The Mercury Prize has announced details of its rescheduled 2022 ceremony, which is set to take place next week - the original show having been pulled at the very last minute due to the death of the Queen last month.
Eleven of this year’s nominated artists - Fergus McCreadie, Gwenno, Jessie Buckley & Bernard Butler, Joy Crookes, Kojey Radical, Little Simz, Nova Twins, Sam Fender, Self Esteem, Wet Leg and Yard Act - will perform live.
Harry Styles will be the only absence, because he just can’t be bothered. Also, he’s on tour in the US. I suppose thats a fairly good excuse. A video of him doing a turn will be played instead. Though, if you’re thinking that we’re missing out on a Harry Styles live set because of the postponement, he wasn’t available for the original date either.
So, actually, the line-up for the rescheduled show - with the other eleven shortlisted acts all playing - is the exact same line-up from the event that was cancelled last month.
Also the same: Lauren Laverne remains on board as host; it all still takes place at the Hammersmith Apollo in London; and the whole thing will still be broadcast by BBC Four and BBC Radio 6 Music, with additional programming in the lead up to the big show. It’s basically like nothing ever happened and the Mercury Prize 2022 just time travelled a few weeks.
So, everything’s sorted and it’s looking good for this all to go ahead as planned on 18 Oct. Just as long as no more monarchs die. Or the venue goes out of business because it can’t pay its energy bill. Or the government collapses and the entire country descends into anarchy. Oh, or that pending nuclear apocalypse happens. But let’s all keep it pencilled in anyway, for now.