Music stars arrive in Newcastle for Mercury Prize

Nominee Sam Fender is set to perform at the Mercury Prize

Britain and Ireland's top musicians are arriving in Newcastle for this year's Mercury Prize.

Sunderland's Lauren Laverne will host the awards, which will take place outside London for the first time, while North Shields' own Sam Fender is set to perform at the event.

Fender is one of 12 artists shortlisted and it is hoped his act, and the award's new location, can help inspire the next generation of talent in the region.

Middlesbrough country singer Finn Forster said he was grateful the music industry was taking a step outside London for the first time in the event's 33-year history as the North East had been "overlooked for so long".

Forster was one of a number of acts who performed in the run-up to the awards as part of the Mercury Prize Fringe.

"Everyone is incredibly proud of the fact that the Mercury's coming," he said.

"There's such a high calibre of people coming.

"To be given an opportunity to perform for them at a fringe event is really, really exciting."

He said he hoped his shows could inspire others from the North East to start their own career in the music industry.

• CMAT and Pulp among favourites to win Mercury Prize

Singer Finn Forster said he wanted to show young musicians it is possible to forge a career in the industry

The event has already proved popular with young musicians including the Mini Mercury Choir.

The group, made up of schoolchildren from across the region, performed Sam Fender's People Watching to music industry professionals at the Tyneside Cinema as part of the Fringe.

Gareth Miller, from the North East Music Hub, said: "The chance for them to take part in it, be a part of it, and see that musicians can exist outside of London gives them a chance to look into the future and see what is possible.

"Some of these young people could be future Mercury Prize winners."

Lauren Laverne, from Sunderland, will host the 2025 ceremony in Newcastle

BBC arts reporter Sharuna Sagar said moving the awards to Newcastle showed "history was being made".

She added: "The decision by the BPI to move the UK's most prestigious music awards 300 miles north sends a clear signal: the industry is finally taking the North East seriously.

"With local alumni including Maxïmo Park, Field Music, The Unthanks and Nadine Shah, the hope is the Mercury's northern debut will kick open the door for more homegrown artists to thrive."

The shortlist for the album of the year award was announced last month and included CMAT, PinkPantheress, Wolf Alice and Pulp.

When the acts were announced, chair of the British Phonographic Industry Yolanda Brown said this year's Mercury Prize was more exciting than usual because she could see how much it meant to the region.

"It's going to be a great celebration of the music of this year, focused on Newcastle and the celebration we are going to have," she said.

"But to be moving out of London for the first time, this is how it's done."

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