ARCTIC MONKEYS UP FOR Q AWARD

The Arctic Monkeys

Arctic Monkeys, The Killers, Kaiser Chiefs and Muse are the frontrunners for this year's Q Awards, after receiving three nominations each. The nominees were unveiled at the Indig02 nightclub, in London's O2 arena, the other night, at a special party featuring performances from the Manic Street Preachers, Hard-Fi, Athlete and Kate Nash. The Killers, Muse and Arctic Monkeys will do battle for the most coveted prize, Best Act in the World Today, alongside the Foo Fighters and U2. The trio are also set to fight it out again in the Best Live Act category. The Kaiser Chiefs have been nominated for Best Album, Best Video and Best Track, for their hit 'Ruby'. Also up for Best Track are Hard-Fi for 'Suburban Knights', Muse for 'Knights of Cydonia', Manic Street Preachers for 'Your Love Alone is Not Enough' and Athlete for 'Hurricane'. Troubled singer Amy Winehouse also features on the shortlist, she is up for Best Album, for her worldwide hit second LP 'Back to Black'. The 23-year-old star is up against Kaiser Chiefs, Arcade Fire, Manic Street Preachers and Arctic Monkeys. Newcomer Kate Nash - who recently topped the UK album charts with debut release 'Made Of Bricks' - will take on Mika, Jack Penate, Jamie T and Calvin Harris for Best Breakthrough Artist. Lily Allen is in the running for Best Video for 'Alfie', alongside The Killers for their 'Bones' promo. The Q Awards, voted for by readers of the music magazine, will take place at London's Grosvenor Hotel on October 8.

AMY WINEHOUSE UP FOR MERCURY AWARD AGAINST ARCTIC MONKEYS

Singer Amy Winehouse

The Arctic Monkeys and Amy Winehouse are to go head-to-head for the 2007 Nationwide Mercury Prize. The Sheffield band are in line to scoop the coveted music prize for second album 'Favourite Worst Nightmare', while Amy, 23, has been nominated for her hit second LP 'Back to Black'. Amy and the Arctic Monkeys - who walked away with the prize last year for debut album 'Whatever People Say I am, That's What I'm Not' - are joined by ten other acts on this year's shortlist, which recognises the best British album of the last 12 months. Other nominees include The View, for 'Hats Off to the Buskers', the Klaxons, for debut 'Myths of the Near Future' and Jamie T's 'Panic Prevention'. Previous winner rapper Dizzee Rascal is in the running with 'Maths + English ', four years after winning the prize for his debut 'Boy In Da Corner'. Simon Frith, who chairs the judging panel, said: "This year's Nationwide Mercury Prize shortlist marks the emergence of a wealth of eclectic talent making music with great energy, excitement and personality." Amy and the Arctic Monkeys have already been installed as joint favourites to walk away with the accolade by bookmakers who are offering odds of 4/1. The winner, who will be announced on September 4, will collect also £20,000 (U.S. $40.000) prize money.

THE ARTIC MONKEYS HEADLINE FESTIVAL

Arctic Monkeys are planning a Peter Pan-themed performance at this summer's Glastonbury. The Sheffield rockers, who are one of three headliners at the world famous British music festival, intend to 'fly' on stage just like the famous children's literary character, immortalized in the Disney film 'Peter Pan'. Drummer Matt Helders said in an interview with MTV2 show 'Gonzo Special: Zane meets Arctic Monkeys': "I want to zip-line in by wire and land on my drum stool. "I went to Disneyland as a child and Tinkerbell does it. There's a spotlight on her so you can't see the wires, I thought she was really flying." It isn't the first time the band have been inspired by a popular children's story. They famously dressed up as characters from 'The Wizard of Oz' for a video acceptance speech broadcast at this year's BRIT Awards. Helders admits the group can't wait to head down to Somerset for Glastonbury, because he and his bandmate's - front man Alex Turner, guitarist Jamie Cook and bassist Nick O'Malley - have never been to the musical extravaganza before. He said: "We've never been to Glastonbury, so that's one of the most exciting things about it - not just playing but going to it as well. We thought it was a joke when we saw we were headlining." Meanwhile, the band are on course to set a new British chart record this week by having a staggering 18 songs in the Top 200. Thanks to new music download rules, the 12 tracks from the band's critically acclaimed second album, 'Favorite Worst Nightmare', are being downloaded individually at such a rate they are all on course to enter the UK singles chart. The release of the LP - which is expected to shift 250,000 copies in its first week and top the UK album chart - has reignited sales of songs from the group's debut album, 'Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not', meaning six songs from that LP could make the Top 200.