You know how it all works by now - NME magazine gets to feature loads of stuff they like, the 'kids' (of all ages) buy that stuff and then the artists who made that stuff, all get slapped on the back and handed a bronze-coloured trophy in the shape of a bus-driver's hand-signal. Job done. Well, not quite...

In the build-up to the NME Awards ceremony on 23rd February next year, there is the small matter of a near-month's worth of showcase gigs at key venues in London. Some of the acts might even cop an award, but are also likely to cop a large rider and end up in someone else's clothes. That's rock n roll, kids.

Tickets for the entire run of events go on sale on Friday at 9am at various prices, mainly £10-£15. The first of these showcase evenings features Devon-based electronic outfit, Metronomy at Heaven on 1st February, followed up on the next night by the much-touted Los Campesinos! (Shepherd's Bush) and The Duke Spirit on the 3rd at Heaven again.

Throughout February, further acts will appear including established acts such as Mystery Jets and Isobel Campbell and new upcoming talent such as Miles Kane (who will also be touring next year) and the rather awesome Warpaint.

Hot tickets will surely be the enigmatic Edwyn Collins on 16th February, Carl Barât on 20th and the always-popular Les Savy Fav on the closing night before the Awards themselves. The full list of gigs is below with plenty more announcements set to be made between now and next year, plus don't forget the NME Awards Tour 2011 featuring Everything Everything, Magnetic Man, The Vaccines and Crystal Castles - tickets are still on sale for those (also listed below).