WREXHAM band Seazoo are among the nominations for this year's 2018 Welsh music prize.

The award, now in its eighth year, champions diversity in Welsh music and traditionally highlights more left-field albums than the British Mercury prize.

Famous names like Manic Street Preachers, Gruff Rhys and Gwenno have also been nominated alongside Cardiff’s Boy Azooga, the punk-grime outfit Astroid Boys Pembrokeshire-born Bryde, melodic post-rockers Eugene Capper and Rhodri Brooks, and Welsh harpist Catrin Finch.

Founded in 2011 by BBC Radio 1 DJ Huw Stephens and promoter and activist John Rostron, previous winners of the award include Future of the Left (2012), Georgia Ruth (2013), Joanna Gruesome (2014), Gwenno (2015), Meilyr Jones (2016) and the Gentle Good (2017). This year the ceremony will include a second prize, the Welsh music inspiration award, or Gwobr Ysbrydoliaeth Gerddoriaeth Gymreig.

Speaking about their nomination for their album Trunks, which was released in January this year, Seazoo, who include Ben Trow on guitars, bass and vocals, Llinos Griffiths on organ and synths and Steffan Owens on drums, said they were "thrilled and excited".

Ben said: "We’re thrilled to have been nominated for the Welsh Music Prize.

"It’s been a really great year for new Welsh music, and to be nominated alongside some of our favourite artists is a total honour.

"We are also very excited to be representing Wrexham at the awards."

Peter Leathem, chief executive officer at supporting body Phonographic Performance Limited, added: “Wales has an exceptional musical heritage that is recognised around the world.”