Florence And The Machine: 'Glasvegas deserve to win Mercury Prize'

Florence And The Machine singer Florence Welch says she thinks Glasvegas should win the Barclaycard Mercury Prize, which is due to be announced in London tonight (September 8).

Despite being nominated for the award herself, Welch thinks that Glasvegas – who she struck up a friendship with while on the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour earlier this year – deserve to win the prize the most.

"I would really love Glasvegas to win," she told the Daily Record. "They really deserve it. They are not the type of people to get carried away by it."

Talking about what she'd do if she won the £20,000 Barclaycard Mercury Prize, Welch said: "It's an amazing prize and it would be great if it helped whoever wins to go on and make more music. I would use it to get a studio."

She also admitted that she feels sorry for the panel of judges who have to decide who wins the award.

"At the Mercurys, the winning album will be best according to a select group of people. But there will be people all over the UK who will have their own opinion of the best album," she explained. "It'll be hard for the judges."

Fellow nominee La Roux, meanwhile, told the Daily Star: "There's so many strong women up for it that I really hope a girl gets it."

NME.COM will be coming live from the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2009 ceremony in London tonight. Keep checking back for all the latest news as the event unfolds.

Who deserves to win the Mercury?? Have your say at the NME office blog now.

Plus read the NME's predictions for who will win the 2009 Barclaycard Mercury Prize now.

Photo Gallery - Your guide to the Mercury nominees

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