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Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells punk band Slaves nominated for Mercury Prize

Maidstone and Tunbridge Wells punk band Slaves have been nominated for a Mercury Prize.

The two-piece, made up of former Oakwood Park pupil Laurie Vincent, 21, from Maidstone, and 23-year-old former Hugh Christie pupil Isaac Holman from Southborough, has been shortlisted for Album of the Year.

Slaves are one of 12 acts in the running for the prize and it was their album Are You Satisfied?, released through Virgin EMI in May, that caught the judges' eyes.

Laurie Vincent, left, and Isaac Holman of Maidstone based band Slaves in Austin, Texas
Laurie Vincent, left, and Isaac Holman of Maidstone based band Slaves in Austin, Texas

This evening, Slaves will appear alongside Take That and U2 on Channel 4's TFI Friday, which is on at 8pm.

They will also play a homecoming show at Tunbridge Wells Assembly Rooms on Friday, December 18.

The 2015 Mercury Prize Album of the Year is run in association with BBC Music.

Slaves album Are You Satisfied? has been nominated for a Mercury Prize
Slaves album Are You Satisfied? has been nominated for a Mercury Prize

Chairman of the judges Simon Frith said: "This year’s Mercury Prize shortlist includes seven debut albums and it celebrates artists from every stage of their careers.

"These musicians come from a fascinating variety of musical places, cultures and histories. What they have in common is the ambition and the craft, the ideas and the imagination, to make great music."

The Slaves were also nominated for two NME awards earlier this year - for best new band and best social media.

Slaves
Slaves

They performed on Later... With Jools Holland last year and followed it up with a Glastonbury appearance this summer.

Rock magazine Kerrang! said of the Slaves' latest album: "There is nuance in the songwriting that, in discovery, has helped Slaves write a good album, not just a collection of good songs."

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