NME Awards 2016 remember David Bowie and celebrate rock with Coldplay, Foals, The Maccabees

Tonight at the Brixton Academy a great set of British artists received the NME Awards accolades in a star-packed ceremony which was hosted by Radio 1 presenter Huw Stephens. The event began with a video clip remembering the life and the achievements of legendary musician David Bowie who passed away in January.

North London rock quartet Wolf Alice took home two of the most coveted gongs of the night: Best Live Band and Best Track for their 2015 hit Giant Peach. Also celebrating were The Maccabees, scooping arguably the top title of the night: Best British Band. Foals, who opened the show with What Went Down, beat off stiff competition from The Maccabees and Wolf Alice to pick-up the Best Album award. The Oxford rockers’ set was incredibly powerful although the frontman, while fun to watch, was difficult to understand. They were followed by The Maccabees who took the stage and oscillated between heavy quick paced rock sounds and slower paced sections with blues influences. The bathed-blue light gave the performance its own visual space.

Fresh from their Superbowl performance, Coldplay were presented with their Godlike Genius award by Kylie Minogue and Noel Gallagher who sent a funny but heartfelt video tribute. The band went on to close the show with an incredible set of career-spanning hits including Fix You, Adventure of a Lifetime, Clocks and Viva la Vida, proving once again why they keep smashing records and selling out stadiums all over the world.

Taylor Swift accepted her International Solo Artist of the Year award supported with a video message from her home, in which she jokingly referred to the iconic design of the NME Award as “feeling a little aggressive” before deciding that it is in fact “cheeky” before granting it a place on her mantelpiece. Elsewhere, Charli XCX flew the flag for British female artists, as she took home Best British Solo Artist.

The NME Inspiration Award went to Yoko Ono as an impassioned speech was given explaining her ideas of disconnection being a part of the human condition. The talk continued to call Ono an activist for peace and to show a slideshow picturing her in her childhood, youth, and adult life. She collected it on the eve of her 83^rd birthday.

The Best Music Video went to Slaves for the song Cheer Up London. Up against a strong lineup of competition the best TV show went to This Is England ’90. The Best International Band was won by the politically conscious rap group Run the Jewels. 

Other performances on the night came from Bring Me the Horizon, who picked up the NME Innovation Award. The frontman Oliver Sykes went on to sing, with his trademark quivering falsetto over hard punk rock, from the top of Coldplay’s table, smashing it. Rat Boy, who has been descending on venues across the UK on the NME Awards Tour, gave a performance of his critically acclaimed track Move; he captured the audience’s attention wit bizarre repetitive movements, or maybe dancing possibly, which seemed out of place for the event but nevertheless was engaging.

He also came out on top in a fiercely contested category to be named Best New Artist. The Libertines’ secret Glastonbury set was Music Moment of the Year, whilst Glastonbury itself took home Best Festival – collected by Michael and Emily Eavis.

Donald Trump was named Villain of the Year while Foo Fighters’ Dave Grohl was crowned Hero of the Year. For a second year in a row, 5 Seconds of Summer proved unpopular with the NME audience, voted Worst Band of the Year.

Matthew Pronchick

The complete list of NME Awards 2016 winners:

Godlike Genius – Coldplay
Nme Inspiration Award – Yoko Ono
Nme Innovation Award – Bring Me the Horizon
Best British Band – The Maccabees
Best International Band – Run the Jewels
Best British Solo Artist – Charli XCX
Best International Solo Artist – Taylor Swift
Best Live Band – Wolf Alice
Best Album – Foals – What Went Down
Music Moment of the Year – The Libertines secret Glastonbury set
Best Track – Wolf Alice – Giant Peach
Best New Artist – Rat Boy
Best Music Video – Slaves – Cheer Up London
Best Music Film – Blur – New World Towers
Best Film – Beasts of No Nation
Best TV Show – This Is England 90
Best Actress – Vicky Mcclure
Best Actor – Idris Elba
Best Festival – Glastonbury
Best Small Festival – End of the Road
Best Reissue – David Bowie – Five Years
Best Book – Patti Smith – M Train
Best Fan Community – The Libertines
Best Vlogger – Ksi
Hero of the Year – Dave Grohl
Villain of the Year – Donald Trump
Worst Band – 5 Seconds Of Summer