Nick Cave faces stiff competition It's been a good year ... Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds are up for an NME award. Nick Cave is having a good year. Jagwar Ma aren't doing too badly either. And if you've got eyes on the future you would do well to put a bit of cash on the likelihood of Courtney Barnett becoming something more than an underground favourite from Melbourne. All three Australian acts have picked up nominations in the awards presented by venerable British music magazine, NME. The UK-based Cave, who was nominated once again in the 2013 ARIAs and has featured in several British music industry awards lists for his album Push The Sky Away, was nominated with his band, the Bad Seeds, for the best international band. The multi-national Bad Seeds (who have had Germans, Americans, English and Australians pass through its ranks in more than 30 years) are up against some stiff competition. Also nominated for best international band are the long popular Arcade Fire, Vampire Weekend and Queens of the Stone Age, along with Phoenix and the rising sister group, Haim. Jagwar Ma, who perform in Sydney on Friday night, didn't figure in that category but their chance to win comes in the category of best new band. After a stellar year of festival shows, chart success and great reviews for their debut album, Howlin', the Sydney outfit formed by Gabriel Winterfield and Jono Ma only three years ago, are likely candidates to win. Along with the recent tourists to Australia, Chvrches, the competition for Jagwar Ma includes Melbourne singer/songwriter Courtney Barnett, who started her own label in 2012 so as to release her roots-rock music. The first two EPs Barnett released were compiled into one longer release for the international market and she's been touring with her band, the Courtney Barnetts, to rave reviews. The NME Awards are presented on February 26.