Music fans can vote for their favourite live act from a shortlist featuring 37 bands and artists all signed to independent labels.
Bonobo, Enter Shikari, Neon Neon, Johnny Marr and The xx are just some of the acts to be nominated for the gong.
Voting for the prize will close on 15 July with final nominees announced in August. Winners will be revealed at the AIM awards ceremony on London on 3 September.
Previous winners of the award included The Prodigy and Frank Turner.
Vote for your favourite live act here
Other categories to feature include best small label, independent video of the year and independent track of the year and have already closed.
Rough Trade’s Geoff Travis has already been named as the winner of the Pioneer Award.
This year’s event will take place at The Brewery in Clerkenwell.
