LONDON, UK (www.brits.co.uk) - Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs,
James Blunt, Kanye West,
Kelly Clarkson, and
KT Tunstall confirmed with more to follow.
UK record companies" trade association, the BPI, organisers of The BRIT Awards 2006 with MasterCard, have revealed the first set of acts to perform live at the 26th BRIT Awards on Wednesday February 15 2006.
Taking to the stage in front of a packed Earls Court One will be Coldplay, Kaiser Chiefs, James Blunt, Kanye West, Kelly Clarkson and KT Tunstall. With more fantastic artists to be announced in the coming weeks the event, hosted by the irrepressible Chris Evans, will be broadcast to millions of TV viewers on ITV1 on 16 February 2006 at peak time.
BPI and BRITs organising committee chairman Peter Jamieson said, "This year's show now includes five of the Top 10 biggest acts of the year including the acts who produced the two biggest selling albums of 2005, James Blunt and Coldplay. Now that's what I call a show! British music is on a roll and we"re determined to make 15 February a night to remember."
After another year of global acclaim COLDPLAY are undoubtedly the most successful UK band of the decade. Having won four BRIT Awards in the past, the quartet return following the massive success of their third album "X & Y" with sales approaching 2 million in the UK alone.
Performing at The BRIT Awards for the first time, KAISER CHIEFS stunned the music world in 2005 with their quirky, Leeds realism. Already achieving four platinum awards, their debut album, "Employment", was recently named Breakthrough Album of the Year by music critics across the media. They have stunned audiences around the world with their high-octane live performances, including the millions who watched them at the US Live 8. This appearance at The BRITs is set to be one of the highlights of the night.
Having been a hugely successful year for singer/songwriters, it is only fitting that two British artists, who have had phenomenal impact on the charts, should be performing at this year's event. With his debut album, "Back To Bedlam", selling 2.5 million, JAMES BLUNT's appearance at The BRIT Awards 2006 with MasterCard is sure to be one to watch. Representing the females in this genre is the incredibly talented of KT TUNSTALL. Her debut, "Eye To The Telescope", is currently triple platinum and KT is planning something very special for her first BRITS performance.
One of the most eagerly anticipated performances of the evening will be US urban superstar KANYE WEST making a rare live appearance on UK television. His album, "Late Registration", has sold more than 300,000 copies in the UK and has earned him eight Grammy nominations. With her double platinum debut album "Breakaway", KELLY CLARKSON made the international leap with massive success in 2005. Kelly's assault on the UK has only just begun. Her first UK tour starts in February 2006, and most of the dates have already sold out. The BRITs will be her biggest performance in the UK so far, having only previously played a sold out show at London's Koko.
The Outstanding Contribution To Music Award will be presented to the "modfather" himself, PAUL WELLER. In recognition, not only of his longevity in the British music industry with The Jam, as creator of The Style Council and as a massively successful solo artist in his own right, but also cited as one of the seminal musical influences of the past 30 years. His current album, "As Is Now", has achieved gold status and is widely acclaimed as his best album in 10 years. Paul Weller previously won BRIT Awards in 1995 and 1996 as best British Male Solo Artist and he will close the 2006 show with his very first live set at The BRITs.
The nominations for the BRIT Awards 2006 with MasterCard will be unveiled at Riverside Studios, London on Tuesday 10 January with Radio 1 DJ Sara Cox hosting. Confirmed to perform live at the launch party this year are The Magic Numbers, KT Tunstall and Kaiser Chiefs. The Nominations launch party with interviews and performances can be seen on ITV2 at 8pm that evening
The BRIT Awards 2006 with MasterCard will be broadcast on 16th February on ITV1. With an additional 30 minutes, the entire show will now last 2 hours and 30 minutes. Coverage has also been extended this year to include four weekly programmes on ITV1 called "BRITs Are Coming" broadcast every Saturday lunchtime as well as additional coverage on ITV2.
