Voting for north American NME Awards now open

Voting for the north American NME Awards has gone live today (March 3).

As previously announced, the NME Awards are taking place in the US for the first time - with a ceremony in Los Angeles happening on April 23.

The awards will see the live performances, exclusive guestlist and guest presenters that have made the British event one of the most important dates on the world’s music calendar coming to America for the first time.

The north American awards will be voted for by NME.COM’s US and Canadian users, and not only is it your chance to support your favourite bands and artists, by voting you could also win a pair of tickets to the invitation-only ceremony itself.

The categories open for long-list voting from today are:

Alternative/Independent Band Of The Year
Best Alternative/independent Solo Artist
Best Alternative/Independent Track.
Best New Alternative/Independent Solo Artist
Best International Alt/Indie Band
Best International Alt/Indie Solo Artist
Best International Alt/Indie Live Act
Best International Alt/Indie Album
Best International Alt/Indie Track
Best New International Alt/Indie New Band
Best New International Alt/Indie Solo Artist
Best New International Alt/Indie Live Act

Go to NME.COM/usaawardsvote now to vote.

Further categories will go live for online voting next Monday (March 10) at 9.30 EST. Details about presenters, performers and guests along with the all-important shortlist will be revealed in the next few weeks, so stay tuned to NME.COM.

Meanwhile the ceremony is not the only awards tradition that is heading over the Atlantic.

The legendary NME Awards Tour, which has given a first leg up to the likes of Franz Ferdinand, Bloc Party, The Killers, and most recently this year saw The Smiths’ legendary guitarist Johnny Marr hit the road playing with The Cribs, launches in north America this April.

Kate Nash is the headlining, with more acts to be announced very soon. You can buy Kate Nash US tickets on NME.COM now.