behind the Scenes Video
21 September 2009
There was plenty of glitz and glamour at the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Awards Show, but now you have the chance to see what went on behind the scenes and backstage in the run up to the big event...
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Tongue N Cheek Trainers
15 September 2009
With his latest album Tongue N Cheek ready to drop, Dizzee Rascal has teamed up with Nike Air for a limited edition collaboration trainer. The rapper has been aided and abetted by designer Ben Drury, who first made a name for himself as the in-house Art Director for seminal label Mo' Wax and has worked with Dizzee previously on his album covers. The ice white sneaks hit the shops on September 18th.Watch the trailer here
2009 Awards Show Announcement
07 September 2009
Watch the winner of the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize being announced by Jools Holland at the Awards Show...
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And The Winner Is...
07 September 2009
After much deliberation the judges made their decision: The winner of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2009 is Speech Debelle for her album 'Speech Therapy'. On collecting the Prize Speech first of all bigged up fellow shortlisted artists The Invisible before thanking all the Big Dada crew and her family. The young South Londoner overcame a lot in making her debut and has won over fans and critics alike with her original style, unique word play and above all her sense of humour. Congratulations to Speech Debelle and the other eleven acts and artists who made up the 2009 Albums of the Year
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BBC Awards Show Coverage
03 September 2009
There have been many thrilling nights in the history of the Prize, but the Awards Show on Tuesday promises to be something extra special: for the first time ever all twelve Albums of the Year artists will be performing live at the event. You can see all of the performances on BBC Two, which will be broadcasting live from the Awards Show and again on Friday 11th September.You can also tune in to BBC 6 Music and Radio 1 who will be broadcasting live from the event, whilst our Twitter page will keep you up to speed with everything going on behind the scenes at the star-studded ceremony. There will also be regular updates throughout the night on our brand new website.
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Compilation CD Released
23 August 2009
The 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year compilation CD is out now! Featuring a track from each of the twelve albums shortlisted for this years Prize, the limited edition CD also boasts two exclusive live performances by Kasabian and Lisa Hannigan, both recorded at the Albums of the Year Launch Party at Covent Garden’s Hospital Club.
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Amy Winehouse Returns
21 August 2009
Amy Winehouse surprised audiences at V Festival in Chelmsford when she joined The Specials on stage. The singer, who's not performed live in the UK for some time, sang with the 2 Tone legends on their penultimate song 'You're Wondering Now' and remained on stage for the closing number ‘Ghost Town’. Amy, who was looking well, also joined Pete Doherty on stage during his headlining set later on in the evening.
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Sweet Billy Pilgrim & Portico Quartet take to the road
17 August 2009
October sees two Barclaycard Mercury Prize artists take to the road for a UK tour. Portico Quartet, whose debut ‘Knee Deep in the North Sea’ was one of the Albums of the Year 2008, will be joined on tour by Sweet Billy Pilgrim. The trio from Buckinghamshire have been enjoying lots of praise for their second album ‘Twice Born Men’, which was recently named as one of the 2009 Albums of the Year. The 9-date tour starts at The Old Vic in Bristol on October 24th.
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New single from La Roux
15 August 2009
La Roux will be releasing 'I'm Not Your Toy' as a single. The duo recently revealed that the third single from their eponymous debut album, one of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year, will be out in Sepetember. Following in the footsteps of 'In For The Kill' 'Bulletproof', 'I'm Not Your Toy' will be available as a 7" Single, Picture Disc and Digital Download.
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New side project from The Horrors
09 August 2009
The Horrors frontman Faris Badwan has recorded a version of 'I'll be With You' by Atlanta-based tearaways The Black Lips. Using the name Lumina, Faris has favoured synthesisers and electronic recording techniques and recorded the song with former Ipso Facto member Cherish Kaye. It will be released later this month as a B-side to Black Lips forthcoming single on Vice Recordings..
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2009 Albums of the Year Podcasts
05 August 2009
The first podcast from the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2009 Albums of the Year Launch is now available on iTunes. Lauren Laverne announces this years dozen albums from The Hospital Club in Covent Garden. There are plenty more podcasts to come featuring interviews with all the artists who attended the launch, so make sure you subscribe!
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New Radiohead Material
04 August 2009
Previously shortlisted artists Radiohead have released a song to commemorate the passing of World War 1 veteran Harry Patch, the last surviving soldier to see conflict in both World Wars. Patch gave an emotive interview on Radio 4's Today programme in 2005 in which he condemned war and the people who waged it, something that obviously struck a chord with Thom Yorke. 'Harry Patch (in memory of)' was inspired by Patch's own words and was debuted today on Radio 4
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New Friendly Fires video
02 August 2009
Friendly Fires will be re-releasing their self-titled debut at the end of the month. The album, one of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year, will feature new material, such as forthcoming single 'Kiss of Life'. The colourful video that accompanies the single was shot in Ibiza with Rankin collaborator Chris Cottam. Watch it here
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Led Bib tour dates announced
26 July 2009
Having recently been revealed as being one of the twelve 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize Albums of the Year, Led Bib announce national tour dates with more dates to follow.12 August 2009 Rough Trade East
London, UK
28 August 2009 The Luminaire
London, UK
2 October 2009 The Vortex
London, UK
14 October 2009 The Queens Theatre
Barstaple, Devon
23 October 2009 Derby Jazz
Derby, UK
10 December 2009 Nottingham Jazz
Nottingham, UK
For more information on these dates and other Led Bib news visit their website
2009 Albums of the Year revealed
20 July 2009
Florence & the Machine - LungsKasabian - West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum
Speech Debelle - Speech Therapy
Friendly Fires - Friendly Fires
La Roux - La Roux
Bat for Lashes - Two Suns
The Horrors - Primary Colours
Glasvegas - Glasvegas
Led Bib - Sensible Shoes
Sweet Billy Pilgrim -Twice Born Men
The Invisible - The Invisible
Lisa Hannigan - Sea Sew