Up and coming acts James Blake, Jessie J and The Vaccines have been shortlisted to win next year’s critics’ choice title at the Brit Awards.
The three acts in the running – chosen by music writers – were announced today with the winner announced next week.
In the three years since the award was introduced, it had been won by female artists – Ellie Goulding, Florence and the Machine and Adele.
The awards take place on February 15 at the O2 Arena in south east London.
Four-piece rock act The Vaccines, who formed in London, recently released their debut single and have racked up an appearance on BBC2’s Later With Jools Holland.
Blake, from London, has built up a buzz as an electronica and dubstep producer, while Jesse J has picked up a strong online following with her video for single Do It Like A Dude picking up more than two million views on YouTube in under a week.