Prefix — The Barclaycard Mercury Prize has announced its shortlist of albums in contention for this year's British music prize, and according ... Read the full article at http://www.prefixmag.com/news/mercury-prize-announces-2012-shortlist/69021/ more info

Brooklyn Vegan — by Bill Pearis Django Django at Glasslands, March 2012 (more by Dominick Mastrangelo) The 2012 Mercury Prize shortlist was just announced: The Maccabees - Given to the Wild Jessie Ware - Devotion Alt-J - An Awesome Wave Richard Hawley - Standing... more info

Guardian Music — London rapper and Sheffield singer stand out as favourites from a shortlist dominated by indie bands and solo artistsPlan B's third album may have involved a daring change of direction, from sweet 60s soul to politically infused rap, but it looks lik... more info

Guardian Music — Mercury Prize-winners the xx reveal more layers of melancholic pop (10-12 Sep, tour begins O2 Shepherd's Bush Empire, W12) …Alt-rock late bloomers Elbow consolidate their epic status with an arena tour (26 Nov to 2 Dec, tour begins Capital FM Arena... more info

DrownedInSound — Single of the Week! Dirty Projectors - ‘Gun Has No Trigger’ (Domino) The handsomest band in Christendom have written a song which sounds like a warning, and it is the kind of song men ruined by witchy women sing to other chaps, to put the... more info

Guardian Music — This Canadian band's divinely daft pomp-pop is like a thunderbolt from on highHometown: Toronto, Canada.The lineup: Rob Drake, Carlin Nicholson, Mike O'Brien, Neil Quin.The background: Sting, of course, would call it synchronicity. See, only last nig... more info

Guardian Music — In the last of the Guardian Northerner's posts on Wearside's great music debate, musician Neil Wood and student Hannah Matterson put their viewsNeil Wood is a musician and blogger in Sunderland. He's on Facebook and there's more here too.At 21 years ... more info

Guardian Music — How to wind up fans of classical music: book Kylie for the ever-less-Promsy Proms In The Park. (8 Sep, Hyde Park, W2). Predictions: a Confide In Me/Nessun Dorma mash-up, plus Hazell Dean and Brother Beyond in an encore of selections from HMS Pinafore... more info

Guardian Music — Another slant on the who, whats, whens and whys of how Sunderland became the north-east's hotbed of musical creativity. Dan Carson speaks to today's young musicians and promoters on Wearside"What is it that transforms an area's local musical landscap... more info

Guardian Music — David Brewis of Field Music takes issue with yesterday's Guardian Northerner post, recalling the free-wheeling, spirited genesis of the city's contemporary music, and the role of an inspirational youth workerAllan Glen's Guardian Northerner post yest... more info