London band The xx wins Britain’s Mercury Prize with their debut album

London band The xx wins UK Mercury Prize

LONDON — Electronic trio The xx has won Britain’s Barclaycard Mercury Prize for their debut album, called “xx.”

The south London band won the $30,000 prize over 11 other shortlisted acts at a ceremony in London Tuesday.

The group beat its more well-known competitors, which included bookies’ favorite Paul Weller, singer Corinne Bailey Rae and past winner Dizzee Rascal.

Frontman Oliver Sim said he was stunned by the news: “I don’t know what we were expecting but we weren’t expecting this.”

The award has honored the best album of the year by a British or Irish band since 1992. Previous winners include the Arctic Monkeys and Scottish rockers Franz Ferdinand.