The Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) has announced the shortlist for the second annual IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards and The Backroom in Navan has been shortlisted for the Rest Of Leinster category. Since their opening in 2007 The Backroom have been working to awaken the live scene in Co. Meath. Acts over the years have included The Coronas, Aftermath, Ham Sandwich, The Flaws, Simon Fagan, Cathy Davey and many more.Over 400 venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 6,000 IMRO members were asked to vote for their top picks in an online poll. Venues are judged on a number of criteria including ambience, staging, sound and lighting facilities, diversity of programming, venue staff and management and promotional activities.
The awards acknowledge the efforts made by live music venues in providing quality entertainment for the Irish public and the role they play in developing and nurturing the music community in Ireland.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to leading live music venues under the following headings: Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin) Connaught, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan).
The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 will take place on Tuesday, December 1st at IMRO Headquarters in Dublin.
The nominees for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards 2009 are (in alphabetical order):
REST OF LEINSTER
The Backroom, Navan, Co. Meath
The Late Lounge, Kill, Co. Kildare
Set Theatre, Kilkenny
Spirit Store, Dundalk, Co. Louth
The Watergate Theatre, Kilkenny
DUBLIN
CrawDaddy
The Olympia Theatre
The O2
Vicar Street
Whelan’s
MUNSTER
Cyprus Avenue, Cork
Dolans Warehouse, Limerick
The Everyman Theatre, Cork
INEC, Killarney, Co. Kerry
The Pavilion, Cork
CONNAUGHT
Campbells Tavern, Headford, Galway
The Crane Bar, Galway
Roisin Dubh, Galway
Royal Theatre and Event Centre, Castlebar, Co. Mayo
Town Hall Theatre, Galway
ULSTER (Donegal, Cavan and Monaghan)
Balor Arts Centre, Donegal
An Grianan Theatre, Letterkenny, Co. Donegal
Iontas Theatre, Castleblaney, Co. Monaghan
McGrorys, Culduff, Co. Donegal
Ramor Theatre, Cavan
