Behind the scenes info on the Mercury awards.

So its the Barcleycard sponsored Mercury Prize tonight, coming live from 10m at Londons Grosvenor Hotel. A prize that is both interesting and different as well as spiralling inevitably towards awfulness and music biz back slapping.

All the nominated acts are performing except for Dizzy Rascal and there are three separate stages for it all to happen on! Its about to hit the television airways in half an hour, the performance are all pre-recorded and.. Mumford And Sons, nominated for their piss poor album Sigh No More just had an on stage malfunction with their base breaking and not actually coming through on the PA.. They looked pissed.

Its not much but hey its a "scoop" and its The Mercurys not the Kerrrang awards, its not like people are going to kick off or shout drunken abuse at each other they are all to busy thinking about the projected record sales and endorsements if they win!

(Photo: The XX on the red carpet looking minimal and smart.)

This year the short list is as follows:

Dizzee Rascal – Tongue N' Cheek
The xx – xx
Paul Weller – Wake Up the Nation
Corinne Bailey Rae – The Sea
Mumford and Sons – Sigh No More
Laura Marling – I Speak Because I Can
Foals – Total Life Forever
Wild Beasts – Two Dancers
Biffy Clyro – Only Revolutions
Villagers – Becoming a Jackal
Kit Downes Trio – Golden
I Am Kloot – Sky at Night