September 8th, 2009 by Peter Bevan

After Tixdaq revealed who made the shortlist for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2009, the winner of the accolade and £20,000 will be announced at an awards ceremony at the London Grosvenor House Hotel later this evening. Tonight will also see all twelve artists nominated performing at the awards ceremony for the first time since the awards’ inception in 1992.

It seems Lungs by Florence and the Machine is one of the bookmakers’ favourites to take home the accolade. Florence Welch claims that she is so nervous about tonight’s awards ceremony that she is considering hiding in the toilets until the winner is announced, saying that it is sitting through the ceremony that is scaring her the most.

Fellow nominee Elly Jackson, singer from La Roux, also thinks Florence and the Machine is the favourite to win together with the self-titled debut album from the Friendly Fires. Elly Jackson says that she was not expecting to win and was looking forward to her live performance as well as the live performances of her fellow nominees.

She also said that even if La Roux do pick up the gong, there will be no time to celebrate as they have to jet off to France soon after the show. It seems the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2008 winners Elbow agree with La Roux’s Elly Jackson, having said they think Friendly Fires will win take the crown from them this year.

Speech Debelle has talked up her own chances of winning the Barclaycard Mercury Prize with her album Speech Therapy. She claims that if it was a popularity contest, she would lose but will have a very good chance if the decision was based on the reasons why she was nominated for the shortlist in the first place.

Speech Debelle has also described her album as being different to what is always heard on the radio and is confident of winning the top prize, despite saying she does not have a speech prepared.

Also in the running for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize is Kasabian with the album West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum. Kasabian guitarist Serge Pizzorno claims that the band might donate the money to charity if they win the award, unless the money gets given to the barman, that is.

Many of this year’s front runners to lift the Barclaycard Mercury Prize crown are also on tour playing at many venues across the UK.

Florence and the Machine, already performing shows throughout September, has just announced details of new tour dates for the UK and Ireland scheduled for December 2009. The new Florence and the Machine tour dates include the Glasgow O2 Academy on December 9 as well as the Manchester Apollo (December 10), Lincoln Engine Shed (December 11) and the London Brixton Academy (December 13).

Florence and the Machine tickets for the December gigs go on general sale on Friday September 11 at 9am, however tickets for their September shows are still available to compare and buy at Tixdaq.com

The Kasabian tour begins at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena on November 10 and will also stop off for two dates at the London Wembley Arena (November 14 & 15), the Manchester Evening News Arena (November 20) and ending the tour at the Sheffield Hallam FM Arena (November 23).

Also playing UK venues throughout November is La Roux, like the Leeds University Union on November 13 as well as the Birmingham O2 Academy (November 18), the Southampton Guildhall (November 24) and two dates at the London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (November 25 & 26).

Kasabian tickets, La Roux tickets, as well as tickets to see fellow Barclaycard Mercury Prize nominees The Horrors and Bat for Lashes, are all available to compare and buy at Tixdaq.com