CHARLI XCX, YEARS & YEARS, PEACE, SLAVES, CIRCA WAVES, SWIM DEEP, BLACK HONEY AND PIXIE GELDOF WILL TAKE TO THE STAGE FOR A VERY SPECIAL ONE-OFF COLLABORATION IN SUPPORT OF HELP REFUGEES.

THE VO5 NME AWARDS 2017 AT LONDON’S O2 ACADEMY BRIXTON ON 15 FEBRUARY WILL BE STREAMED EXCLUSIVELY VIA FACEBOOK LIVE.

Today 10th February, NME proudly announces that Bands 4 Refugees will take to the stage at the VO5 NME Awards 2017 with a supergroup of some of the UK’s hottest music talent. The group, performing together for one night only, will consist of Charli XCX, Pixie Geldof, band members from Years & Years, Slaves, Circa Waves, Swim Deep, Peace and Black Honey. The supergroup will perform in order to raise awareness and funds for the ongoing work of grass roots organisation Help Refugees. NME also announces today that the VO5 NME Awards will be streamed exclusively via Facebook Live. Fans can tune into the ceremony by visiting facebook.com/nmemagazine. Tickets for the ceremony on 15 February at London’s O2 Academy Brixton are on sale from £29.99 at nme.com/tickets.

Throughout the one-off, exclusive performance of iconic covers, attendees and fans watching the live stream will be encouraged to donate, by texting REFU to 70700 to give £5. NME will also be donating a proportion of revenue made from the sales of products from NME Merch’s ‘VO5 NME Awards 2017 Winners Collection’, which will be made live after the ceremony has ended on the night, for a limited period of time.

Bands 4 Refugees, launched in late 2016, is a partnership formed between Wolf Alice and Help Refugees. 

Speaking of Bands 4 Refugees performing at the VO5 NME Awards, NME editor-in-chief Mike Williams says: “It’s important in times like these to fight negativity with positivity. Which is why we're incredibly proud to give a platform to Bands 4 Refugees as they raise money for the amazing work being done by the truly inspirational charity Help Refugees. Tune in on the night to watch, donate what you can to the cause and – as their T-shirts say – Choose Love.”

Harry Koisser from Peace, who has coordinated the line up says: "We got involved with help refugees in 2015. Josie Naughton, founder of Help Refugees has been doing relentless, incredible work & I’m so so so happy that so many people came together to make this happen. I hope that as well as raising funds we can inspire more artists to get involved with the charity this year and turn the heat up in 2017”

The supergroup joins Godlike Genius Award winners Pet Shop Boys, Bastille, Dua Lipa and Outstanding Contribution to Music Award winner Wiley on the line-up for the legendary ceremony. Huw Stephens confirmed to host the proceedings.

The nominees for this year’s VO5 NME Awards were revealed and celebrated at the Nikon Presents the NME Awards Nominations Party which saw Biffy Clyro perform an intimate acoustic set at London’s Omeara. Beyoncé leads the polls with a huge five nominations including Best Album, Hero of the Year, Music Moment of the Year, Best International Female (supported by VO5) and Best Video for Formation. The 1975, Skepta, Bastille and Christine and the Queens follow close behind with four nominations apiece, going head-to-head in key categories such as Best British Band (supported by Zig-Zag), Best Album (supported by HMV) and Best Track (supported by Red Stripe).

Other hotly anticipated categories include Best British Male (supported by The Pilot Pen Company), with nominees such as ZaynMalik, Skepta and Michael Kiwanuka; Best International Band (supported by Austin, Texas) with nominees including Kings of Leon, Green Day and Tame Impala; Best New Artist (supported by TOPMAN); and Best Live Band (Supported by NIKON).Renowned for tipping who will be the next big thing, the annual NME Awards Tour has famously featured the likes of the Arctic Monkeys, Coldplay, The Killers, Bloc Party, Florence and the Machine and many more. This year will see Blossoms headline the VO5 NME Awards Tour with hotly-tipped newcomers Cabbage and indie pop prodigy Rory Wynne also joining the bill. The VO5 NME Awards Tour 2017 kicks off in Keele on March 16. Tickets are on sale now, with some dates sold out. 

Tickets for the VO5 NME Awards 2017 are on sale at nme.com/tickets

VO5 NME Awards Tour date tickets can be purchased at:

www.NME.com/tickets    
www.gigsandtours.com   
www.ticketmaster.co.uk
For more details keep checking www.nme.com

Full band is as follows - 

VOX: ISAAC HOLMAN (SLAVES)
VOX: OLLY ALEXANDER (YEARS & YEARS) 
VOX: CHARLI XCX 
VOX: PIXIE GELDOF
DRUMS: DOMINIC BOYCE (PEACE)
BASS: SAM KOISSER (PEACE)
GUITAR: JOE FALCONER (CIRCA WAVES)
ACOUSTIC GUITAR: MARIKA HACKMAN
KEYS: AUSTIN WILLIAMS (SWIM DEEP)
PERCUSSION: CAVAN MCARTHY (SWIM DEEP) 
PERCUSSION/VOX: IZZY (BLACK HONEY) 
GUITAR/VOX: HARRY KOISSER (PEACE)