Music Awards: Best in show

Mint Chicks singer Kodi Nielson. Photo / Dean Purcell.

The New Zealand Music Awards are all about celebrating Kiwi music and what better way to complement this than by getting our best musicians to do what they do best – perform. Here are seven of the best to expect at the awards ceremony.

SMASHPROOF
The hip-hop trio with the record for the longest-running number one single (11 weeks in the top spot) is performing a special mix of hit track 'Brother'. Tyree, Young Sid and Deach are joined on stage by Gin Wigmore to perform the single that has earned a place in the New Zealand music record books.

LADYHAWKE
Fresh off the plane from the UK, Ladyhawke takes to the stage backed by a string quartet to perform 'My Delirium' – her single that reached 33 in the British singles chart. Ladyhawke has been touring heavily, including through Europe during their summer, and is soon off to dazzle the Americans, so expect a stellar performance.

LADI6
Ladi6 is renowned for her energetic live performances, sublime soulful vocals and socially conscious lyrics. The world-class vocalist and MC performs 'Give Me The Light', backed by Recloose, the winner of Best Electronica/Dance Album in 2008. Ladi6 already has a win under her belt for Best Pacific Female at the Pacific Music Awards and has performed at some of New Zealand's top festivals, including The Big Day Out and Rhythm and Vines.

MIDNIGHT YOUTH
Dragged back from an Australian tour to show off the form that has the band tipped as the "next big thing", Midnight Youth is expected to deliver fireworks when it hits the Vector Arena stage. Seriously, expect fireworks, the pyrotechnicians have been busy. The band is set to play 'All on Our Own', a single that had Kiwi radio in a frenzy.

SOLA ROSA
Sola Rosa main man Andrew Spraggon has transformed a one-time one-man band project into a performing powerhouse, collecting New Zealand's most talented musicians along the way. Sola Rosa's awards performance sees the talented Iva Lamkum on lead vocals for 'Turn Around', a huge step up from playing to the crowds on the red carpet last year.

FAT FREDDY'S DROP
Arguably New Zealand's favourite band, Fat Freddy's Drop takes the stage with Boondigga, a track "born from Freddy's live jams, fantastic voyages and many hours of beat reductions and sonic fine tuning". Fat Freddy's Drop knows how to move the crowd, so expect a class performance.

THE MINT CHICKS
This is sure to go down in Kiwi music history. The Mint Chicks take on 'She's a Mod', a Kiwi classic made famous by The New Zealand Herald Legacy Award winner and New Zealand Music Hall of Fame inductee Ray Columbus and The Invaders. Expect Go-Go girls and an electrifying three minutes of pop delivered through The Mint Chicks' unique musical filters. The single is on sale from tonight – with all proceeds going to the Raukatauri Music Therapy Centre. A video created from the awards performance will be hitting television screens soon.