Years & Years, James Bay and George the Poet nominated for BRITs Critics’ Choice Award 2015

The 2015 BRIT Awards has announced its shortlist for the Critics’ Choice category. London trio Years & Years are amongst the three listed acts, which also features George the Poet and James Bay.

A panel of “music industry experts and tastemakers” - including DIY eds - put forward a list of five acts that they’d like to see defining the next twelve months. The only specifications were that an artist had to be signed to a record label, with a debut album due for 2015 release.

With the winner announced on 4th December, Years & Years said in a statement: “ Having grown up watching the BRITs we’re unbelievably honoured and to be honest quite overwhelmed to be included in the Critics’ Choice Award. We’re so grateful to be making music and having this sort of recognition is crazy and ridiculous and nuts in a really good way.”

James Bay, bookies’ favourite to pick up the award, is a 24 year old Radio 1 staple, often compared to fellow moody folksmith James Morrison. According to the Guardian, his label Virgin has been “hosting a lunchtime showcase for tastemakers, with food and alcohol laid on.”

Previous winners of the Critics’ Choice Award are Adele (2008), Florence & The Machine (2009), Ellie Goulding (2010), Jessie J (2011), Emeli Sandé (2012), Tom Odell (2013) and Sam Smith (2014).

The 2015 BRIT Awards will take place on 25th February, in a ceremony hosted by Ant & Dec.