Next February, the red carpet will be rolled out in Brixton for hard dance’s most important ceremony of the year.

The world’s biggest hard dance DJs and around 5000 clubbers are expected to attend the Hard Dance Awards, which takes place in the cavernous Carling Academy.

Online voting has already started for the HDAs, which aims to celebrate the scene’s most important movers and shakers.

Two new awards have been added to the list this year, including a Lifetime Achievement Award (which isn’t open to public voting), and Best International Event.

As usual, hard dance fans can vote for their favourite DJs, producers, club nights, labels, and websites as well.

“This is the only opportunity for clubbers nationwide to have their say and vote for the parties, tunes and DJs that have made a difference to their lives over the last 12 months,” said Craig Paxton, HDA’s events manager.

And he also believes the hard dance scene is very healthy at the moment.

“There has been a serious influx of new talent, both DJs and producers due to the music becoming more accessible via digital downloads and the advent of CDJs.

“The increased level of competition has forced DJs to become more creative to stand out from the crowd.”

DJs already confirmed to play on the night include Lisa Lashes, Tidy Boys, Ed Real, Andy Farley, BK, Anne Savage, Rob Tissera, Edison Factor, K90, Amber D, Kevin Energy, plus many more famous faces.

The format of the awards has changed slightly, and the ceremony will be split up over the night into three 15 minute sections that will be presented by Lisa Lashes & Andy Farley, Anne Savage & Rob Tissera, and the Tidy Boys.