Mercury Prize

It's that time of year again already. This years mercury music prize nominations were announced this morning and The xx and Dizzee have already been named favourites by the bookies.

The list doesn't contain many surprises and this years winner is sure to be more well known than last years winner Speech Deblle. So who's made the cut.

2003 winner Dizzee Rascal is back in the nominations this year and a lot has changed since 'Boy in da corner' won seven years ago. The former grime prince is now king of the mainstream dance floor and 'Tongue N Cheek' has taken the pop world by storm.

The xx may be newcomers to the awards but their stunning debut topped many end of year lists and was always going to be nominated. Personally it's my favourite from the list but will it win? I hope so.

Paul Weller and Foals are the surprise nominations for me. The Modfather's 10th solo album is not his best but 'Wake Up The Nation' has earned him his first nomination since 1994. Foals 'Total Life Forever' was tipped by a few people for the list but it's nowhere near as good as their debut 'Antidotes'. They wont win!

One of Laura Marling and Mumford and Sons were always gonna be nominated, turns out they both have as folk music grows in popularity and Mumford and Son's have to be pretty confident as they spend the summer tearing up the festival circuit.

Corinne Bailey Rae, Biffy Clyro and Wild Beasts have an outside chance and despite being at 10/1 a victory for I Am Kloot wouldn't surprise me.

Villagers and this years wildcard Kit Downes will be hoping for another shock result like last year but the winner is surely to be one of the favourites, isn't?

My Prediction

1. The xx - XX

2. Mumford and Sons - Sigh No More

3. Corinne Baily Rae -The Sea

Festival Season

So we are well into festival season with two of the big four out the way. A heat wave at Glastonbury meant it was already the best one in years and the standard light drizzle at T In The Park couldn't stop the legions of Scottish nutter's having a great time.

So who have been the winners and losers of this summer?

Florence seems to have become a festival whore, showing up in every field with a stage this summer and at Glastonbury they couldn't seem to get rid of her as she appeared 3 times. Now I do like Flo but does she have to collaborate with everyone! I wound't be surprised to see her on stage with Axel Rose the way things are going come the end of August.

Gorillaz bottled it at Glastonbury! I'm sorry but they did, they were never good enough to headline in the first place, and despite having some great tunes they are not a headline act yet. Has anyone even heard their latest album?

Muse did their standard set at T and Glasto, Same old same old but with less laser's. A little disappointing. Although The Edge did rescue them at Worthy Farm.

Kasabian finally stepped up to the headline stage at T and didn't disappoint. LSF in front of a Scottish crowd is always gonna create a "moment" and the Leicester boys didn't disappoint.

Mummford and Sons seem like festival veterans, packing out tents across the country every weekend and making folk music the most exciting genre around at the moment. Getting thousands of drunk twenty somethings to sing along with a banjo is a good effort.

At Isle Of Wight Macca does what he does best and despite being almost a thousand years old he still knows how to delight a crowd. Possibly the best headliner on the planet?

Blondie was pretty tragic and despite still being pretty fucking cool she cant sing, shame but give it up Debbie.

So whats left to come? Florence headlines Lattitude this weekend and Dizzee and Roxy Music play Lovebox in Victoria Park. Kings of Leon will be back at V and then the return of the likely lads at Reading as Pete and Carl give it another go.

What A Summer of Music!