British singer-songwriter Dua Lipa collects the award for British female solo artist during the BRIT Awards 2018 ceremony and live show in London on February 21, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)
British singer-songwriter Dua Lipa collects the award for British female solo artist during the BRIT Awards 2018 ceremony and live show in London on February 21, 2018. (Photo by Daniel LEAL-OLIVAS / AFP)
by James PHEBY
Dua Lipa, The 1975 and George Ezra are some of the big names vying for prizes at British pop music’s annual celebration on Wednesday, with US singer Pink also set to be honoured.
The 39th annual Brit Awards at London’s O2 Arena will recognise Britain’s top talent of 2018, and also feature live performances from Hollywood A-lister Hugh Jackman and Pink.
Top nominees for the Brit Awards 2019
The coveted Best Album of the Year Award will be fought out between pop rockers The 1975, rising star Anne-Marie, Florence + The Machine, indie singer George Ezra and Grammy-nominated diva Jorja Smith.
Electro-stars Clean Bandit are up for two awards for their collaboration with US actress / singer Demi Lovato while Dua Lipa, the 23-year-old star of last year’s show, is up for four prizes and will perform with hit producer Calvin Harris during the glitzy ceremony.
Anne-Marie, who shot to fame as the vocalist on Clean Bandit’s worldwide hit Rockabye, is nominated for four awards, including for the Britney
Baritone singer George Ezra will also perform live, and could walk away with three awards, including Best British Male Solo Artist.
He is up against garage pioneer Craig David, veteran avant-garde techno producer Aphex Twin and soul singer Sam Smith.
The British Group award pits indie heavyweights Gorillaz and Arctic Monkeys against each other, with the latter’s May album Tranquility Base Hotel & Casinoearning plaudits for its experimental direction.
Three categories recognise foreign artists, with hip-hop giants Eminem, Drake and The Carters all up for awards, along with Ariana Grande and French star Christine and the Queens.
Most iconic moments at the Brits
The Brit Awards have recognised the cream of British pop music since they were first held in 1977, and have often been peppered with scandal and farce.
The 1989 Brits are best remembered for the shambolic presenting skills of model Samantha Fox and Fleetwood Mac’s Mick Fleetwood and a comical series of mishaps.
Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker stormed the stage in protest while Michael Jackson performed surrounded by children in 1996.
In 1998, Chumbawamba vocalist Danbert Nobacon dumped a bucket of iced water over then deputy prime minister John Prescott.
And Madonna suffered whiplash injuries at the 2015 edition when she fell off the stage wearing a giant cape and surrounded by dancers wearing bondage-style costumes and horns on their heads.
Watch the Brit Awards live stream from South Africa
If you’re hoping to catch the ceremony from here in South Africa, you’re in luck. BBC Brit (DSTV channel 120) will be broadcasting the event live from 22:00 – it could be a late night if you’ve got work the next day, however. The show isn’t expected to wrap up until 00:30.
Can’t get to a TV? You’re in luck – the whole event is going to be broadcast live on YouTube by the Brit Awards’ own channel. How ace is that? You can watch that video right here, right now. Enjoy!
