Artic Monkeys make Mercury list but Irish artists frozen out again
Artic Monkeys are among the 12 nominees for the 2018 Mercury Prize - but for the third year in a row there are no Irish acts up for the gong.
The British rockers’ space lounge concept album, Tranquility Base Hotel and Casino, earns the band a fourth nomination for the award.
But the quartet face stiff competition from the likes of Jorja Smith, Lily Allen and Florence + The Machine.
Other nominees include Wolf Alice, Noel Gallagher, London MC Novelist and jazz act Sons of Kemet.
Nadine Shah’s Holiday Destination and Everything Everything’s A Fever Dream also get a nod.
An Irish act has never won the prize. In 2015 Irish musicians Roisin Murphy, Aphex Twin and SOAK were nominated for the award but lost out.
U2, Gemma Hayes, Fionn Regan, The Thrills and Villagers have all been nominated since the prize began in 1992.
The winner of this year’s prize will be revealed at the awards show in September. HERE’S THE LIST IN FULL: Wolf Alice - Visions Of A
Life King Krule - The Ooz Sons of Kemet - Your Queen Is A Reptile Jorja Smith - Lost & Found Lily Allen - No Shame
Everything Is Recorded Everything Is Recorded Nadine Shah - Holiday Destination Arctic Monkeys Tranquility Base Hotel & Casino Florence and the Machine - High As Hope
Everything Everything - A Fever Dream
Novelist - Novelist Guy
Noel Gallagher High Flying Birds - Who Built
The Moon?