Mercury Prize Shortlist Includes Django Django, Alt-J, Field Music, The Maccabees

The shortlist for the 2012 Barclaycard Mercury Prize was announced  in London this afternoon and Django Django, Alt-J, Field Music, The Maccabees, Richard Hawley and Michael Kiwanuka are among the 12 nominees.

The Mercury Prize, likely the most prestigious music award for bands or artists from the UK or Ireland, will be presented in a ceremony and concert on November 1 in London. The winner will also receive a cash award of  £20,000 ($32,000) and, if all goes well, a respectable bump in record sales. Last year's winner was PJ Harvey for Let England Shake. Prior winners include Arctic Monkeys, Elbow, Portishead, Pulp and the xx.

The shortlist nominees are: 
Django Django, Django Django
Field Music, Plumb
Alt-J, An Awesome Wave
Lianne La Havas, Is Your Love Big Enough?
Plan B, Ill Manors
Ben Howard, Every Kingdom
Richard Hawley, Standing at the Sky's Edge
Sam Lee, Ground of its Own
Michael Kiwanuka, Home Again
Roller Trio, Roller Trio
The Maccabees, Given To The Wild
Jesse Ware, Devotion