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Before the BRITs Critics’ Choice award offered near guaranteed future stardom, there was the bottom-of-the-bill slot on the annual NME Awards Tour.
When the music weekly packaged up its four favourite new bands and sent them around the UK every February, it was usually the first act of the night that ended up making it big.
Coldplay, Franz Ferdinand, Florence + the Machine and Kaiser Chiefs have all filled the 7pm slot, and it will be hard to forget Slaves this year.
The Kent pairing of Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent have already put the wind up U2 and Sam Smith when they shared the stage on Later… with Jools Holland in October.
Now they have a major record deal and a new single, The Hunter, that’s as blunt as a cudgel to the back of the head. Don’t worry if you don’t get to the NME show at The Forum early enough — you’ll hear them down the street.
NME Awards Tour, March 4, Forum, NW5 (0844 847 2405, theforumlondon.com)
Watch on YouTube
Listen on Soundcloud
