SPORTS TEAM DEBUT ALBUM 'DEEP DOWN HAPPY' SHORTLISTED FOR THE 2020 HYUNDAI MERCURY PRIZE 'ALBUMS OF THE YEAR'

Today Sports Team's debut album 'Deep Down Happy' is announced as one of the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year'. The prestigious accolade celebrates and promotes the best of British music, recognising artistic achievement across a range of contemporary music genres. The shortlist was chosen by an independent judging panel and was revealed this morning on Lauren Laverne's show on BBC Radio 6 Music.

The news comes after Sports Team released their critically acclaimed debut album 'Deep Down Happy' on 5 June and achieved number #2 in the Official Album Charts, which holds the highest first week sales for a debut album by a British band in four years, and is the fourth highest selling debut of 2020. The band also became the biggest seller of the week, leading on physical sales (10K), digital downloads, and scoring the biggest vinyl sales of a debut record by a British artist in 2020, with a #1 on the Official Vinyl Chart. The six piece also announced their biggest UK tour to date, with the band back on the road doing what they do best next Spring and headlining O2 Academy Brixton on 29 April 2021.  Listen to 'Deep Down Happy' here

Sports Team have built an incredibly loyal, impassioned fanbase, who carried the Gaga x Sports Team chart battle conversation on Twitter. From a Lewis Capaldi summoning circle which lead to support from the superstar (proving witchcraft does work), to TV fisherman Jeremy Wade, and Sam Fender, Sports Team fans were out in force, showing comradeship for the future of guitar music. With no record stores open, and no live shows due to lockdown, the six-piece still managed to achieve the biggest selling album of the w­­eek in Independent Retail, a mammoth feat for Britain's next breakthrough band.

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The 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize 'Albums of the Year':
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Sports Team - Deep Down Happy
Dua Lipa - Future Nostalgia
Kano – Hoodies All Summer
Stormzy – Heavy Is The Head
Laura Marling – Song For Our Daughter
Charlie XCX – how i'm feeling now
Michael Kiwanuka - KIWANUKA
Georgia – Seeking Thrills
Lantern On The Lake – Spook The Herd
Moses Boyd – Dark Matter
Porridge Radio – Every Bad
Anna Meredith – FIBS

On Lauren Laverne's 6Music interview Alex says: "[Deep Down Happy] sounds scrappy and flawed and you hear the dynamics between all of us in it. I think that's what people want from a debut album... how much spirit we can pour into it. It's a culmination of 150 tour dates last year, and for it to lead to this is unbelievable. [Mercury] is more than we could have ever have expected."

ABOUT 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize. The 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize judges are: Anna Calvi – Musician & Songwriter; Annie Mac – Broadcaster & DJ; Danielle Perry – Broadcaster & Writer; Gaz Coombes - Musician & Songwriter; Gemma Cairney – Broadcaster & DJ; Jamie Cullum - Musician & Broadcaster; Jeff Smith - Head of Music, 6 Music & Radio 2; Jorja Smith – Musician & Songwriter; Mike Walsh - Music Consultant – Kendal Calling/bluedot Festivals, War Child; Phil Alexander – Creative Director, Kerrang!/Contributing Editor, Mojo; Tshepo Mokoena – Editorial Director, VICE.com; Will Hodgkinson - Chief Rock & Pop Critic, The Times. The Chair of the judging panel is Jeff Smith.

As all events are currently subject to Government guidelines, it is likely that a live awards show will not be happening in September as planned. However the overall winner of the 2020 Hyundai Mercury Prize will be announced on 24 September 2020. The Prize's broadcast partner, BBC Music, will be providing extensive television and radio coverage of the Prize and more details will be announced shortly.

The Prize's new digital music partner, YouTube Music will also be streaming the artists' performances to international audiences beyond the UK.

Listen to 'Deep Down Happy' here

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 SPORTS TEAM UK TOUR
20 April Dublin The Grand Social
22 April Leeds Leeds University Stylus
23 April Manchester The Albert Hall
25 April Nottingham Rock City
26 April Glasgow SWG3
28 April Bristol SWX Bristol
29 April London O2 Academy Brixton

Connect with Sports Team
Official Website / Instagram / Facebook / Twitter

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PRAISE FOR DEEP DOWN HAPPY

"Recalling the rambunctious spirit of Blur and Pulp" – 4* THE TIMES
"As far as 'guitar music' is concerned, it's game on. Full of charm & unpredictability" – 4* Independent
The gobbiest new bunch on the block cement their early promise with a debut album full of hedonism, tribalism and untamed energy" – 4* NME
"Love them or hate them, dismiss them at your peril" 4* DIY
"The album bounces by with the logic of a free-for-all pub debate" Rolling Stone
"Sounding like a gang having fun should be simple, but it's a spirit that's been missing lately. Sports Team deserve a medal for bringing it back" 4* Daily Star
"an album soaked in teen spirit...Sports Team are the complete package" – 5* DORK
"Their tales of life in your 20s in modern Britain is unmistakably now" – Q
"A debut as wry, energetic and charismatic as their inexhaustible live presence has always promised" – Loud & Quiet
"Sports Team evoke britpop spirit of Pulp, while throwing in nods to American punk (Iggy pop is a fan)" – Daily Mail
"May we introduce you to your new favourite band" – ES Magazine
"The weirdo UK guitar band you need to know"- PAPER