Nominated artists, including Paul Weller, Dizzee Rascal and The XX, are arriving in London for this years prestigious Mercury Music Prize.
Fellow nominees Laura Marling, Wild Beasts, and folk-rock quartet Mumford and Sons are also due at the ceremony.
They are joined by Corinne Bailey Rae, Biffy Clyro, Foals, Villagers, I Am Kloot and the Kit Downes Trio.
The winner of the �20,000 prize for album of the year will be announced live on BBC Two.
Bookmakers William Hill slashed its odds on Weller winning the prize after an "unprecedented" rush of bets over the weekend.
The former Jam star - who has been nominated for the award once before - is now 4/6 to take the title with his album Wake Up The Nation.
It is 16 years since his second solo release, Wild Wood, was shortlisted. On the night, he lost out to M Peoples Elegant Slumming.
The 52-year-old, who was the first star to turn up, told the press he did not resent missing out in 1994.
"No not at all, Im not one to hold grudges," he said.
London trio The XX had previously been the favourites.
Laura Marling is another second-time nominee for her latest album, I Speak Because I Can.
Her boyfriend - Marcus Mumford - is frontman of Mumford And Sons who are nominated for their debut release, Sigh No More.
Dizzee Rascal is the only nominee to have won the prize before, with his debut release Boy In Da Corner in 2003.
This latest nomination, for Tongue N Cheek, marks his third shot at the title after only four albums, as he was also listed in 2007 for Maths + English.
The Mercury prize is open to UK and Irish acts who have released albums over the past year.
Twelve months ago, the award went to hip-hop star Speech Debelle for her debut release, Speech Therapy.
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