July 23rd, 2009 by Peter Bevan

Bat For Lashes is one of twelve nominees for the Barclaycard Music Prize 2009

This year, many female solo artists made the shortlist for the Barclaycard Music Prize, rewarding the best album, and seven out of the twelve albums nominated are debut albums. Fans can catch the majority of these artists in action live as they tour the UK.

Brighton-based Bat For Lashes (real name Natasha Khan) will be touring her second studio album Two Suns, starting at the Bournemouth Opera House (October 1) and will also play two dates at the London Roundhouse (October 5 & 6), the Liverpool O2 Academy (October 10) and Manchester Academy (October 14) before closing her tour at the Edinburgh HMV Picture House (October 20).

Florence and the Machine (fronted by Florence Welch) released their debut album Lungs earlier this month and reached number two in the charts behind Micheal Jackson. The Florence and the Machine tour begins at the Bristol O2 Academy (September 17) and stops off at the Birmingham O2 Academy (September 20) before ending the tour with three dates at the London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (September 27, 28 & 29).

The self-titled debut album from La Roux, with singer Elly Jackson, reached number two in the album chart and La Roux will be in action at London Scala on September 10 before resuming touring duties on November 13 at Leeds University, also playing at the Manchester Warehouse Project (November 21) as well as two dates at the London O2 Shepherds Bush Empire (November 25 & 26).

The number one album from Kasabian called West Ryder Pauper Lunatic Asylum is another Barclaycard Music Prize nominee touring the UK later this year. Kasabian will play two dates at the Wolverhampton Civic Hall (August 24 & 25) before touring throughout November starting at the Newcastle Metro Radio Arena (November 10), playing two dates at the London Wembley Arena (November 14 & 15) and their last scheduled date at the Sheffield Hallam FM Arena (November 23).

Another album nominated for the Barclaycard Mercury Prize is the self-titled debut album from Glasvegas, who will be supporting U2 on their 360° tour at the London Wembley Stadium (August 15), Glasgow Hampden Park (August 18) and Cardiff Millennium Stadium (August 22).

Other artists nominated for the Barclaycard Music Prize are Speech Debelle with Speech Therapy, Lisa Hannigan with Sea Sew, The Horrors with Primary Colours, The Invisible with their self-titled debut album, Led Bib with Sensible Shoes, Sweet Billy Pilgrim with Twice Born Man, and Friendly Fires with their self-titled debut album.

Bat For Lashes tickets, Florence and the Machine tickets, La Roux tickets, Kasabian tickets and U2 tickets are all available to compare at tixdaq.com