The Cure headline NME Awards Big Gig

After a show stealing debut last year, the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig is back with a bang! NME are proud to announce that The Cure are set to celebrate being crowned Godlike Geniuses at next year's Shockwaves NME Awards by headlining the annual Big Gig on February 26th 2009.

Fresh from glory at the previous night's Shockwaves NME Awards ceremony, the band will make a short hop across the capital, to take to the stage at London's O2 arena.

As with last year – which saw Godlike Geniuses Manic Street Preachers share the stage with Kaiser Chiefs, Bloc Party, The Cribs and Johnny Marr – the show will feature the biggest and brightest names around, who will be announced very soon.

Robert Smith of The Cure said: "When The Cure play now we often play up to three hours and we play pretty much everything. We'll do the same kind of thing, we'll reflect what we've done over the years"

Rising from Britain's late 70's punk scene and growing into one of the most influential acts in the world, The Cure's iconic music has ascended them to cult status and placed them as a genre-defining band.

The Cure amassed an impressive array of fans including band members who have repeatedly cited them as major influences.

Tickets for the Shockwaves NME Awards Big Gig go on sale on Wednesday 5th November at 9am and are available exclusively from www.nme.com/biggig until Monday 10th November.