It’s February and you know what that means, the NME Awards are back.
If like us you find February a little gloomy, aren’t particularly keen on Valentine’s Day and need to bash your head to get over the whole tube strike kerfuffle why not check out some of the bands playing at this year’s NME Awards shows?
We think 2014’s awards will be great and here’s our 6 reasons why:
1. Austin, Texas. Yes y’all, this year’s partner of the NME Awards is the Live Music Capital of the World! Hosting events such as SXSW, Austin, Texas has firmly established itself as the place where great live shows are lived and witnessed. We’re unsure as to what it means for the NME Awards ceremony itself but hope that there will be cowboys/girls and maybe some local entertainment!
2. It’s NME. Yes of course everybody knows (or should know) that print is slowly wasting away and this is the era of online (phew) but credit should be given where credit is due and NME is still an institution to respect. With years experience in finding the best new bands and even strange ones, NME magazine has been as much a contributor to the music industry as some of the best labels out there. So show some respect (or just buy the fresh magazine to sniff it, we do).
3. The shows. This year’s line-up is in our opinion one of the best in years. There are new bands and old bands. Opening the shows were Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, tonight it’s the turn of French band Phoenix to set the stage alight. This summer we saw the singer climb up the John Peel stage at Glastonbury, just coz he could! But there’s more bands from your newer acts like The Family Rain, Speedy Ortiz, Cheatahs or established ones like Chvrches, Warpaint and the Strypes to legends, Blondie. Go to www.nme.com/awards/shows for more info.
4. The award ceremony. Maybe we’re old fashioned but we do love a good old awards show and the NME Awards ceremony is mighty fun, last year acts like Foals, The Cribs and Johnny Marr performed and it was just a great excuse to dress up too!
5. We love Blondie. (Who doesn’t?) This year’s NME Godlike Genius Award is going to be presented to the very influential band and would you believe it Blondie is turning 40 this year. Debbie Harry herself is an institution and still in our opinion one of the best frontwomen that ever lived. We’re also very biased considering we still love dancing to tracks such as Atomic and Call Me; those are student night classics!! Other artists who have been presented with this award include Johnny Marr and Dave Grohl.
6. Rock music. We love rock music and NME has always championed it in one form or another and for the first time in a few years rock music sounds good again. So we want to celebrate and NME will help us do so.
There you have it our 6 amazing reasons to enjoy this year’s NME Awards. Rock on everybody!
