Overview
- Judges praised the album’s cohesion, character and ambition, calling it a “classic,” and the win carries a £25,000 award.
- Fender dedicated the prize and the title track to his late friend and mentor Annie Orwin during an emotional acceptance.
- The ceremony took place at Newcastle’s Utilita Arena, the first edition outside London, hosted by Lauren Laverne with Sian Eleri announcing the winner.
- Many shortlisted artists performed live as People Watching prevailed over a diverse field including Pulp, FKA twigs, CMAT, Fontaines D.C. and Wolf Alice.
- The result was reported as an upset against bookmakers’ odds that favored CMAT, capping a fuller live return and regional focus after 2024’s scaled-back show.