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Mercury Prize 2019: Dave scoops award for debut album Psychodrama

Getty Images
Getty Images

Dave has been named as the winner of this year's Mercury Prize for his debut album Psychodrama.

The Streatham rapper, who was joined on stage by his mum as he collected the award, beat off competition from the likes of The 1975, Foals and Anna Calvi at a ceremony at Eventim Apollo in Hammersmith.

Slowthai was named as the bookies' favourite in the lead up to the ceremony, closely followed by Bristol punks IDLES.

The 12-strong judging panel this year featured artists Stormzy and Jorja Smith, alongside a number of prominent figures from the worlds of music and journalism. They were tasked with deciding on the best British or Irish album to be released in the past year.

More than 200 entries were whittled down to a shortlist of 12 albums.

Dave now joins a list of winners that includes Skepta, PJ Harvey, Dizzee Rascal and Arctic Monkeys. The inaugural prize was awarded to Primal Scream for their album Screamadelica back in 1992.

The full list of artists and albums nominated for the 2019 prize is below:

  • Anna Calvi — Hunter

  • Black Midi — Schlagenheim

  • Cate Le Bon — Reward

  • WINNER: Dave — Psychodrama

  • Foals — Everything Not Saved Will Be Lost - Part 1

  • Fontaines D.C. — Dogrel

  • IDLES — Joy as an Act of Resistance

  • Little Simz — Grey Area

  • NAO — Saturn

  • SEED Ensemble — Driftglass

  • Slowthai — Nothing Great About Britain

  • The 1975 — A Brief Inquiry into Online Relationships