The music acts La Roux, Bat for Lashes and Florence and the Machine were among the nominees for Britain's Mercury Prize announced Tuesday. The award is bestowed by a panel of music industry experts to the British artist who released the best album of the past year. This year's nominees are Kasabian for West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum, The Horrors for Primary Colors, Friendly Fires for Friendly Fires, Glasvegas for Glasvegas, La Roux for La Roux, Florence and the Machine for Lungs, Bat for Lashes for Two Suns, Lisa Hannigan for Sea Sew, The Invisible for The Invisible, Led Bib for Sensible Shoes, Sweet Billy Pilgrim for Twice Born Men and Speech Debelle for Speech Therapy, The Times of London reported. It's been a strong time for women because you've got them working across a broader range of genres than in previous years, The Times quoted Simon Frith, chair of the Mercury judging panel since the award's inception in 1992, as saying.

British recording artists Estelle and Leona Lewis were the big winners at the Music of Black Origin Awards presentation in London this week. Lewis' "Spirit" was named best album and "Bleeding Love" won the prize for best video, The Times of London said.

By MATTHEW McCREARY ONE of the top draws at this year's Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's is expected to sell out quickly after winning a major national music prize.

By Matthew McCreary ONE of the top draws at this year's Ulster Bank Belfast Festival at Queen's is expected to sell out quickly after winning a major national music prize. English indie band Elbow scooped the prestigious Nationwide Mercury Prize this week for their latest album The Seldom Seen Kid.

In a hugely popular victory Elbow have been announced as winners of the 2008 Nationwide Mercury Prize for 'Album of the Year.' Elbow frontman Guy Garvey said, "This is quite literally the best thing that has ever happened to us.""It feels great, very unexpected.