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Friendly Fires soundcheck on stage at the O2 Academy Brixton. The band will perform at tonight’s Shockwaves NME Awards, during the ceremony which kicks off at 8.15pm. Stay tuned to NME.COM/Awards for live web cams, winners, videos and more. Pic: Tim Cochrane
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Elbow’s guitars, lined up backstage and ready for their live performance at the Shockwaves NME Awards tonight. Music fans can follow proceedings on Twitter at Twitter.com/nmemagazine – and can join in by Tweeting and including the tag ‘#nmeawards’. Pic: Tim Cochrane
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And the Award for ‘Best Chair’ goes to… Watch the real awards once they kick off at 8.15pm, right here on NME.COM/Awards, thanks to our live web cams and video reports happening all night. Pic: Andy Willsher
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Alex Kapranos of Franz Ferdinand during the band’s soundcheck at the O2 Academy Brixton. The Scots rock outfit will perform at the Shockwaves NME Awards this evening (February 25).
Pic: Andy Willsher
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Franz Ferdinand soundcheck in Brixton. The band play alongside The Cure, Crystal Castles and White Lies tomorrow night (February 26) at the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig at the O2 Arena. The final few tickets are still available at NME.COM/BigGig – grab yours now. Pic: Andy Willsher
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The view from the upstairs balcony. As ever, the guest list is a closely guarded secret. Keep checking back to find out who is in attendance for tonight’s awards ceremony.
Pic: Tim Cochrane
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The red carpet gets rolled out in preparation for arrivals at the O2 Academy Brixton in south London. Keep checking NME.COM/PHOTOS to see musicians arrive at the ceremony – new photos will be added all night.
Pic: Tim Cochrane
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White Lies’ Harry McVeigh soundchecks ahead of tonight’s ceremony. White Lies are up for Best New Band.
Pic: Tim Cochrane
9Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
The Kooks are among the early arrivals at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. Also spotted in the main foyer so far are Jamie Hince, the director Tim Burton and (loitering in the shadows at the back) Crystal Castles.
Pic: PA Photos
10Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
The Horrors arrive at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. The black-clad rockers recently finished work on their second album.
Pic: PA Photos
11Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
La Roux hits the red carpet. The rising electro star, whose current single is called ‘In For The Kill’, will be making a guest appearance on stage later… but with which band?
Pic: PA Photos
12Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Glasvegas on the red carpet at the O2 Brixton Academy, February 25. In addition to appearing at tonight’s awards, James Allan’s gang headlined the Shockwaves NME Awards Tour, which wound up at this very venue on Saturday 21 February.
Pic: PA Photos
13Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Patrick Wolf, another early arrival at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009, turns up in leather trousers and an ornately-decorated jacket.
Pic: PA Photos
14Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Little Boots on the red carpet. The hotly-tipped electro star is up for the Best Blog award tonight.
Pic: PA Photos
15Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
T4’s Alex Zane and Dave Berry rock up to the awards and make it through the paparazzi scrum alive. Keep clicking for more pictures of the stars as they arrive at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. Pic: PA Photos
16Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Stars from The Mighty Boosh arrive at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. Pick up the magazine on Wednesday for an interview with Noel Fielding, as well as all the backstage action from the ceremony.
Pic: PA Photos
17Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Spinnerette pose for the cameras. The band – who were featured in last week’s NME – are fronted by The Distillers’ Brody Dalle.
18Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Comedian Leigh Francis of ‘Bo Selecta’ fame arrives at the O2 Academy Brixton, February 25.
Pic: PA Photos
19Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Girls Aloud send the tabloid photographers into a frenzy as they arrive at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 in Brixton, but will Sarah get as drunk as she did at the Brits?
Pic: PA Photos
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Glastonbury organisers Michael and Emily Eavis turn up to the awards. The pair have just officially announced the appearance of Bruce Springsteen at this year’s shindig. Pic: James Quinton
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Spinnerette frontwoman and ex-Distiller Brody Dalle poses for cameras at the O2 Brixton Academy. The stars’ entrance is an assault course of photographers and video interviews; check out our webcam for all the action live. Pic: James Quinton
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Glasvegas and Florence together? Could this mean a collaboration is on the cards? We’re not saying anything… Pic: Jacob Perlmutter
23Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Designer Henry Holland was kept outside in the cold for a while before Pixie Geldof turned up in a flash car to accompany him in. Keep clicking for more pictures as the night progresses.
24Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Godlike Genius Robert Smith sent waiting fans into a frenzy when he showed up tonight. Dozens of women hung off O2 Brixton Academy’s balcony screaming and taking pictures. Hang tight for a very special performance from the band later. Pic: PA Photos
25Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Franz Ferdinand reveal their love affair with primary colours as they hit the red carpet. The band spent ages chatting to the media while the likes of Peter Doherty swanned by on the phone. Pic: PA Photos
26Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Carl Barat made his entrance fifteen minutes after Peter Doherty tonight. Listen in to nmeradio.co.uk for interviews with all the winners as they come off stage. Pic: PA Photos
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Jamie Reynolds from Klaxons shows his cheeky face at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. He’s here to present the Best DVD award. Pic: Jacob Perlmutter
28Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Alex and Miles – aka The Last Shadow Puppets – turn up to the awards. They’re nominated for Best Video this year. Pic: PA Photos
29Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Grace Jones arrives at Brixton. She presented the first award of the night, for Best Live Band, which went to Muse. Pic: PA Photos
30Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Silent Witness’ Emilia Fox arrives at the awards. NME Radio has interviews with all the winners tonight so tune in via NME.COM/RADIO now to hear the latest. Pic: PA Photos
31Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Elbow recruited a 20-piece orchestra for their opening performance tonight, running through ‘Grounds For Divorce’ to a thrilled crowd. Pic: PA Photos
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Jamie Reynolds from Klaxons and Florence Welch present Arctic Monkeys with the award for Best DVD. It was directed by The I.T. Crowd’s Richard Ayoade.
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White Lies kick the madness off with a performance of ‘Death’. Keep up with all the NME Awards action live on NME Radio tonight, and watch highlights on NME TV from Friday. Pic: Danny North
34Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
White Lies play first for the crowd before the ceremony proper begins. The Daily Download blog is giving away a free remix of the band’s new single to celebrate their performance. Head over to NME.COM/BLOGS to download it now. Pic: PA Photos
35Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Tonight’s host Mark Watson runs the red carpet gauntlet. Head over to NME.COM/AWARDS to watch a video with him in our blog section. Pic: PA Photos
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La Roux joins Franz Ferdinand onstage for a cover of Blondie’s ‘Call Me’. The other big duet of the night was Glasvegas’ version of Elvis Presley’s ‘Suspicious Minds’, which featured Florence Welch of Florence And The Machine on vocals.Pic: Tim Cochrane
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Damon Albarn and Graham Coxon of Blur share a stage for the first time since Coxon quit Blur in 2002. The reunited pair performed an emotionally charged version of ‘This Is A Low’, from 1994’s ‘Parklife’. Amongst the audience was Peter Doherty, who stood up to film the performance on his mobile phone.
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Muse win Best Live Band for the third time. They won the award last year and in 2005. In 2007 they won Best British Band. Pic: Danny North
39Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Dizzee Rascal claims the award for Best Dancefloor Filler, as supported by Club NME. Spinnerette’s Brody Dalle handed him the coveted statue. Dizzee is presenting the award for Best Track later on. Pic: Danny North
40Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Franz Ferdinand play a two-song set for the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. They opened with ‘What She Came For’ before welcoming La Roux to the stage for a run through of Blondie’s ‘Call Me’.
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Presenter Mark Watson gives an expletive-strewn introductory routine. “You might as well enjoy the NME Awards because we’ll all be fucking dead soon,” he told the crowd. Watch a backstage interview with Mark Watson on the Awards Blog.
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Comedian Leigh Francis (of ‘Bo Selecta’ fame) was here (in his ‘Keith Lemon’ persona) to present Best Album to Kings Of Leon.
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Friendly Fires hit the stage with a flurry of dancers and drummers for a frantic rendition of ‘Jump In The Pool’. Pic: James Quinton
44Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
The Killers’ Brandon Flowers brandishes his NME Award for Best International Band – wearing the same outfit he wore onstage with the Pet Shop Boys at the BRIT Awards last week.
Pic: PA Photos
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Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos celebrates a job well done after their two-track set, which included ‘What She Came For’ and a duet with La Roux on a cover of Blondie’s 1980 hit ‘Call Me’.
Pic: James Quinton
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Noel Fielding clutches an NME Award. The Mighty Boosh won Best TV Show for the third year running, and received their statuette from Charlie Brooker.
Pic: James Quinton
47Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Jamie Winston arrives at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. This is the event’s first year at the O2 Brixton Academy after a quick stint at Indigo2 and several years at Hammersmith Palais. Pic: PA Photos
48Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Peaches Geldof turned up shortly after her sister without Faris. NME.COM is following the awards all night, with live pictures, blogging, video interviews and more. Keep it at NME.COM/AWARDS to keep up to date. Pic: PA Photos
49Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Arrivals – London
Dizzee Rascal jokes around with photographers on the red carpet. He’s got one of the best seats in the house tonight, and will be co-presenting an awards later on… Pic: PA Photos
50Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
The Cure’s Robert Smith accepts the award for Godlike Genius at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. Its an accolade that’s recognised the careers of Manic Street Preachers, Ian Brown and Primal Scream in recent years. Tim Burton presented them with their award.
Pic: PA Photos
51Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Elbow received a very special award tonight, for Outstanding Contribution To British Music. For more awards action, check out our blogs, news stories and video interviews at NME.COM/AWARDS, and tune in to NME Radio tomorrow for regular updates.
Pic: PA Photos
52Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Pete Doherty came out on top in the Best Solo Artist category. Alex James and Dave Rowntree from Blur presented him with the award. Keep your eyes tuned to NME TV this weekend for all the action.
Pic: PA Photos
53Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Alex James and Dave Rowntree take the stage to present the award for Best Solo Artist, which went to Peter Doherty. Graham and Damon were absent, but they had just performed ‘This Is A Low’ to an ecstatic crowd. Pic: PA Photos
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Patrick Wolf flashes his leather trousers and braces at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. The star recently called on fans for help with the recording costs of his new album via pioneering website Bandstocks. Pic: James Quinton
55Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Show – London
Glasvegas and Florence duet for an unusual cover of Elvis’ ‘Suspicious Minds’. Pic: PA Photos
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The Cure bring the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 to a close with a ten-song set that included ‘Just Like Heaven’, ‘Lullaby’ and ‘Friday I’m In Love’. Pic: Tim Cochrane
57Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 – Press Room – London
Pete and Carl muck about at the press run at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009. Head over to NME.COM/AWARDS for full coverage including up-to-the-minute news and blogs, pictures and video interviews, and tune in to NME Radio tomorrow and NME TV on Friday for even more.
Pic: PA Photos
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So, the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 are well and truly over and the entire office (plus half of the rock community, several hundred Cure fans and Sarah Harding) are nursing biblical hangovers. Including, we suspect, this guy. Pic: Jacob Perlmutter
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Top left: Godlike Geniuses The Cure perform at the Shockwaves NME Awards. Centre: Godforsaken Guest gets the party started. Pic: Jacob Perlmutter
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Franz Ferdinand and La Roux pose for NME’s photographer ahead of their performance at the awards. They played a cover of Blondie’s ‘Call Me’.
Pic: Tom Oxley
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Babyshambles cosy up at the awards on Wednesday night (February 25). They didn’t win anything, although frontman Peter Doherty won Best Solo Artist.
Pic: Tom Oxley
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Guests at the Shockwaves NME Awards 2009 were faced with a daunting selection of free booze.
Pic: Jacob Perlmutter
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Just a rascal? Dizzee poses for NME photographer Jacob Perlmutter.