The Mercury Prize is, once again, being held in Newcastle this October, which is kinda neat.

Have you picked out the winner of this year’s Mercury Prize? A cursory glance at the current odds has Florence and the Machine and Dave neck and neck to scoop the UK’s most prestigious music gong. Both acts have very good albums under their belts this year, and while Dave previously won for his 2019 opus ‘Psychodrama’, maybe Florence is due. Elsewhere on the shortlist I love Nia Archives’ ‘Emotional Junglist’ which features 15 dynamic tunes that bridge high-BPM breakbeats with an open-hearted, emotional narrative. And RAYE has had another good year with her fine ‘This Music May Contain Hope’ release that thrills with its confessional grit and unapologetically maximalist songs. Plenty of big hitters are also represented this year and they don’t get any bigger than Paul McCartney who gets a well-deserved nod for his ‘The Boys of Dungeon Lane’ album—a real return to form. The chart-hogging Olivia Dean is also on the list with ‘The Art of Loving’, while stalwarts Suede pick up their third nomination for their ‘Antidepressants’ release. They’re my dark horses, but, after Sam Fender’s win last year, I’d love the prize to remain in the north-east. We have two chances with Knats’ ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’—which fuses contemporary jazz, breakbeats, and spoken word—and Jade’s ‘THAT’S SHOWBIZ BABY!’ (that’s her, pictured). It’s a release fizzy with envelope-pushing pop and plenty of camp flair, and that’s who I’d be voting for. The rest of the shortlist is made up of Dove Ellis, Kojey Radical and Various Artists (for the ‘War Child’ compilation). RM

2026 Mercury Prize, Thursday 22 October, Utilita Arena Newcastle, 8pm, from £48.75, utilitaarena.co.uk