This year’s nominations include Radiohead, Savages and Skepta, with a posthumous nomination for David Bowie’s 25th album, Blackstar – the current favourite to pick up the award.
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The re-jigged Hyundai Mercury Prize unveiled its shortlist earlier this summer, with Bowie’s final studio album immediately sticking out.
Actor Michael C Hall will perform a tribute to David Bowie at Thursday’s ceremony at the Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith, London.
The record is up against albums from artists including Laura Mvula’s The Dreaming and Bat For Lashes’ The Bride.
The accolade has been awarded annually since 1992, and aims to highlight the best records by British artists in the 12 months preceding it.
The 1975 were nominated for I Like It When You Sleep, For You Are So Beautiful Yet So Unaware Of It and Anohni for Hopelessness.
“Joint second favourite in the market are Anohni, who won as part of a band called Anthony and the Johnsons in 2005, and much-loved grime artist Skepta, the latter of which has seen a huge amount of support in the betting since wowing the crowds at Glastonbury”.
Radiohead have also been shortlisted for their album A Moon Shaped Pool, having been nominated on four previous occasions.
Also nominated are Radiohead, who have never won the prize.
For the first time an online vote will allow music fans to pick the first of the final six, with the remainder selected by a judging panel that includes DJ Annie Mac and former Mercury Prize victor Jarvis Cocker.
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The award was established as an alternative to the more commercial Brit awards and is credited with bringing attention to lesser-known acts.
