Music stars set for Brits party

Duffy and Coldplay both picked up prizes at last week's Grammys

Duffy and Coldplay are favourites to win Brit awards, when the annual music bash kicks off in London later.

The Welsh songstress and the stadium rockers both have four nominations and will be performing alongside Kings of Leon, Girls Aloud, Take That and U2.

The Pet Shop Boys, who receive an award for outstanding contribution, will duet with Lady GaGa to close the show.

This year's stage is themed around music festivals, with the stage adorned with caravans, ducks and tee-pees.

Gavin and Stacey stars Matthew Horne and James Corden are presenting, with help from former Brit winner Kylie Minogue.

Plant 'snubbed'

The ceremony, at London's Earls Court, comes just a week after the Grammys, where British acts dominated the main awards.

In pictures: Grammy Awards 2009 Grammys 2009: Selected winners

There, Coldplay took the prestigious song of the year award for Viva La Vida, while Adele was named best new artist.

But former Led Zeppelin frontman Robert Plant, who took home five Grammys for his collaboration with bluegrass singer Alison Krauss, has been snubbed by the Brits - receiving no nominations.

Other artists left off the Brits shortlist include Laura Marling and Bon Iver, whose critically-acclaimed albums failed to meet the ceremony's eligibility criteria.

New rules introduced this year require that albums must have made the top 40 to qualify for an award. Previously, a top 75 chart position was enough.

Single vote

BEST SINGLE NOMINEES Coldplay - Viva La Vida Duffy - Mercy Girls Aloud - The Promise Leona Lewis - Better in Time Scouting for Girls - Heartbeat

Acts who have received nominations include Mercury Prize winners Elbow and Scouting For Girls, who have three nods each.

Adele, The Ting Tings, Radiohead and Girls Aloud are each up for two prizes.

Television viewers will be allowed to vote for the Best British Single prize during the show - with the original shortlist of 10 songs whittled down to five by an online vote last week.

Acts who failed to make it through include X Factor winner Alexandra Burke and Estelle.

The finalists are Coldplay, Duffy, Girls Aloud, Leona Lewis and Scouting for Girls.

Former Suede star Bernard Butler has already been named producer of the year for his work on records by Duffy and Black Kids.

Meanwhile, Florence and the Machine will receive the Critics' Choice prize for new talent.

The Brits ceremony will be shown live on ITV1 from 2000GMT.