10/09/2008

Elbow Win The Nationwide Mercury Prize

Rock group Elbow have won the Nationwide Mercury Prize for their fourth studio album 'The Seldom Seen Kid'.

The Manchester band beat 11 other artists, including Neon Neon - the latest project from Super Furry Animals frontman Gruff Rhys - Arctic Monkeys' frontman Alex Turner's The Last Shadow Puppets, Radiohead, Adele and dubstep artist Burial, who had been the favourite to win the prize.

Elbow, who were nominated for the award back in 2001 for their debut album 'Asleep In The Back', were awarded the £20,000 prize money and the award by Jools Holland at last night's ceremony at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

The band's lead singer Guy Garvey said that the award was "literally the best thing that has ever happened to us" and dedicated it to Bryan Glancy, a friend of the band who died in 2006.

Twelve albums were selected for the shortlist by a panel of musicians, producers, presenters and music journalists. The chosen albums are selected solely on musical merit.

Previous winners of the award, previously known as the Mercury Music Prize, include Primal Scream, Suede, M People, Portishead, Pulp, Gomez, Dizzee Rascal, Franz Ferdinand and the Klaxons.

(KMcA/JM)

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