Scottish jazz pianist set to battle with Harry Styles and Sam Fender for Mercury Music prize

An award-winning jazz pianist is set to fight out with the likes of Sam Fender and Harry Styles to be named Mercury Music prize winner after his latest album made the 12-act shortlist.

Fergus McCreadie, from Jamestown, West Dunbartonshire, was highly commended for “Forest Floor,” earning him a place among the nominations.

The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland graduate is renowned for combining elements of jazz with traditional Scottish music and has already picked up a Scottish Album of the Year nod.

He will now battle it out with a host of rising stars and established names from the best of British music to be crowned winner of the 2022 award.

McCreadie, 25, told Radio 6: “It is a huge honour to join that list of great musicians up for this award.

“It is great to be part of that for Scottish music, to have this recognition hopefully it can embolden musicians in Scotland. It feels a special thing to do.”

Jessie Buckley, who portrayed aspiring Glasgow country singer Rose-Lynn Harlan in the film Wild Rose, is nominated with Bernard Butler for her album “For All Our Days That Tear The Heart”.

Fender received his shortlisting for “Seventeen Going Under,” while former One Direction singer Styles is nominated for “Harry’s House”.

Wet Leg’s eponymous debut album, featuring Glastonbury favourites “Chaise Longue” and “Wet Dream,” joins fellow TRNSMT performer Self Esteem’s “Prioritise Pleasure” on the list, while another Yorkshire act, Yard Act, are nominated for “The Overload”.

Rock duo Nova Twins have been nominated for their album Supernova, alongside Welsh musician Gwenno with an album titled Tresor and British musician Kojey Radical for Reason To Smile.

Little Simz, who won best new artist at the Brit awards, secured another Mercury Prize nomination this year for Sometimes I Might Be Introvert – having featured in the 2019 shortlist for her album Grey.

Full list of nominations:

Fergus McCreadie – Forest Floor

Gwenno – Tresor

Harry Styles – Harry’s House

Jessie Buckley and Bernard Butler – For All Our Days That Tear The Heart

Joy Crookes – Skin

Kojey Radical – Reason To Smile

Little Simz – Sometimes I Might Be Introvert

Nova Twins – Supernova

Sam Fender – Seventeen Going Under

Self Esteem – Prioritise Pleasure

Wet Leg – Wet Leg