Sam Fender wins 2025 Mercury Prize
Sam Fender's People Watching was crowned Album of the Year at the 2025 Mercury Prize Awards.
Sam Fender received a standing ovation as he accepted the 2025 Mercury Prize for People Watching.
The Geordie - from North Shields - faced stiff competition from the likes of CMAT's EURO-COUNTRY, plus records by Pulp, Wolf Alice, FKA Twigs, PinkPantheress and Pa Salieu.
Speaking onstage at Newcastle's Utilita Arena on Thursday night (16.10.25), he said: “We did not expect this at all. I want to say thank you.
“This region is the best region in the country.”
He also dedicated his accolade to Annie Orwin, his former mentor.
Sam - who also performed the title track of his award-winning album - said: "I was honoured and lucky enough to be with her in the last week of her life, and the title track was about her and about grief.
"Then the rest of the album is very much local stories, little pictures of Shields, and the people I've grown up with.
"So, very much like every other album I've done, but I think we got it right this time."
The judging panel commented: "This year proved that the album remains the format of choice for artists to best present a body of work. That, however, made our job as judges of the 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year is more challenging than ever. All 12 records on the shortlist worked so well on their own terms, ranging from ancient ballads to futuristic electronics. After much discussion, however, we all decided on one album that stood out for its cohesion, character and ambition. It felt like a classic album, which will take pride of place in record collections for years to come. People Watching by Sam Fender is both melody-rich and expansive, marrying heartland rock with the realities of everyday life and the importance of community. These are thoughtful songs with broad appeal, as cinematic as they are intimate, making People Watching a worthy winner of the 2025 Mercury Prize for Album of the Year."
