PJ Harvey has taken home this year’s Mercury Music Prize, as the album ‘Let England Shake‘ beat off strong competition from the likes of Metronomy and Ghostpoet.
The winner was announced live on BBC Two by the ceremony’s regular host Jools Holland, with Harvey becoming the first act to win the award twice since it began in 1992.
Since this year’s shortlist was announced back in July, PJ Harvey has been the clear favourite, with odds constantly fluctuating behind her; by this evening Anna Calvi, Adele and James Blake were also tipped as front-runners, while one of the early favourites, Elbow, had seen their odds lengthen considerably.
For the first time, attendees at tonight’s bash enjoyed performances from all 12 nominated acts, although Adele was unable to sing live due to her recent illness.
2011 Shortlist:
Anna Calvi – ‘Anna Calvi’
Elbow – ‘Build a Rocket Boys!’
James Blake – ‘James Blake’
Katy B – ‘On a Mission’
Metronomy – ‘The English Riviera’
PJ Harvey – ‘Let England Shake’
Gwilym Simcock – ‘Good Days At Schloss Elmau’
Tinie Tempah – ‘Disc-Overy’
Everything Everything – ‘Man Alive’
Ghostpoet – ‘Peanut Butter Blues & Melancholy Jam’
King Creosote & Jon Hopkins – ‘Diamond Mines‘
Adele – ’21′