The sensational Shockwaves NME Awards shows have been announced for next January and February to start off a 2009 in great style. The likes of Franz Ferdinand, The Wombats and Simian Mobile Disco are among this year’s great gigs, with more to be announced shortly.

Franz Ferdinand’s frontman Alex Kapranos said of their opening night honour: “We’re going to play the gig to celebrate ‘Ulysess’ coming out and Heaven is the best place to go and celebrate. The new songs are the type that should be heard in clubs so we liked the idea of playing a show in one. We want people close to us who are dancing and sweating, that’s the vibe that we want. We definitely don’t want polite theatre shows for this record- we want some excitement!”

Tickets are available exclusively at NME from 9am on Wednesday, 26th November and then go on general sale on Monday 1st December.

Catch the full details of the gigs below:

Tuesday 20th January 2009 - Franz Ferdinand @ Heaven
Sunday 8th February 2009 - The Gaslight Anthems, Frank Turner and The Polar Bear Club @ Shepherds Bush Empire
Wednesday 11th February 2009 - Ida Maria @ Koko
Thursday 12th February 2009 - Simian Mobile Disco and Chrome Hoof @ Koko
Friday 13th February 2009 - Mystery Jets and Little Boots @ Shepherds Bush Empire
Sunday 15th February 2009 - Black Lips and Vivian Girls @ Islington Academy
Monday 16th February 2009 - Secret Machines @ Islington Academy
Tuesday 17th February 2009 - Iglu and Hartley @ Islington Academy
Friday 20th February 2009 - Tricky @ Shepherds Bush Empire
Monday 23rd February 2009 - Wombats @ Shepherds Bush Empire
Tuesday 24th February 2009 - Metronomy @ Koko

I thought I’d done a post about this Road To V Band that are destined for big things, but a quick search through the archives shows that I was very wrong!

The Outside Royalty are finalists in the competition, and are set to play the Islington Academy on Thursday night.

They are one of those bands that are unlikely to win the competition because they’re a bit too “out there” for most peoples liking, however deserve to go onto big things. Sounding like a more together Arcade Fire they combine epic songs with great storytelling about normal day-to day things. Hailing from Pittsburgh and relocating to London, the band are clearly on a mission, and look set to strike a chord with Londoners with their sharp dress sense and chaotic shows.

“Falling, Part 2″ is intricate, delicate and memorable. Just like music should be. Adam’s vocals fit the songs perfectly, along with their cast of more than able musicians. Their cover of the Beatles’ Eleanor Rigby is the stuff of legends, amazingly epic, and brings a new dimension to the Beatles. Similar to what Scissor Sisters did for Pink Floyd’s Comfortably Numb, this could be one of the covers of the year.

If nothing else you should check them out before they (hopefully) get massive later this year once they’re signed.