September 4, 2007 17:04

Amy Winehouse set to play Mercury Music Prize ceremony

The singer has arrived ahead of tonight's announcement

Photo Gallery: Amy Winehouse

Amy Winehouse is set to make a surprise appearance at the Nationwide Mercury Music Prize ceremony in London tonight (September 4).

Despite being said to have taken a break from her musicial committments for three months, she arrived just before rehearsals finished and soundchecked at the Grosvenor Hotel, ahead of the ceremony.

Although Winehouse and husband Blake Fielder-Civil are back in London after a holiday in St Lucia, there had been strong speculation that she would not be going to the ceremony.

If she plays tonight it will be the first live performance Winehouse has played since August 25, when she played a show at London’s Institute of Contemporary Arts venue.

Fellow Mercury Music Prize nominees The Young Knives also appeared on the radio station defending Winehouse, while criticising those who condemn her for drug use.

“No one said that about Jimi Hendrix," The Young Knives' frontman Henry Dartnell commented. “[They don’t say] 'Oh his music’s great, but he takes drugs'. Leave her alone. Not that I’m comparing Amy Winehouse’s music to Jimi Hendrix’s.”

Keep checking NME.COM for the latest Nationwide Mercury Music Prize news throughout the day, and come back from 9pm tonight for the build up to the big announcement.