Music

Ticketmaster Best Live Act 2014: a look at the nominations

The shortlist for the O2 Silver Clef Award for Ticketmaster Best Live Act 2014 was announced recently.

An expert music industry panel, hand-picked by Nordoff Robbins, found the ten best live artists who have toured in the last year and now it’s up to the public to decide who should win – to cast your vote head over to the Nordoff Robbins site.

To help you decide we’ll be taking a closer look at the nominated acts. First up are Arcade Fire, Fleetwood Mac, Foals, Muse and London Grammar.

Arcade Fire
The Canadian band ended 2013 with an intimate tour under the moniker The Reflektors and have continued to blow audiences away throughout 2014. The Telegraph said of their recent headline show at Primavera Sound: ‘The Montreal outfit reeled off hit after hit, sending the crowd into a frenzy. By the time they closed with early single Wake Up, Primavera had given everyone a spring in their step.”

Arcade Fire - Reflektor (Official Music Video)

Fleetwood Mac
The legendary rock band are currently on a world tour with their most famous line-up, which includes Christine McVie for the first time since 1998. The Independent said of their shows at the O2 last year: “This perfect marriage of musicians from two different countries united by a common language and purpose is part of what makes the Mac such a compelling concert attraction and must-see act into their fifth decade.”

Foals
Their third album, Holy Fire, elevated the band from playing sweaty music dens frequented by art school kids to headlining festivals across the globe. Back in February, the Oxford five-piece played two sold-out shows at Alexandra Palace – so impressed were The Guardian that they went on to describe them as a ‘vital, vivacious and thrillingly spontaneous pop group capable of holding arenas in the palms of their hands.’

Foals - Inhaler (Official Music Video)

Muse
Muse have been at the top of the rock world for over a decade and in late 2012 they embarked on their biggest tour to date, The 2nd Law World Tour. The two-year tour stretched across five continents, included 124 live shows, and featured some of the most spectacular stage props in rock history. Gigwise described the tour as: “a true audio-visual spectacular that beats most action movies in terms of pomp and grandeur.”

Muse - Uprising [Official Video]

London Grammar
The London newcomers have quickly gone from buzz band to festival headliners off the back of just one album. The Independent said of their show at Electric Brixton: “London Grammar’s songs, at times life-affirming, at times heart-wrenching, are always completely compelling with a star like Reid at the helm.”

London Grammar - Strong [Official Video]

Voting closes on Friday 20 June and the winner will be announced at the O2 Silver Clef Awards on Friday 4 July 2014.