Mercury Prize 2020: What time are the performances tonight and how can I watch them?

Photograph: She comes across as a kind of glamorous wild woman, stomping up and down the stage and swearing like a trooper

Although the Mercury Prize will be going virtual this year due to the pandemic, audiences can expect extensive coverage of the awards show and build-up across the BBC.

Tonight (23 September), viewers can watch performances from many of the shortlisted artists before the winner is announced tomorrow evening on The One Show.

Hyundai Mercury Prize: Albums of the Year will broadcast on BBC Four tonight (23 September) at 10pm BST.

The programme, narrated by Lauren Laverne, will feature specially filmed and socially distanced performances from eight of the 12 shortlisted artists.

Those performing include Anna Meredith, Georgia, Lanterns on the Lake, Laura Marling, Moses Boyd, Porridge Radio and Sports Team. Grammy nominee Charli XCX will be performing from Los Angeles.

Laura Marling at the Albert Hall (Rex Features)

The hour-long programme will also show archive footage from the remaining shortlisted artists, Dua Lipa, Kano, Michael Kiwanuka and Stormzy.

For the first time, international audiences will be able to stream the show via the Hyundai Mercury Prize YouTube channel.

Last year’s Mercury Prize was won by rapper Dave for his album Psychodrama, which was praised by judges for showing “remarkable levels of musicianship, true artistry, courage, honesty”.

You can find more information about this year’s Mercury Prize shortlisted artists here.