Young, unsigned bands regularly complain about the dearth of places in which to play and the lack of anything resembling an organised live circuit where they can develop an audience and build up some valuable live experience. However, thanks to the Garage Gigs launched earlier this year, things have changed for the better.

The brainchild of Blink’s Dermot Lambert and Dave Browne (of Bacardi/hotpress winners, Little Sister Sage) the project was set up with the sole aim of providing an outlet where bands can play properly organised gigs in established venues.

“We wanted to kick start what we saw as an ailing live music scene in Dublin and around the country generally,” Lambert explains. “The essence of the Garage Gigs is to create an environment where new bands can overcome their fear of the real world, by getting them to play again and again on decent nights, usually on weekends.”

The main hub of all this gigular activity centres around two of Dublin’s best-known venues, Eamonn Doran’s in Temple Bar and the Isaac Butt north of the River Liffey. By acting as a link between the venues, who Lambert says, “don’t always understand the needs of bands and the bands, who don’t understand the venues,” the enterprising pair have managed to put on 100 gigs featuring over 200 unsigned bands to date.

Garageland recently celebrated their 100th successful show last week with a five-band sell out bash at Vicar Street featuring highly rated outfits such Sundogs, Blo-tooth and Bray Vista.

“It’s worked out really well so far and bands don’t have to worry about anything apart from turning up and playing,” Lambert explains. “Garageland takes care of all the equipment, venue costs, setting up, breaking down etc, etc, etc by simply acting as a sort of co-op administrator.

“The Garage Gigs are ticket gigs,” he stresses. “It’s the only requirement asked of the bands, and it’s also a device whereby the bands actually end up getting paid for their efforts, which after a night’s hard gigging isn’t a bad thing.”

The project has been a resounding success and looks like expanding its horizons in the near future. “Bands and venues from all over the country have been in contact with Garageland with a view to signing up for a dose of the Garage Gigs,” says Lambert.

“Record Companies are continually in contact with us, and hotpress now regularly passes on recommendations to us of bands that should be playing the Garage Gigs.”