Foals and Arcade Fire lead NME awards nominations

Oxford band Foals are up for five NME awards

Oxford indie band Foals have got the most nominations at this year's NME awards, with five nods including best British band and best live band.

They've also picked up nominations in the best album, best track and best album artwork categories.

Canadian rockers Arcade Fire and My Chemical Romance follow Foals lead with both up for four prizes.

The nominees are picked by NME readers and the magazine says more than 500,000 people voted.

Godlike genius

Arctic Monkeys, Biffy Clyro, Kasabian and Muse will battle it out with Foals in the best British band category.

In the best album category, Foals will take on Arcade Fire, Crystal Castles, My Chemical Romance and Two Door Cinema Club.

Meanwhile best international band will be contested by Arcade Fire, Kings Of Leon, My Chemical Romance, The Drums and Vampire Weekend.

The ceremony will take place at London's Brixton Academy on Wednesday 23 February.

Last year's big winners at the event were Muse and Kasabian.

NME had already announced that this year's godlike genius award has been given to Foo Fighters' Dave Grohl.

His band will perform during the awards as well as headlining NME's Big Gig on 25 February.

Billing itself as the "most credible music awards around" the NME awards are often seen as the rock equivalent of the Brits.