After being postponed for a month following the Queen’s death, it was finally time for the Mercury Prize with FREE NOW Album of the Year Award.
Every year bands and artists assemble so that a winner can be crowned from twelve shortlisted albums, and this year I was there to join them.
By the time we arrived at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith it was half seven and the doors were already open. Me and my friend Julie were able to feel like one of the nominated artists by being allowed on the red carpet. Yes, a real little red carpet! Of course we did not get bombarded by photographers trying to take pictures of us, but at least we were able to feel like stars for a while.
Everyone was excited about what lay ahead. Our seats weren’t at stage level, but even where we were everyone was in a great mood, whispering about who might win and which performances would be the best.
When it turned 8pm and our host Lauren Laverne walked on stage, the cheering began and barely stopped until the winner was crowned.
We got to see all twelve nominees perform. But as Harry Styles was touring the US, he had to record a special message and we were treated to a little throwback to his performance of the single As It Was at the BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend back in May.
Wet Leg were first up, with their hit song Chaise Longue, and last to perform was Sam Fender with his biggest hit this year Seventeen Going Under. The crowd went crazy when Fender entered the stage. Everyone was on their feet, either screaming his name out or dancing their butts out. At that moment I thought: he’s going to win! But I was wrong.
Then there was a 30-minute break for the jury to recap and decide who the winner was before the 10 pm decision time.
Everyone fell silent and seemed nervous. We saw the names of the nominees come up on the big screen, and the audience went from being excited to holding their breath.
Before the big announcement there was a short video in which Arlo Parks reflected on her journey since winning in 2021.
Then at 10:10pm a huge standing ovation took over the building. Everyone screamed their lungs out and confetti fell from the ceiling. The North London rapper and singer Little Simz was the winner, and while accepting the trophy, she said: “Wow, I’m very, very overwhelmed. I’m very grateful, glory to God. God thank you so much.”
You can watch all the performances on BBC Music’s YouTube Channel.
And the nominations are below:
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
Yard Act – The Overload
Edited by Clarisse Cornish
Photos by Shirin Ghayad