The 2025 Performers for the Mercury Prize Have Just Been Announced Including Sam Fender
The 2025 Mercury Prize has today announced the artists who will perform at this year’s Awards Show. Those taking to the stage at Utilita Arena Newcastle on Thursday 16th October are Emma Jean Thackray, FKA twigs, Jacob Alon, Joe Webb, Martin Carthy, Pa Salieu, Pulp, Sam Fender and Wolf Alice. Each artist will perform one track from their shortlisted album. A live performance film will be shown to celebrate the ‘Albums of the Year’ from the other shortlisted artists.
The 2025 Mercury Prize 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ Awards Show will be hosted by Lauren Laverne. Last remaining tickets are still available.
The Prize’s broadcast partner BBC Music will provide coverage of the event on Thursday 16th October. On BBC Radio 6 Music and BBC Sounds, Deb Grant and Nathan Shepherd will broadcast live from Newcastle (9pm-12am), revealing the winner live on air, and hearing from Matt Everitt, who will bring listeners all the action from backstage. BBC Four and BBC iPlayer will broadcast the Awards Show from 9.30pm.
Also announced today, are the final details of the Mercury Prize Newcastle Fringe, which runs from Thursday 9th to Wednesday 15th October. Powered by the North’s leading music development agency Generator, the Fringe will be a bold, region-wide celebration to bring the North East’s phenomenal music scene and iconic venues alive like never before.
2024 Mercury Prize winner English Teacher will be part of the Mercury Fringe celebrations, as frontwoman Lily Fontaine joins Art of the Album Day on 15th October at Newcastle’s historic Common Room. She’ll appear as a guest on the first-ever live edition of the Record Club podcast with Bowers & Wilkins, in association with PPL and PRS Foundation, hosted by BBC’s Jess Izatt.
This year, the Mercury Prize moves beyond London for the first time ever. The move to Newcastle, in partnership with Newcastle City Council and The North East Combined Authority, signals a new dawn for the prestigious Prize in partnership with one of the UK’s most vibrant music cities.
The city is buzzing as it gets ready to welcome the Prize; from local artist Charlotte Brecken recreating the shortlisted album covers on train tickets to a 70-strong “Mini Mercury” choir of 8–12 year olds and a jam-packed week of fringe events kicking off on 9th October.
Cllr Karen Kilgour, Leader of Newcastle City Council said: “The Mercury Prize Award Show and Fringe programme is now fast approaching and it’s an incredibly exciting time for Newcastle and the wider region. We can’t wait for the national and international music spotlight to shine on our fantastic city, showcasing our burgeoning music industry, hugely talented musicians and amazing venues.
“Not only will we be hosting another major music event in our city, with the help of Generator we will be providing incredible opportunities for local people of all ages, and an enduring legacy that will help further put Newcastle on the music map. Huge events like this demonstrate to young creatives across our city that they don’t need to move to London to forge a career, they can become superstars here on Tyneside.
“We can’t wait to welcome everyone to our city – the atmosphere will be electric and the economic boost events like this give to a place like Newcastle can’t be overstated. I know they’ll have an amazing time and be blown away by the welcome they will receive.”
North East Mayor Kim McGuinness saido Newcastle to inspire a new generation of talent in our region. I’m over the moon that so many incredible artists will be coming here for the Prize. They are all such an inspiration to young musicians here.
"We've seen Sam Fender rise from our own music community and I want to make sure he's just one of many incredible local talents that succeed.
"To make that happen we’ve invited thousands of young people to join a fantastic line up of fringe events right across the North East. Maybe one of them will go on to be a future Mercury Prize shortlisted artist themselves.
“That’s all part of our programme to invest in helping people build careers and dream big in creative industries whether that’s music or much else besides.”
Partner activity around the event is also underway, including from LNER (London North Eastern Railway), the Official Travel Partner of the Mercury Prize who are providing a special named service. The train will transport VIPs, including judges and guests, to the 2025 Award Show on 16th October, where they will be welcomed to the city by a very special musical performance.
Newcastle’s flagship department store, Fenwick, will reveal bespoke windows showcasing the 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ on Monday 13th October and host two events as part of the Mercury Prize Fringe. These will be a celebration of food and music event in the store’s food hall on the evening of 15th and a Mercury Prize Fanzone hosted in the store’s newly opened Golden Flake Tavern created in collaboration with Greggs throughout the day on 16th. The Fanzone event will feature live performances programmed by Generator. Both events require booking with tickets available at fenwick.co.uk now.
Running 9th – 16th October, the Mercury Prize Fringe powered by Generator will ignite the North East with a week of live music, workshops, industry events and community activity across all seven local authority areas. From iconic venues to grassroots spaces, the Fringe will showcase the region’s talent while connecting schools, emerging artists, established musicians, cultural organisations and music fans. Highlights include appearances from leading voices such as Radio 1’s Maia Beth, this year’s official Mercury Prize social host, and Sam Spencer, EVP at Atlantic Records, plus masterclasses, workshops and advice sessions with Mercury-shortlisted artists and industry leaders including YouTube Music and Universal Music Group. Find out more and get involved at generator.org.uk/mercuryfringe.
The Mercury Prize recognises the best new British & Irish music, celebrating artistic achievement across an eclectic range of contemporary music genres. As an independent arts prize, it champions the album format, acts as a snapshot of the year in music and often provides a major platform for up and coming artists and their musical work. The Prize has been an important milestone in many artists’ journeys, providing a stepping stone to wider success in the UK and Ireland as well as internationally. Each year, the shortlist is curated by an independent judging panel of music industry professionals who are eternally passionate about spotlighting artistic achievement across a range of genres. The 2025 Mercury Prize judges are: Danielle Perry – Broadcaster & Writer; Jamie Cullum - Musician & Radio 2 Broadcaster; Jamz Supernova – 6 Music Broadcaster and DJ; Jeff Smith - Head of Music, Radio 2 & Radio 6 Music; Lea Stonhill – Music Programming Consultant; Mistajam – Songwriter, DJ & Broadcaster; Phil Alexander – Creative Director, Kerrang!/Contributing Editor, Mojo; Sian Eleri – Radio 1 Broadcaster & DJ; Will Hodgkinson - Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times; Sophie Williams – Music Writer & Broadcaster. The Chair of the judging team is Jeff Smith.
Tickets for Mercury Prize at Utilita Arena Newcastle on Thursday 16th October are on sale now from www.utilitaarena.co.uk.
Image Sam Fender, Photo by Jackson Whitefield
