With the gong to be awarded next week, Tim Hughes looks at the local contenders

For serious bands, it’s the ultimate accolade. Each year, the Barclaycard Mercury Prize for Album of the Year is awarded to the best body of work released by a UK or Irish artist.

On Wednesday judges will decide which of 12 shortlisted albums will receive this year’s honour.

Oxford music lovers will be rooting for city boys Foals, pictured, who have been shortlisted for their acclaimed album Holy Fire. They were previously nominated for album Total Life Forever in 2010.

Previous winners have included albums by Primal Scream, Suede, Portishead, Pulp, Elbow, PJ Harvey (twice), and last year’s victors, Alt-J for their album An Awesome Wave – the band celebrating their win with a show at Oxford’s O2 Academy the following night.

Foals are not the only Oxford act shortlisted. Previous local bands to have made the cut include The Young Knives, for their album Voices of Animals and Men, in 2007 and Radiohead, who have been nominated more than any other band (OK Computer in 1997 Amnesiac in 2001, Hail to the Thief in 2003 and In Rainbows in 2008), though they have never won the prize. The band’s frontman Thom Yorke won a place on the shortlist in 2006 for his solo album The Eraser.

Many acts have cited the benefits of making the shortlist. Folk artist Sam Lee, who collected songs from Oxfordshire travellers and gypsies for his debut Ground Of Its Own, told us it had helped raise the profile of the album, while Henry Dartnell of The Young Knives said: “It gave us a massive boost,” though questioned the practice of charging bands to enter the competition.

A spokesman for the organisers said: “The Barclaycard Mercury Prize celebrates and promotes the best of UK music. “The shortlist provides a snapshot of the year in music, recognising artistic achievement across a range of genres.”

Chair of judges, Simon Frith, said: “This year’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize shortlist celebrates a fascinating year for British and Irish music, marked by a wonderful range of musical voices – urgent, reflective, upbeat, tender, acoustic, electronic, and all with something intriguing to say.”

Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2013 nominees for Album of the Year

* Foals Holy Fire is the third album by the Oxford five-piece. Released by Transgressive / Warner Music, it includes the singles Inhaler and My Number.

The judges say: “A wonderfully dynamic album – compelling.”

* Arctic Monkeys AM. Their fifth album was recorded in California. Released on Domino Records, it includes the singles Why’d You Only Call Me When You’re High? and Do I Wanna Know? The judges say: “Sonically gripping and brilliantly performed”.

* David Bowie The Next Day. Bowie’s first album in 10 years reached number one when released by RCA in March and features the top 10 single Where Are We Now? The judges say: “David Bowie celebrates his legendary ability with panache”.

* Disclosure Settle. Disclosure are 19 and 22 year-old brothers Howard and Guy Lawrence. Their debut album reached number one when released in June on Island Records. It features the singles You & Me and White Noise. The judges say: “A joyous pop record”.

* Jake Bugg Jake Bugg. The debut album from 19 year-old singer-songwriter Bugg reached number one in 2012 on Mercury Records. The judges say: “Fluent, restless, acutely observed songs of teenage life”.

* James Blake Overgrown. This is the second album by 24 year- old Londoner Blake released on Atlas / Polydor in April. It includes the single Retrograde.

The judges say: “Late night music for the digital age”.

* Jon Hopkins Immunity was released on Domino Records in June and is Hopkins’ fourth solo album. It includes the single Open Eye Signal. The judges say: “Electronic world of wonder”.

* Laura Marling Once I Was An Eagle. Marling’s fourth album released in May on Virgin Records. It reached number three and features the single Master Hunter. The judges say: “A singer-songwriter in control, powerful and inspiring”.

* Laura Mvula Sing to the Moon is the debut album of the Birmingham Conservatoire graduate. It features the singles She, Green Garden and That’s Alright and was released by RCA in March. The judges say: “Luminous musicality”.

* Rudimental Home. The band are Piers Aggett, Kesi Dryden, Amir Amor and Leon Rolle. The debut album was released in April on Asylum / Atlantic. Singles include Feel the Love and Waiting All Night. The judges say: “Jubilant and thrilling”.

* Savages Silence Yourself. Ayse Hassan (bass), Fay Milton (drums), Gemma Thompson (guitar) and Jehnny Beth (vocals) released this debut album in May on Matador / Pop Noire. It includes the single She Will. The judges say: “Art-punk for our times – intense, enthralling and formidable”.

* Villagers Awayland. Fronted by Conor O’Brien, they released this second album on Domino Records in January. It includes the singles The Waves and Nothing Arrived. The judges say: “Songwriting at its most wilfully romantic”.

WIN HEADPHONES WORTH £280

To celebrate this year’s competition, we have teamed up with the good people at Barclaycard Mercury Prize to offer readers the chance to enjoy all this year’s nominated albums in high definition sound, by giving us a pair of top quality Bose headphones worth £280.

The Bose QuietComfort 15 Acoustic Noise Cancelling headphones are Bose’s best-performing and quietist headphones ever.

The result of more than 30 years of research in noise reduction technology, the QuietComfort 15 headphones offer better sound in louder environments and across a wider range of frequencies without compromising the audio quality and comfortable fit of the acclaimed QuietComfort headphone line.

For a chance to win, simply tell us the name of Foals’ frontman. One runner up will receive copies of each of the Barclaycard Mercury Prize 2013 shortlisted albums.

Send your answer to Barclaycard Mercury Prize competition, The Guide, Oxford Mail, Newspaper House, Osney Mead, Oxford OX2 0EJ or email tim.hughes@nqo.com Include your name, address and contact telephone number. Usual rules apply. The Editor’s decision is final. Answers must be received by midday on Thursday, October 31.