Mercury prize 2016

Laura Mvula review – playing it safe for the seated masses

The Mercury-nominated star has overcome some personal demons this year but now needs to throw caution to the wind

Kitty Empire

20, Nov, 2016 @9:00 AM

Skepta’s Mercury win is vindication for grime, the soundtrack of my generation | Frances Acquaah

Last week’s triumph for Konnichiwa is a sweet moment for a genre too long overlooked

Frances Acquaah

23, Sep, 2016 @8:36 AM

Corbyn victory? It’s a strangely liberating feeling | Barbara Ellen

The Labour leader’s supporters were right all along – change is coming. But not in the way they expected

Barbara Ellen

20, Sep, 2016 @10:21 AM

Mercury prize 2016 goes to Skepta's Konnichiwa

North London grime artist beats the likes of David Bowie, Radiohead and the 1975 to the £25,000 prize

Hannah Ellis-Petersen

15, Sep, 2016 @10:43 PM

Skepta's Konnichiwa – a Mercury prize winner few can argue with | Alexis Petridis

This year’s shortlist managed to showcase the best of UK music. But despite the open field, the right album won

Alexis Petridis

15, Sep, 2016 @9:48 PM

Skepta wins the 2016 Mercury prize – as it happened

The 25th Mercury prize was won by the London grime star for his album Konnichiwa. Here’s how the evening unfolded

Michael Hann

15, Sep, 2016 @9:09 PM

Bowie? Skepta? Radiohead? Our critics decide who should win the Mercury prize

Ahead of the Mercury prize ceremony, our writers argue the case for the albums they think deserves the coveted gong

Alexis Petridis, Kate Hutchinson, Dave Simpson, Rachel Aroesti, Michael Hann and Gwilym Mumford

15, Sep, 2016 @11:42 AM

Skepta on grime: 'People are catching on. There's a revolution happening'

Grime is going global and the MC is leading the charge with a self-released, Mercury nominated album. He explains why he’s avoided the mainstream

Ian McQuaid

10, Sep, 2016 @8:00 AM

Mercury prize contender Michael Kiwanuka: ‘Kanye wanted me to be myself – I wasn’t ready’

His 2012 debut made him one of the music world’s most wanted. But, riven by doubt, he ended up walking out on the planet’s biggest rapper and heading home to watch TV in his pyjamas. Has he finally banished those demons?

Tim Jonze

08, Sep, 2016 @3:26 PM

The Mercury prize nominees list is rich in its diversity. It’s good start | Ayesha Hazarika

Talent is everywhere. Opportunity is not. The vivid and broad range of artists and cultures on the shortlist could be reflected elsewhere in the arts

Ayesha Hazarika

05, Aug, 2016 @12:42 PM

The 2016 Mercury prize shortlist: hear the albums – and see what our critics thought of them

Read what we said about this year’s 12 Hyundai Mercury prize-shortlisted albums – from Anonhi to the 1975 – and listen to them in full. And let us know what the judges have missed …

Guardian music

04, Aug, 2016 @1:47 PM

From visionary veterans to grime lords, the Mercury list revives an ailing brand | Alexis Petridis

In recent years the Mercury shortlist has committed the cardinal sin of being boring. This year the judges have rectified this with a list that includes Bowie, Radiohead and Skepta