English Teacher (Photo: Tatiana Pozuelo)
LONDON (CelebrityAccess) – The Leeds-based indie rock band English Teacher were recognized for their 2024 debut album This Could Be Texas with the 2024 Mercury Prize.
Comprised of Lily Fontaine (vocals, rhythm guitar, synth), Douglas Frost (drums, piano, vocals), Nicholas Eden (bass) and Lewis Whiting (lead guitar), English Teacher was selected for the accolodae from a shortlist of stiff competition.
“This has been a really tough year for the Mercury Prize judges, with the final 12 albums being so reflective of our diverse & rich musical landscape. There was so much passion and enthusiasm for each one,” Mercury Prize judges announced in a joint statement.
The award was presented during a ceremony on Thursday night that saw nominated artists come together to watch each other’s recent recorded performances and celebrate each other’s work, before the overall winner was announced.
The event was hosted by broadcaster, author and podcaster Annie Macmanus and 6 Music presenter Huw Stephens and was broadcast on BBC 4 live from Abbey Road Studios.
The 2024 Mercury Prize judges are: Danielle Perry – Broadcaster & Writer; Jamie Cullum – Musician & Radio 2 Broadcaster; Jamz Supernova – 6 Music Broadcaster & DJ; Jeff Smith – Head of Music, Radio 2 & 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. The judging team met on 5 September to decide on the overall winning album.
The 2024 Mercury Prize 12 ‘Albums of the Year’ are:
Barry Can’t Swim ‘When Will We Land?’
BERWYN ‘Who Am I’
Beth Gibbons ‘Lives Outgrown’
Cat Burns ‘early twenties’
Charli xcx ‘BRAT’
CMAT ‘Crazymad, for Me’
Corinne Bailey Rae ‘Black Rainbows’
corto.alto ‘Bad with Names’
English Teacher ‘This Could Be Texas’
Ghetts ‘On Purpose, With Purpose’
Nia Archives ‘Silence Is Loud’
The Last Dinner Party ‘Prelude to Ecstasy’