Anyone hoping for a few more days of BRAT summer was left disappointed on Thursday night after Charli XCX and her mesmerising new album failed to win the coveted Mercury Prize.
Instead, the award went to Leeds indie band English Teacher for their critically acclaimed debut album, This Could Be Texas.
The band, fronted by singer Lily Fontaine, were on hand to collect their award in person when they attended the event at London’s iconic Abbey Road Studios.
Taking the stage, band members Fontaine, Lewis Whiting, Douglas Frost and Nicholas Eden thanked their respective families before heading to the press room.
Charli XCX was eagerly expected to win the award after releasing her sixth studio album BRAT in June and sparking a viral trend inspired by the one-syllable word in the process.
Leeds indie band English Teacher won the coveted Mercury Prize for their debut album This Could Be Texas at Abbey Road Studios in London on Thursday night.
The 32-year-old singer was unable to attend the Mercury Prize tonight because she is in the final stages of rehearsals for her US tour with Troye Sivan.
Other nominees included CMAT, Barry Can’t Swim, Cat Burns, BERWYN, Beth Gibbons, Ghetts, Nia Archive, Corinne Bailey Rae, short.tall and The Last Dinner Party.
The Mercury Prize recognises and celebrates Albums of the Year, establishing a reputation for highlighting the work of both emerging talent and established musicians.
Before the awards, nominees including Cat Burns, CMAT and Barry Can’t Swim walked the red carpet.
Cat, 24, looked dapper in a brown leather jacket paired with a smart white shirt, a tie and a matching beret.
Barry Can’t Swim turned heads in a striking purple knit jumper, black wide-leg trousers and cow-print shoes.
CMAT stood out in a white ruffled dress and corset emblazoned with her own album artwork, as she flashed her signature dental gems at the camera.
The ceremony began at 8pm on BBC4, with all the nominees performing on the show before the winner was crowned.
CMAT stood out in a white ruffled dress and corset emblazoned with her own album artwork, as she flashed her signature dental gems at the camera.
This year’s favourite to win Album of the Year is Charli XCX, with her summer hit Brat taking the internet by storm.
The long-awaited list of the 12 albums of the year was announced on BBC Radio 6 Music by Tom Ravenscroft on Thursday morning.
Charli XCX’s album BRAT has so far been warmly received by critics and fans, so it’s no surprise that it was named as one of the 12 nominations.
Cat was also chosen for the album Early Twenties while The Last Dinner Party will also receive an award for Prelude to Ecstasy.
Cat, 24, looked dapper in a brown leather jacket, paired with a smart white shirt, a tie and a matching beret.
Barry Can’t Swim turned heads in a striking purple knit jumper, black wide-leg trousers and cow-print shoes.
Indie group The Last Dinner Party, made up of Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies and Aurora Nishevci, have also been nominated for their debut Prelude To Ecstasy, which topped the charts upon its release in February.
Singer Charli XCX, who was nominated for the award in 2020 for her album How I’m Feeling Now, has made the list with her sixth studio album Brat, which peaked at number two on the charts following its release last month.
Three of the songs from the album, including Von Dutch and 360, have entered the UK Top 40 singles chart.
Indie group The Last Dinner Party, made up of Abigail Morris, Lizzie Mayland, Emily Roberts, Georgia Davies and Aurora Nishevci, have also been nominated for their debut album Prelude To Ecstasy, which topped the charts upon its release in February.
The group were named winners of BBC Radio 1’s Sound of 2024 award in January and have played a number of festivals this summer, including Glastonbury and TRNSMT.
Other artists in the running for the Mercury Prize include Corinne Bailey Rae, who has made a comeback with her album Black Rainbows, and Irish singer CMAT with her album Crazymad, For Me.
A host of debut albums have made the shortlist this year, including Early Twenties from singer Cat Burns and Silence Is Loud from jungle artist Nia Archives.
Ghetts, a Mobo Award winner and star of the Netflix series Supacell, has also been shortlisted for his album On Purpose, With Purpose.
The long-awaited list of 12 albums of the year was announced on BBC Radio 6 Music by Tom Ravenscroft on Thursday morning (Band English Teacher pictured)
Last year’s £25,000 prize went to London band Ezra Collective, who made history by becoming the first jazz band to win for their album Where I’m Meant to Be.
Mobo Award winner Ghetts, star of the Netflix series Supacell, has also been shortlisted for his album On Purpose, With Purpose.
Scottish DJ Barry Can’t Swim’s Elsewhere When Will We Land? has been nominated alongside rapper BERWYN’s Who Am I.
The Mercury Prize finalists and winner are selected by an independent jury of musicians, music journalists, music presenters, music producers and music managers.
Previous winners of the alternative Brit Award, which was first held in 1992, include Suede, Arctic Monkeys, Skepta, Arlo Parks and Little Simz.
Last year’s £25,000 prize went to London band Ezra Collective, who made history by becoming the first to win a jazz award for their album Where I’m Meant to Be.
