Nick reacts to the Mercury Prize 2026 shortlist with Knats, a jazz collective who are one of the most exciting bands in the UK music scene right now - and whose latest album ‘A Great Day in Newcastle’ has been described as “the best thing to come out of the North East since Andy Carroll.”

In a year of great albums from the UK and Ireland, which artists have made it on to the most prestigious shortlist in music?

SONGS

Knats – Bowling Ball

Knats – Wor Jackie

Arctic Monkeys – Do I Wanna Know?

Arctic Monkeys - R U Mine?

Olivia Dean – Man I Need

JADE – Angel of My Dreams

Kojey Radical & Planet Giza – Expensive

Ezra Collective & Kojey Radical – No Confusion

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