The title says it all, the infamous NME Awards Tour is back with this years most electrifying upcoming acts. Renowned for giving the freshest new acts their first taste of national notoriety – past alumni include Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Florence & The Machine, Crystal Castles and The Vaccines – 2012’s line-up captures the spirit of 2011 and sets the agenda for an explosive forthcoming year of music.
Britains best loved band Two Door Cinema Club have bagged the top slot, headling the widely anticipated tour. Since releasing their debut album ‘Tourist History’ in March 2010, the band have quickly become one of the leading acts in the music industry, selling out tours everywhere from the UK to Austrailia. The band are more than worthy of the headline title after earning a devoted word-of-mouth live following and reciving huge critical acclaim.
Also on the bill for the show, which kicks off in February, is Metronomy, one of the most visionary electronic bands in the country. Metromony say: “It’s pretty exciting to be part of a travelling tour, a bit like a circus or something. It’s been a while since we did a tour this long with the same bands for the whole thing, so hopefully there will be some camaraderie between the bands. Failing that there should be some incredibly violent ‘beefs’ which will make for good reading in the magazine.”
Fresh from prodigious slots opening for their idols The Pixies, London quartet Tribes are pleased to announce their place on the tour. It’s bound to be lively with this mad lot as they say: “We’re really f***ing excited to be going on the NME Tour. We’re really happy to be part of it, considering the history of the tour, and the fact the likes of The Vaccines and The Horrors have done it before. Hopefully there’ll be some good after parties too – we’re all about the partying.”
New York producer and MC Azealia Banks has landed the coveted opening slot for the NME Awards Show. Azealia has been making a name for herself and perfecting her craft for years, and it certainly shows. Her angelic voice will provide an unbeatable opening for the show. Azealia Banks says: “I’ve been reading NME since I was old enough to ride the trains, where I’d buy it on newsstands… it’s almost surreal that I’ve been selected to participate in this tour… it’s such an honour.”
Watch Azealia’s notorious single 212 here
Tickets for the tour are on sale now with a 50p donation from each ticket going to Teenage Cancer Trust.