Snow Patrol nominated for a Mercury

Snow Patrol's Final Straw album is among the nominees for this year's Mercury Music Prize which will be announced in London on September 7.

The opus, which is back in the Irish and UK top 20s following the band's Oxegen and T In The Park appearances, will be slugging it out with Basement Jaxx Kish Kish; Belle & Sebastian Dear Catastrophe Waitress; Franz Ferdinand Franz Ferdinand; Jamelia Thank You; Keane Hope And Fears; Joss Stone The Soul Sessions; The Streets A Grand Don't Come For Free; Ty Upwards; Amy Winehouse Frank; Robert Wyatt Cuckooland; and The Zutons Who Killed The Zutons.

William Hill are quoting Gary Lightbody & Co. at 6/1 to win, with Franz Ferdinand and The Streets joint 3/1 favourites.

Meanwhile, hotpress.com have it on unimpeachable authority that Franz Ferdinand and Snow Patrol are lining-up respective October and November returns to Dublin.