Maximo Park, Arctic Monkeys, We Are Scientists and Mystery Jets have all been confirmed for the 2006 ShockWaves NME Awards Tour.

The tour, which promotes the best of up-and-coming music acts and has previously featured Franz Ferdinand, Coldplay and Kaiser Chiefs, will begin Jan. 24 in Dublin.

Maximo Park is touring in support of its Warp debut, “A Certain Trigger,” which was nominated for this year’s Mercury Music Award and has spawned four top 20 hits on the U.K. singles chart. Singer Paul Smith told icWales that last year?s headliners the Killers will be a tough act to follow.

“There’s always pressure when you’re headlining,” he says. “You always want to entertain people as you’re the last thing people see before they leave the building.

?Our shows are known for their energy and the passion that’s on display and people will get more of the same on this tour. We won’t let up now.”

Sheffield band Arctic Monkeys recently played a series of critically-praised gigs in North America and has been the subject of overwhelming hype in the United Kingdom, despite having yet to release a full-length album. New Yorkers We Are Scientists and The Mystery Jets from Blackpool have similarly been receiving rave reviews.

Here are the 2006 ShockWaves NME Awards U.K. tour dates (according to Billboard):

Jan. 24: Dublin (Ambassadors)
Jan. 25: Belfast (Ulster Hall)
Jan. 27: Glasgow (Academy)
Jan. 28: Edinburgh (Corn Exchange)
Jan. 29: Newcastle (Academy)
Jan. 31: Nottingham (Rock City)
Feb. 1: Leeds (University)
Feb. 2: Liverpool (University)
Feb. 4: Manchester (Academy)
Feb. 7: Sheffield (Octagon)
Feb. 8: Birmingham (Academy)
Feb. 9: Norwich (UEA)
Feb. 11: Cardiff (Great Hall)
Feb. 12: Cambridge (Corn Exchange)
Feb. 13: Bristol (Academy)
Feb. 15: Portsmouth (Guildhall)
Feb. 16: Brighton (Dome)
Feb. 17: London (Carling Brixton Academy)






Related Stories: