COLDPLAY TO OPEN THE BRITS 

Coldplay is set to open the BRIT Awards ceremony on 5/11, performing on a pontoon on the Thames near the O2 Arena in what will be their first TV performance in more than a year. They will be joined on the bill by Dua Lipa, Olivia Rodrigo, P!nk, Rag'n'Bone Man, BRITs Rising Star Griff, Headie One and Arlo Parks.

Coldplay's appearance follows the release Friday (5/7) of single "Higher Power" (Parlophone), the first new music from its upcoming ninth studio album.

Coldplay last performed at the BRITs in 2017 with the Chainsmokers and before that in 2016. In addition to countless hit singles, eight #1 albums, more than 20b global streams and one of the biggest tours of all time (2016-17’s A Head Full of Dreams Tour), the lads hold the title of most-nominated group at the BRITs, with 28. They've won nine times.

The BRIT Awards will be the first major indoor music event to welcome back a live audience as part of the government’s Events Research Programme; the initial test concert took place Sunday in Liverpool, where 5,000 fans gathered in a festival tent to watch Blossoms without masks or social distancing.