Wolf Alice were double winners at the NME Awards, on the night Coldplay were honoured for their contribution to music.

The Chris Martin-fronted four piece – known for the likes of Yellow, Fix You and Clocks – took the Godlike Genius award, before playing a career-spanning set.

It came a day after they were confirmed as Glastonbury headliners. Accepting the award, Martin said: “We first came here when we were just kids. It’s been a long journey.”

He proceeded to list the NME titles his band had been nominated for during the early years, before joking how they were shortlisted for “worst album, worst band, worst haircuts” in the mid-2000s.

Acknowledging the Godlike Genius commendation, Martin said: “So for us it’s been a big old circle and we are so grateful to the NME for having us back. We feel grateful for our jobs, we feel grateful for the people who work with us, and it’s a big cliché but we feel very grateful for the people who listen to us and give us this love.”

The award was presented by Australian pop veteran Kylie Minogue, who described them as “quite simply one of the finest bands Britain has ever produced”.

Wolf Alice, who were nominated for six gongs and also performed on the night, picked up the best track award for Giant Peach and best live band. Rat Boy won the best new act gong, while the Maccabees were named the best British band.

The night kicked off with a video montage tribute to the late David Bowie, born a short distance from the Brixton Academy venue hosting the night’s awards. The 69-year-old died last month.

Charli XCX took the award for best British solo act.

Wolf Alice collecting the best live band award at the NME Awards.

The songwriter, who has collaborated with the likes of Rita Ora, told the crowd: “This is weird, maybe I was the only person who showed up.” Yoko Ono received the inspiration award, while the Libertines’ secret Glastonbury gig won best music moment.

The recently reunited Pete Doherty-led four piece were shortlisted for six awards. Glastonbury again triumphed as the best festival, while organiser Emily Eavis confirmed on the red carpet that another headliner would be confirmed “in the next couple of weeks”, following the announcement Coldplay would play the event for a fourth time this summer.

American songstress Taylor Swift accepted the best international solo artist gong – and its signature middle finger salute statue – via video message.

She said: “I got the award in the mail. When you first open up the box, it feels a little aggressive. “Then you just put it on the shelf and kinda get used to it.” Foals, who opened the show, beat off competition from the likes of Kendrick Lamar and Tame Impala to win best album for What Went Down.

Blur’s New World Towers won best music film, while Run the Jewels took best international band and Bring Me the Horizon were handed the gong for innovation.