It’s a tough old ride to the top, but when there’s a prize worth €10,000 and esteem that’s simply priceless at stake, it’s worth battling for.

Over 350 unsigned bands from all corners of Ireland entered Murphy’s Live. In the end, 12 were chosen to show off their wares in the live heats, which took place in Cork, Dublin (twice), Killarney, Waterford and Limerick. Each night’s entertainment was rounded off by some rather storming performances from Ireland’s finest – namely, The Blizzards, Messiah J & The Expert, Delorentos, Dae Kim and Vesta Varro. If that wasn’t enough for the lucky gig-goers who got in free, vouchers for pints of Murphy’s were dished out on entry. Unfortunately, complimentary limousines home weren’t quite part of the deal.
With the first round over, and some heated discussions between the judges – myself, Angela Dorgan of First Music Contact and Margaret Barron, brand manager of Murphy’s Live – we can now reveal the four acts to go through to the semi finals. Drum roll please… The Chapters; SuperJimenez; Ilya K; Philtre

So what happens now? On Thursday 22 March, The Chapters and Superjimenez will support The Immediate in Whelan’s Dublin, and on Thursday 29 March, Ilya K and Philtre will support Duke Special in An Brog, Cork.
Then (and I’m dying with excitement here) the two bands who make it to the final will get the chance support (get ready…) recent NME tour headliners The Automatic (wooh!) in the intimate setting of The Village in Dublin. The winner of Murphy’s Live – who’ll also bag an EP launch with Fifa Records, studio recording time, a national distribution deal, full PR and a six month management deal – will be crowned that very night.
But before we look forward to the rest of the of the competition, let’s take a look over Ireland’s emerging talent: the 12 bands who impressed crowds across the country.

Exit: Pursued By A Bear
Purveying a unique of hybrid of electronic and rock that couldn’t be lumped into the ‘new rave’ phenomenon, these Corkonians apparently decided to make music “as a direct response to a series of uncomfortable silences and lulls in conversation”. And judging by the performance at An Brog, Cork, they’ve certainly lost all social awkwardness and gained some major tunes instead.
www.exitpursuedbyabear.com

The Citizen
Sometimes, as in the case of The Citizen, a shy performance is endearing. Frontman John O’Connor clearly doesn’t realise the weight of their engaging indie/rock-based set, while female vocalist Lisa Walshe has such a ball onstage it’s almost irrelevant. Given enough time, they’ve the potential to be one of the major players in the Irish music scene.

The Chapters
This Dublin five-piece are through to the next round based on their originality and their professional performances: ignoring any fixation to out-trend the trendy, they focus on their Americana-tinged carefree music instead. Thank God for that.
www.thechapters.com

Suddyn
They may have been playing at Whelan’s in Dublin, but this American/Irish troupe performed like it was Croke Park. Harking back to the stadium rock of the ‘90s, there’s no denying that give an energetic performance that overflows with passion.
www.suddyn.com

Dirty Face Kids
Getting possibly one of the best crowd receptions of the competition, this Killarney/Cork-based four-piece seem to adore being onstage, and their enjoyment can’t help but rub off on those watching.
www.myspace.com/dirtyfacekids

Philtre
Philtre blend the best of Oasis, Stereophonics and Stone Roses together in a tight, focused performance which shows plenty of potential.
www.philtremusic.com

Ilya K
Wateford’s Ilya K will have to travel to Cork for the semi-finals, and they’ll be bringing a heck of a lot of equipment with them. Hardly surprising, though, as their eclectic sound cuts through the genres of industrial, alternative, rock, whilst keeping the pace of their set equally wide-ranging – a knack that few bands can pull off, but Ilya K do in style.
www.myspace.com/ilyaktheband

The Distractions
It’s ironic that they’re called The Distractions because they’re all about no gimmicks, no fuss, no distractions – just a focus on the alt-indie that they play. Bringing melodies to the fore, this Waterford trio provide an ideal soundtrack for a cheeky boogie.
www.myspace.com/thedistractionsrock

Star Belgrade
Sounding nothing like any other band in Murphy’s Live this year, Star Belgrade trade in dark, gothic rock akin to latter day Depeche Mode. Their live performance conjures a stony-faced atmosphere, fitting in ideally with the music’s mood.
www.myspace.com/starbelgrade

Secret Police
Any fan of InMe will adore Secret Police: they have the same driving, grungey atmosphere and in Peter Mullins, a vocalist whose shares Dave McPherson’s ability to soar the heights of the Himalayas. That’s not to say they’re clones – Secret Police also display their sense of fun in the live arena, which is to be commended.
www.secretpolice.ie

SuperJimenez
It’s hard to believe that despite being playlisted on Phantom FM with ‘Beau’, SuperJimenez remain unsigned. Their live act shows a band who take the tried ‘n’ tested genre of pop/punk and bring it bang up to date.
www.myspace.com/superjimenez

Lost
It’s a brave band that wander into the realms of Muse/Royseven but ready, willing and able to play with the big boys are Lost, who give a simply stunning vocal performance and a tight show all-round.
The final of Murphy's Live will be held at The Village, Dublin, May 10