Mercury Music Prize nominations announced

Damon Albarn’s solo debut and chart-topping duo Royal Blood heads the shortlist for this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

Damon Albarn’s solo debut and chart-topping duo Royal Blood head the shortlist for this year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize.

The acts are among 12 in the running for the high-profile award which this year has largely shunned mainstream names, instead including acts such as FKA twigs, GoGo Penguin and the acclaimed poet Kate Tempest.