15/09/17: Sampha of Beggars music group wins 2017 Hyundai Mercury Award.

UK Music CEO Michael Dugher and Director of Government & Public Affairs Tom Kiehl joined Emma McClarkin MEP, Conor McGinn MP, Ian Paisley MP, Steph Peacock MP, Nigel Adams MP, Kevin Brennan MP and Sharon Hodgson MP at the 2017 Hyundai Mercury Awards last night.

The evening was a fantastic showcase of British music, celebrating the top 12 albums of the year:

alt-j – 'Relaxer'
Blossoms – 'Blossoms'
Dinosaur – 'Together, As One'
Ed Sheeran – '÷'
Glass Animals – 'How to Be a Human Being'
J Hus – 'Common Sense'
Kate Tempest – 'Let Them Eat Chaos'
Loyle Carner – 'Yesterday’s Gone'
Sampha – 'Process'
Stormzy – 'Gang Signs & Prayer'
The Big Moon – 'Love in the 4th Dimension'
The xx – 'I See You'

The audience enjoyed live performances from the nominees, including previous winners The xx and alt-j, and the final performance was from last year's Mercury Prize Winner, Skepta.

Stormzy and Kate Tempest were among the 4 nominees from South London, but it was fellow South Londoner Sampha who took home this year's mercury prize for his album 'Process'.

Idris Elba presented Sampha with the title, and Sampha went on to give an ethereal performance of his lead track from the album, '(No One Knows Me) like the piano'.

Sampha, along with The xx and Glass Animals all belong to Beggars Group, the independent label ran by UK Music chairman, Andy Heath.