I'd love to see either Pulp or FKA Twigs win it.

Ballsy to release an album just over 20 minutes long. Where does an EP stop and an LP begin...?

Fender and Fontaines probably the biggest challengers to CMAT. Can't see Wolf Alice or Pulp being "allowed" to win it twice. St PJ Harvey is a one-off.

Weed, if you're reading, you're in Newcastle right? Tickets are available and not too expensive.

-- Edited by Eamonn on Wednesday 10th of September 2025 11:27:58 AM

I think only Radiohead and Arctic Monkeys have more noms with 5 while this is Wolf Alice's 4th in a row.

I think her being a singular, female artist in a still male-dominated area and the fact that Let England Shake - her second album to win - was a kind of state-of-the-nation address, helped her cause second time round.

Also, I can't remember what the competition was like that year but this time round it's pretty tough. Fontaines, Fender and CMAT are all beloved by critics and young folk.

Is anyone else going to this? Pulp are confirmed to perform.

Two of the favourites, CMAT and Fontaines DC, are unlikely to play (wisdom teeth pain and new babba respectively) which might subliminally increase Pulp's chances. Still expect one of the above Irish acts or Sam Fender, in his hometown, to win though.

No, that was just for the announcement promo. They'll be in Newcastle. And I'm coming up all the way from the South Coast so they'd better be!

And Jarvis is gonna have to bust out his dance moves to give the crowd their money's worth with two of the faves unlikely to perform now.

I don't live far from Newcastle, but not even slightly tempted to go. Tickets are reasonable at about £35, but it's in a charmless venue - the Arena is just a vast concrete shed. What size venues do they usually host it in? Doesn't look that big on the telly... the ex cinema / bingo hall type venues would be more suitable, I would think, and easier to generate an atmosphere. I imagine there'll be a lot of boring waiting around.

Hammersmith Apollo is about half the size of the Arena. Newcastle is blessed with lots of excellent music venues, but maybe none quite fit. NX (formerly Academy, ex-cinema) would be the nearest in atmosphere; saw Cat Power at Hammersmith years ago, and I reckoned them about the same size, but looked it up and H.A. is more than twice the size of NX, which is about 2000 capacity. City Hall (where Pulp last played Newcastle, WLL) is slightly larger, 2200 capacity, but it's all seated.

The MOBO awards were held at the Arena last year, and it got some positive promotion in advance, but I didn't see any reviews afterwards, so don't know how well it went down.

I see Sam Fender is playing - given his colossal following in Newcastle, I guess he'll get the biggest response on the night, and his music works in arenas. Jacob Alon's music is intimate, and I enjoy it (haven't seen him live), but an arena seems unsuitable for intricate acoustic music.

Eamonn wrote:

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Weed, if you're reading, you're in Newcastle right? Tickets are available and not too expensive.

-- Edited by Eamonn on Wednesday 10th of September 2025 11:27:58 AM

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 Yes. I keep looking at tickets & end up concluding with "nah!"... as mentioned above, Newcastle Arena is awful & desperately needs to be replaced (It's replacement should have been open by now but delays mean there hasn't even been a spade put in the ground yet)

Only seems to be **** seats available & I can't justify the £40 for just 1 song surrounded by an evening that I will no doubt find irritating. 

The first concert I ever went to was in that arena when it was all shiney & new. Guess who it was?!

 

It's not a wasted trip to come to Newcastle though as it's a great place with lots to do & you might bump into members of Pulp :)

 

P.S. after all that... I may well end up going haha!

Just had a look and 2 tickets in the front standing area have come up on resale so I am more tempted now.

I am very much hoping to be moving house next Friday but maybe I will see you at the rubbish arena!

It's mostly what's in vogue/getting airplay/flavour of the month and then will change depending on where the big money is put.

I think they probably have it right, one of the two Irish acts will likely win but neither Fontaines or CMAT potentially not being able to perform (unless her wisdom teeth are better) maybe lessens their chances slightly. I'm surprised Pulp are up so high in the odds to be honest. If Sam Fender wins, there will be a great atmosphere around Newcastle, he being a local lad.

If anyone is going, shoot me a PM, might be able to ditch work colleagues and get a drink.

In response to the bet, interesting people bet on music prizes, the BBC article predicted CMAT and Pulp. But content is very little info about them tho.
www.bbc.com/news/articles/cj0e4d8d4z2o

I think Suedes album was released after this years due date. So probably next year. And, we dont have to struggle who wins the prize, Suede or Pulp. Hehe.

Cross fingers for Pulp!!

So far, only PJ Harvey won twice. So I doubt they rather give the prize to a band/singer who has never won before?! 
Still hope Pulp win this year.

-- Edited by lucyduck on Thursday 16th of October 2025 02:54:06 PM

Sam Fender takes the prize, not a huge surprise considering where the awards are being held. Pulp should hold their heads up high!

Pip wrote:

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Sam Fender takes the prize, not a huge surprise considering where the awards are being held. Pulp should hold their heads up high!

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 WTF? Seems a bit rigged having the show in North East.  It's like when M People won...

ArrGee wrote:

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Jean wrote:

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Agreed. More is a great album that will stand the test of time.

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 Ditto Romance.   Maybe next year they will hold the awards in Derry or Haywards Heath....

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 If only this was held in Sheffield..

I would have been more surprised NOT to have seen Ester and Giles there - hope you both had a great night! :)

PulpWiki entry: pulpwiki.net/Pulp/16October2025MercuryPrize

The subtitle snafu is hilarious though
www.instagram.com/p/DP46GV6gqZE/

Went up to Newcastle for this with work. Didn't realise it was an 8 on the dot start, as it wasn't televised live, was it? Anyway, just made our seats for Lauren to welcome Pulp on-stage.

Was great to see Hawley on-board. He walked just past us on his way to the backstage area at one stage, having to tell the security who he was!

I enjoyed all the acts tbh, some real variety. A pity neither of the Irish acts performed or won. Seemed like a hometown decision for Fender.

For Pulp, I don't think they were ever going to win. The nomination nod was enough. The prize has to appeal to under 40s in the main and no matter how good their comeback has been, I couldn't see it as being perceived as zeitgeisty or enough of an artistic "statement" to merit a win. I think PJ Harvey is the only person over 40 to have won it (second time).

But the level of cheering in the audience was reassuringly good for Pulp when they played and during the recaps. I think Spike Island was probably the right choice as a performance. Was worried they were going to play Farmers Market and it being a bit of a damp squib.

My colleague mentioned that James Ford was sitting at Fontaines' table. Good to hear that his cancer recovery seems to be going well. More is the last thing he worked on and he's been the most in-demand producer over the last few years (two of his records nom'd for the Mercury this year and last year - Pulp, Fontaines, Beth Gibbon and The Last Dinner Party).

we'll see, what they need now is a lot of rest

Don't think Candida has ever been overly enraptured by recording or touring when it's in long bouts.

They're in a position now to pick and choose their gigs and not locked into a multi-album deal so they've a lot of freedom to follow their feelings for future Pulp.