Since it was first awarded in 1992 the Mercury Prize has become one of the UK's best know music prizes with it's high profile awards show being covered by the BBC.  Set up as an alternative to the Music Industry dominated Brit Awards the Mercury shortlist is eagerly anticipated because of it's genre spanning nominations.
The prize itself? How does £20,000 sound? That and the honour of being nominated of course.  Last years winner was Speech Debelle, which surprised a lot of pundits.  This year's shortlist was published today and includes some interesting choices.

• Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
• Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
• Dizzee Rascal – Tongue n' Cheek
• Kit Downes Trio – Golden
• Foals – Total Life Forever
• I Am Kloot – Sky at Night
• Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
• Mumford & Sons – Sigh No More
• Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
• Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
• Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
• The xx – xx

The first thing that sprang out from that list was that unlike previous years there are 3 folk acts nominated.  Rather than the "Token Folkie" which in recent years has been Lisa Hannigan, Fionn Regan & Laura Marling.  This year Villagers, Mumford & Sons and Laura Marling in her second nomination.
Other notable nominations are the supposedly 'underground' xx which didn't surprise me at all, their album is one of my favourites.  And a 1994 nominee Paul Weller for his 10th album.  

This years shortlist is as interesting as ever with a range of genre's being spanned from Hard Rock to Jazz & Folk to Pop and the winner will be announced on the 7th September.