Brit Awards 2013: The stars gather!

THE biggest names in music from Britain are gathering in London tonight as they gear up for the Brit Awards 2013.

Singer Emeli Sande will be waving the flag for Scotland as she is nominated for four awards, and is also performing.

Sande is up for four awards

The star, who had the best-selling album in the UK last year, is up for best female, best album and has two tracks in the best single category.

Sande's appearance on the shortlist comes 12 months after she was tipped as a rising star with the Brit Awards' Critics' Choice prize.

Her debut album, Our Version of Events, went on to sell 1.4 million copies in the UK last year and she performed at both the opening and closing ceremonies of the London 2012 Olympic Games.

Winehouse's dad will attend

Amy Winehouse has received a nomination for best British female after an album of material was released posthumously.

Singer Rita Ora also has three nominations, including two in the best single list, while Muse, Paloma Faith, Plan B and Olly Murs are up for two prizes each.

Adele is the bookmakers' favourite to win the best British single prize for her Bond theme Skyfall, but she is rumoured to be in the US rehearsing for an appearance at the Oscars on Sunday.

The Rolling Stones are up for best live act, 35 years after they were shortlisted for the first ever Brit Awards. 

Singer-songwriter Ben Howard is tipped to take home best British male, while pop star Rita Ora leads the contenders in the British breakthrough category. The winners all receive a trophy designed by controversial British artist Damien Hirst.

One Direction will give the first live performance of their Comic Relief single, a medley of Blondie's One Way Or Another and The Undertones' Teenage Kicks. 

US country star Taylor Swift is said to be putting together a fire and ice-themed set, while Timberlake is bringing along the big band that accompanied him at the Grammy Awards.

For the third year running, comedian James Cordan will host the event.