In pictures: Mercury Prize 2008

Adele was among the artists nominated for this year's Nationwide Mercury Prize, awarded at London's Grosvenor House Hotel.

Neon Neon arrived in two DeLorean cars, like the one used on the film Back to the Future. They also donned medallions made of Lego.

Elbow singer Guy Garvey (right) said winning the prize was "the best thing that's ever happened to us".

Estelle's record Shine was also up for the award, which honours the best British album of the last 12 months.

Rachel Unthank & The Winterset are an all-female folk quartet, who were nominated for their album The Bairns.

Alex Turner (left), who won the Mercury in 2006 with The Arctic Monkeys, was nominated again with The Last Shadow Puppets.

Led Zeppelin singer Robert Plant wooed critics with Raising Sand, his album of duets with US bluegrass singer Alison Krauss.

Do You Like Rock Music? is the third album from British Sea Power, whose elaborate live shows have earned them a cult following.

After busking and gigging for two years, jazz outfit The Portico Quartet released their album Knee Deep In The North in November.

Teenage singer-songwriter Laura Marling was nominated for her debut album Alas I Cannot Swim.