Mercury Prize 2012: Alt-J emerge as big winners
Story by Jack Foley
INDIE rockers Alt-J have been announced as the winners of this year’s prestigious Barclaycard Mercury Prize.
The foursome won for their debut album An Awesome Wave, beating the likes of rapper Plan B, The Maccabees and BBC Sound Of 2012 winner Michael Kiwanuka.
Alt-J went into the evening as the bookmakers’ favourites and left with the £20,000 cash award.
All 12 nominees performed live at the ceremony, which was held at the Roundhouse in north London and hosted by BBC 6 Music DJ Lauren Laverne.
Last year, PJ Harvey became the first act to win the Mercury twice when her album Let England Shake received the coveted award.