Post-Punk Hotshots English Teacher Shortlisted For Mercury Prize

Leeds hailing post-punk band, English Teacher, have been shortlisted for the 2024 Mercury Prize, for their stellar debut album ‘This Could Be Texas’. 

Released back in spring of this year, ‘This Could Be Texas’ quickly ushered in a mass of critical acclaim, peaking at Number 5 on the Official Albums chart and remaining there for four weeks after release. The album received a wave of praise from major publications, being described as “meticulously crafted” by Neive McCarthy for Dork. 

The band were nominated alongside the likes of Charli XCX’s ‘Brat’ and Cat Burns’ debut album ‘Early Twenties’, among many. The nominees were announced live on BBC Radio 6 on July 25th, and the awards ceremony is due to take place on September 7th. 

Speaking about their nomination - English Teacher frontwoman, Lily Fontaine, told NME: “The honour is all the more profound,” and described this year’s nominees as “the best year yet, and not just because we’re on it!”.

It’s shaping up to be a fruitful year for English Teacher - having embarked on a headline Europe tour earlier this year and playing major festivals across the UK such as Glastonbury and Latitude on the last weekend of July. The band have teased that work has even begun on a second album, telling NME that the project is still in its early stages, but well underway. 

Lina Adams

@creativelicensepodcast

Image: Denmarc Creary