Sam Fender Takes Out the 2025 Mercury Prize
The prestigious annual Mercury Prize is awarded to the best British and Irish album of the year.
Image @mercuryprize
UK musician Sam Fender has been awarded the 2025 Mercury Prize for his latest album, People Watching.
Fender won the coveted award at the ceremony held in his hometown of Newcastle at Utilita Arena last night (Thursday 16), which also marked the first time the awards ceremony had taken place outside of London.
Fender beat out a talented bunch of British and Irish artists, including CMAT for her album Euro-Country, post-punk disrupters Fontaines D.C. for Romance, experimental artist FKA Twigs for Eusexua and a returning Pulp with their latest album More.
Also up for the award were PinkPantheress, Joe Webb, Emma-Jean Thackray, Jacob Alon, Martin Carthy and Pa Salieu.
Fender joins an esteemed list of artists who have won the award, including Primal Scream, Arctic Monkeys, PJ Harvey, Little Simz and last year’s winners, indie rockers English Teacher.
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The win comes ahead of Fender’s 2025 Australian tour, which kicks off in November.
The singer-songwriter’s People Watching tour begins with a concert at Melbourne’s Sidney Myer Music Bowl on Friday 14 November and continues with gigs at Brisbane’s Riverstage on Wednesday 19 November, Sydney’s The Showring Entertainment Quarter on Friday 21 November and Adelaide’s AEC Arena on Tuesday 25 November, wrapping up at Perth’s Kings Park & Botanic Garden on Friday 28 November.
Support comes from indie singer-songwriter Holly Humberstone, making her Australian return after a run of sold-out shows in 2024.
Tickets are on sale now via secretsounds.com.
Catch Sam Fender at AEC Arena on Tuesday, November 25. For ticketing information, visit secretsounds.com.
Sam Fender People Watching Australian Tour Dates 2025
with support from Holly Humberstone
Friday 14 November – Sidney Myer Music Bowl, Melbourne
Wednesday 19 November – Riverstage, Brisbane
Friday 21 November – The Showring Entertainment Quarter, Sydney
Tuesday 25 November – AEC Arena, Adelaide
Friday 28 November – Kings Park & Botanic Garden, Perth
