The 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW has announced the live performances confirmed for this year’s Awards Show – playing live are Ezra Collective, J Hus, Jessie Ware, Jockstrap, Lankum, Loyle Carner, Olivia Dean, RAYE, Shygirl and Young Fathers. The artists will each perform one track from their shortlisted album.
Arctic Monkeys and Fred again.. are on tour in September and will be unable to attend the Awards Show. A live performance film will be shown to celebrate each of their albums.
The 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW Awards Show will be hosted by Lauren Laverne.
The Awards Show will take place on 7 September 2023 at the Eventim Apollo, Hammersmith and there will be an exciting line-up of artists who have produced the Albums of the Year. The evening will culminate in the announcement of the overall winner of the 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW for ‘Album of the Year’.
The Prize’s broadcast partner, BBC Music, will be providing live television and radio coverage of the event, as well as online and on social media.
BBC Four will broadcast ‘Mercury Prize 2023 with FREENOW: Album of the Year’ on Thursday, 7 September 2023 from 9pm to 10.15pm.
BBC Radio 6 Music will also provide coverage of the Awards Show for listeners from 7pm to 12am on Thursday, 7 September. The programme will be presented by Tom Ravenscroft and Deb Grant, with Matt Everitt reporting from the ceremony and interviewing the nominees. The show will include the announcement of the winning album, which will then be played out in full on air.
Also available on BBC Sounds from Monday 4th September is a Mercury Prize 2023 collection, which will feature Matt Everitt’s Pocket Guides (3 x 60) to all 12 shortlisted albums, along with two playlists – one celebrating this year’s nominees and another celebrating previous Mercury Prize winners.
Both TV and radio programmes will feature live performances from the shortlisted artists as they lead up to the live announcement of this year’s overall winner.
FREENOW, the Mobility Super App with the largest vehicle choice for consumers across Europe, returns as the headline sponsor of the 2023 Mercury Prize. The sponsorship is part of a multi-year commitment to support British music, through which FREENOW reinforces its pledge to give people the freedom they need to enjoy the city and its unique moments.
As part of its ongoing commitment to supporting UK recorded music, renowned British premium audio brand, Bowers & Wilkins, continues as long-term official audio partner of the Mercury Prize. At the forefront of music creation for over 40 years, it is uniquely placed to help the Mercury Prize celebrate the album format and the shortlisted artists’ creative achievements.
The 2023 Mercury Prize with FREENOW ‘Albums of the Year’ are:
Arctic Monkeys ‘The Car’
Ezra Collective ‘Where I'm Meant to Be’
Fred again.. ‘Actual Life 3 (January 1 - September 9 2022)’
J Hus ‘Beautiful And Brutal Yard’
Jessie Ware ‘That! Feels Good!’
Jockstrap ‘I Love You Jennifer B’
Lankum ‘False Lankum’
Loyle Carner ‘hugo’
Olivia Dean ‘Messy’
RAYE ‘My 21st Century Blues’
Shygirl ‘Nymph’
Young Fathers ‘Heavy Heavy’
