Fleet Foxes lead Mojo award race

By Georgie Rogers
6 Music News reporter

Fleet Foxes' tune White Winter Hymnal is up for song of the year

Seattle band Fleet Foxes lead the nominations for this year's Mojo Honours list, up for three awards.

The harmonic folk rock five-piece are nominated for album of the year, best live act and song of the year.

Mojo magazine editor Phil Alexander said Fleet Foxes' appeal was down to "people gravitating to great music".

They face competition from Nashville giants Kings Of Leon and Mercury Prize-winning Elbow, who are both up for the best album and song prizes.

The winners, in five categories voted for by the public, will be unveiled on 11 June.

They've made a massive impact in the UK without a shadow of the doubt - double platinum [sales] in the wink of an eye

Phil Alexander
Mojo editor on Fleet Foxes

Mr Alexander told BBC 6 Music Fleet Foxes had "captured the imagination of the record buying public".

"They've done that purely on their own terms as well," he said. "It's not been through a massive amount of over-exposure. They've made a massive impact in the UK without a shadow of the doubt - double platinum [sales] in the wink of an eye."

Last year, Paul Weller received the award for outstanding contribution to music, and features twice on this year's shortlist.

His ninth studio album 22 Dreams is up for album of the year, and he is up against Radiohead, Fleet Foxes, Leonard Cohen and Seasick Steve for best live act.

Pretty heroes

Meanwhile, the likes of School Of Seven Bells, Animal Collective, Glasvegas and PJ Harvey and John Parish have also been given nominations.

This year's Mojo Heroes prize goes to 1960s band The Pretty Things, who follow in the footsteps of previous recipients Motorhead, Roger McGuinn, The Only Ones and Roy Harper.

Original members Phil May and Dick Taylor said they had a crop of young fans and their influence was being recognised, despite the fact they had never had mainstream success.

"One of the bands that apparently expressed the fact that they were influenced by us was Kasabian," said May.