Cork's top venues are up for IMRO live music awards
A TRIO of Cork's top music venues have been nominated in the Munster category for the prestigious 2011 IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year.
Cyprus Avenue, The Crane Lane Theatre and Cork Opera House beat off stiff opposition from dozens of other venues to be in the pot for the award.
Two other Cork events, the Mitchelstown Indiependence Music and Arts Festival and Live at the Marquee, were also included in the list of nominees for the IMRO Festival of the Year gong.
The annual awards celebrate the dedication and passion of the people who work behind the scenes in Ireland's live music venues and festivals who week after week strive to bring the very best Irish and international acts to music fans.
Live music venues and festivals play a pivotal role in the music industry in Ireland, giving international and homegrown artists a platform to engage with fans and build new audiences.
Each of the venues included on the shortlists underwent rigid scrutiny on the core elements that make for a great live experience including atmosphere, sound and lighting, staging, diversity of programming and, perhaps most importantly, the attitudes of staff and management
Awards will be handed out to the various regional category winners, with one venue being selected for the Hot Press National Venue of the Year as voted for by members of the public.
Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said 2011 was yet another fantastic year for live music in Ireland.
"Venues across Ireland worked really hard to bring great music to the people, offering a huge range of choices to artists and fans alike," said Mr Stokes.
"It takes real courage to invest in putting on live music in today's economic climate, so a big thanks and congratulations are in order for everyone involved in making the Irish live circuit such a thriving scene," he added.
The winners of the awards will be unveiled at the IMRO HQ in Dublin on Tuesday, February 28.
Members of the public can vote for the national award at www.surveymonkey.com/s/venue awards or www.hotpress.com/readerspoll by Sunday, February 19.
- BILL BROWNE
