A PUNCHY pop band from St Albans who played this year s Glastonbury festival has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize. Friendly Fires – comprising singer and bassist Ed Macfarlane, guitarist Edd Gibson and drummer Jack Savidge – are among the 12 act

A PUNCHY pop band from St Albans who played this year's Glastonbury festival has been nominated for the Mercury Music Prize.

Friendly Fires - comprising singer and bassist Ed Macfarlane, guitarist Edd Gibson and drummer Jack Savidge - are among the 12 acts nominated for this year's Mercury Music Prize which will be awarded in London on September 8.

Friendly Fires and their self-titled debut album face tough competition from the other nominees, which include joint favourites to win Kasabian and Florence and the Machine, as well as La Roux, The Horrors and Bat For Lashes.

The three-piece band, who are due to play a secret gig at St Albans's Alban Arena on September 3, have been given 8/1 odds to win the competition by bookmaker William Hill.