Sam Fender's 2022 could be about to bring him another accolade as he has landed on the shortlist for the coveted Mercury Music Prize, two years after his fans were left angry that he didn't make the cut.
The award is highly regarded by those in the music industry and fans, with past winners including Dizzee Rascal, Ms Dynamite and most recent recipient Arlo Parks. And now North Shields singer Sam is in contention this year, alongside the likes of Harry Styles and Little Simz, the rapper who followed in Sam's footsteps by winning the new equivalent of the Critics Choice trophy in February.
Sam has landed on the shortlist with his second album Seventeen Going Under, which outsold the rest of the top 10 combined when it soared to number 1 in the autumn. Seventeen Going Under is the follow up to Sam's chart-topping debut Hypersonic Missiles, which, while critically acclaimed, was among the Mercury contenders two years ago, when Michael Kiwanuka triumphed.
READ MORE: Sam Fender delighted after performing with EastEnders icon
Sam and his band won the Best Rock/Alternative prize at the Brits 2022, before going onto sweep the board at the NME Awards. And then came ome of the major highlights of Sam's career to date when he performed on the Pyramid Stage in Glastonbury in June.
2022 Mercury Prize shortlist:
Fergus McCreadie – ‘Forest Floor’
Gwenno – ‘Tresor’
Harry Styles – ‘Harry’s House’
Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler – ‘For All Our Days That Tear The Heart’
Joy Crookes – ‘Skin’
Kojey Radical – ‘Reason To Smile’
Little Simz – ‘Sometimes I Might Be Introvert’
Nova Twins – ‘Supernova’
Sam Fender – ‘Seventeen Going Under’
Self Esteem – ‘Prioritise Pleasure’
Wet Leg – ‘Wet Leg’
This year’s Mercury prize ceremony will be held in September at the Eventim Hammersmith Apollo, with the winner taking home £25,000.
Read next:
- Rosie Ramsey 'struggles' with lyrics ahead of Ladies Day performance in Newcastle
- Newcastle lit up in rainbow colours as thousands gather for the Northern Pride parade
-
Laura Whitmore gets Ofcom complaints for 'shaming' Love Island star
-
Joe Lycett swears fans to secrecy over 'stunt' as police called
-
Louise Redknapp falls on stage at Newcastle Pride but recovers like a pro
