With the number of talented musicians this country produces, not to mention a population that loves a good night out, it’s no surprise that some of the best venues in the world are right here on our doorstep.

Every year, the IMRO Live Music Venue Awards endeavor to celebrate those venues, from grand concert halls to flashy theatres to intimate clubs, and 2013 is no different.
In a star-studded ceremony last month, Monroe’s of Galway was awarded the biggest honour, scoring highest in the IMRO public vote and winning the coveted Live Music Venue of the Year title.
Other regional winners included The Olympia (Dublin), The Set Theatre (Rest Of Leinster), Glor Irish Music Centre (Munster), McGrory’s (Ulster) and the Roisin Dubh (Connacht), while the Festival of the Year gong went to Stradbally extravaganza Electric Picnic, and Live @ The Marquee, Cork, took home the Best Small Festival prize.
Your friendly neighbourhood music mag were heavily involved in the awards too, having asked you, the readers, to vote in our online poll and let us know your favourite venues. You nominated the O2 your number one, while special commendations went to The Set Theatre, Kilkenny and the Cork Opera House.
“Live music is more important than ever for musicians and bands,” our very own Niall Stokes commented at the event, “so it is crucial they should have the best possible venues to play in.” And it really is as simple as that. Irish venues have been known to make and break bands, but whether you’re a punter or a player, our fair isle has some real gems to choose from.
Here’s a few of our favorites…

THE BENTLEY CAFÉ BAR
9 - 11 Prospect Hill, Eyre Square, Galway
Tel: +353 (0) 91 458 993. thebentley.ie

Formerly Cuba, The Bentley is Galway’s newest city centre hotspot, catering for 1,000 patrons over three floors. A bar, club and live music venue all in one, it’s fast becoming a favourite haunt of choon-hungry students, who flood its dancefloors for DJ sets during the week, while an older clientele turn up at the weekends, tempted by live sets from acts such as Aslan, The Hijackers, Judge Jules and Scratch Bastid. Boasting a close association with nationwide clubbing brand Residence, The Bentley has also welcomed house music sensations Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike, Third Party and Tim Mason to its decks. We’re doing our best to keep our traps shut about some of the exciting Bentley shows that have yet to be announced; keep an eye on hotpress.com for details of summer gigs.

Key show: acoustic hip hop trio The Original Rudeboys (April 11).
Coming soon: DJ Magician and the Motorcycle display team (April 6), DJ Hype with Big Daddy Earl, DJ Falcon and Bongoloidz (dates TBC).
Anything else? The folk at the Bentley can’t resist a bit of alternative entertainment, which explains how Britain’s Got Talent regurgitator Stevie Starr (oh, yes!) ended up in the Eyre Square nightspot last month!

CRESCENT ARTS CENTRE
University Road, Belfast
Tel: +44 (0)28 9024 2338, crescentarts.org

It’s rare to find a place where you can learn how to sew, dance and paint and catch a show all under one roof, but then again, Antrim’s Crescent Arts Centre is no ordinary venue. A diverse community arts facility serving Belfast and beyond with a variety of arts and cultural activities, the Crescent prides itself on hosting classes and workshops in music, dance, spoken and written word for all ages and abilities, but we mustn’t forget about the gigs, either. Together with hosting the annual Belfast Book Festival and CityDance, live music performances from acts like Girls Names, Charles Gayle and The Continuous Battle of Order have helped really put the Crescent Arts Centre on the metaphorical map.

Key show: a Livewire workshop with guitar virtuoso Greg Howe (March 14)
Coming soon: Peter Brötzmann and Paal Nilssen-Love (April 5) and Manukahunney (6).
Anything else? Plenty! See crescentarts.org for details of exhibitions, and art, craft and dance workshops.

DOLAN’S
Dock Road, Limerick
Tel. +353 (0)61 314 483, dolans.ie

Flying the flag for great live music in the mid-west, Dolan’s reputation continues to grow and grow as the acts they book get bigger and bigger. Today it comprises three venues, two outdoor areas, as well as a terrific pub and restaurant. Bell X1 and Villagers are just two homegrown names who have played memorable sets there, with a large international contingent, including Kasabian, Franz Ferdinand and Mumford And Sons, also visiting. Expect live music almost every night and the incomparable hospitality of founders Mick and Valerie, helped by son Neil, niece Jenny, father Noel, nephew Richard and blow-in Sean Harrold.

Key show: relentlessly noisy alt. rockers And So I Watch You From Afar (March 28).
Coming soon: Villagers (March 15), the Hot 8 Brass Band (16), Axis Of (21), Hermitage Green (23), Tom Baxter (25), Kerbdog (30) and the Siege Of Limerick IX (31).
Anything else? If you’re in the area, don’t forget to check out Choke Comedy’s fifth birthday party on March 28, Reginald D. Hunter on April 3 and 4 and the Dolan’s Supper Club on April 4.

THE GRAND SOCIAL
35 Lower Liffey St., Dublin 1
Tel: +353 (0)1 874 0076, thegrandsocial.ie

Over the past two-and-a-half years, the 300-capacity Grand Social has become one of the finest places to catch live music in Dublin. Previously Pravda, the Ha’penny Bridge venue has revamped itself completely: the main music venue upstairs has a funky and alternative vibe, with a circus tent-style stage surrounded by fairy lights making for a particularly pretty sight. Offering a consistently stomping schedule of international acts and DJs, with John Brereton in charge of booking, The Grand Social provides an eclectic mix of genres, catering to hardcore hip-hop fans, jazz buffs and everything in between.

Key show: ex-Alphastates vocalist Cat Dowling (March 22).
Coming soon: the Eskies (March 15), Power Of Dreams and Sack (16), Ghost Trio (19), the Inishowen Song Project (20), Kid Congo Powers And The Pink Monkey Birds (21) and Brian Brody (28).
Anything else? Saucy Sundays bring live music sessions to the venue on Sundays, Indietronic does exactly what it says on the tin on Saturdays and up-and-coming live acts take to the stage for The Grand Folk Club on Tuesdays. Meanwhile, the Ha’Penny Flea Indoor Market (Saturdays, 11pm - 6pm) is one of Dublin’s best.

MONROE’S
Dominick St., Galway
Tel. +353 (0)91 58 3397, monroes.ie

Offering live music nearly every night of the week, pretty much the entire spectrum of modern music is covered at Monroe’s. From expert cover acts to original artists, there’s something for everyone, with lively, regular trad nights in particular earning the venue oodles of praise. Situated above the world-famous Monroes’s tavern, the venue is centrally situated in the heart of Galway’s bustling West End. As well as hosting big name acts like Aslan, The Walls and Republic Of Loose, Monroe’s scooped the National Live Venue Of The Year Award at the IMRO venue awards last month (punters come for the gigs, but stay for that gorgeous open stone fire of theirs!)

Key show: alt. rockers Protobaby with We The People And Derek Ellard (March 21).
Coming soon: the Pieta House Fundraiser (March 15), Fancy Crazy and 9 Inch Trio (16), Fortune Cookie and The Lewd Tunes (17), Lunar Playground and Crossfire (22), Who Knows and Mojo Gogo (23), and Rackhouse Pilfer (24).
Anything else? Keep up to date with special events and upcoming shows by becoming a member for free at Monroes.ie.

THE O2
Northwall Quay, Dublin 1
Tel: +353 (0)1 819 8888, theo2.ie

Four years after its launch, punters are still marveling at how the O2 can pull off the trick of seeming completely intimate and immersive while being a 14,000-seat amphitheatre. Offering a concert experience like no other, it is a state-of-the-art facility with world-class acoustics. A constant in the top five list of the World’s Busiest Venues, it regularly hosts massive international acts like Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Jay Z and Kanye West.

Key show: girl group extraordinaire Girls Aloud (March 16).
Coming soon: Biffy Clyro (March 28), Olly Murs (April 1 and 2) and P!NK (April 12).
Anything else? The O2 is also home to two deluxe private members clubs, the Audi Club and The Premium Club. Details can be found online at theo2.ie

THE OLYMPIA
72 Dame St., Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 679 3323, olympia.ie

With a reputation that precedes it, The Olympia is one of the oldest and most beloved venues in the capital city. Built in 1879 and operating in its current incarnation for 115 years, it lends a warm, nostalgic Victorian Music Hall feel to all the shows it hosts. Every week, it seems another world-beating band or exciting, up-and-coming act is hitting its hallowed stage. Radiohead, Pixies and David Bowie have all played before, while Sufjan Stevens, Of Monsters And Men and Villagers are some more recent guests.

Key show: Hot Press favourites Villagers (March 21).
Coming soon: Carrie Underwood (March 14), Eels (15 and 16), Aslan (17), Beth Orton (20), Simple Minds (25), The Original Rudeboys (30), Ellie Goulding (April 7) and The Vaccines (8).
Anything else? Get Back: The Story Of The Beatles sets up shop in the Olympia on March 23, while comedy comes from Andy Parsons (27), Micky Flanagan (April 12) and Milton Jones (13).

THE ROISIN DUBH
Dominick St., Galway
Tel. +353 (0)91 586 540, roisindubh.net

For the cream of the comedy and musical crop, very few venues can beat Galway’s Roisin Dubh. With Gugai as the man at the musical helm, his incredible ear for talent has made it the place to catch an act before they go interstellar. From Irish hopefuls like Toby Kaar and Heathers to legendary international acts (The Violent Femmes, Ryan Adams and Battles to name but three), the Roisin Dubh turns the spotlight on the most exciting prospects in music, and two decades into its existence, is still one of the best-loved venues in the country. It also happens to be a great spot for comedy gigs (superstar comics Reginald D. Hunter and Stewart Lee both love the place!)

Key show: party-starting retro-futurists Le Galaxie (March 15).
Coming soon: Villagers (March 14, Seapoint Ballroom), Beth Orton (21), Rufus Coates And The Blackened Trees (22), Tom Baxter (23), Maria Muldaur And Her Red Hot Bluesiana Band (25).
Anything else? The Roisin Dubh Comedy Show on Wednesdays is a longtime favourite with locals, as is the I Can’t Believe You Haven’t Seen... film series (coming this month, Commando and The Life Of Brian).

THE SET THEATRE
John Street, Kilkenny
Tel. +353 (0)56 772 1728, set.ie

Now four years old, The Set Theatre remains one of the most state-of-the-art venues Ireland has to offer. A beautiful 350-capacity building, it houses conferences, films, music, comedy and more. Given the illustrious wealth of talent that has already treaded its boards, it’s little wonder that The Set just scooped an IMRO Live Music Award in the Rest Of Ireland category; Grizzly Bear, Glen Hansard, Beth Orton and Paul Brady are a mere handful of recent bookings, making 2013 another triumphant year of entertainment in The Set.

Key show: BRIT award-winning singer-songwriter Beth Orton (March 23).
Coming soon: Martin Hayes, Dennis Cahill and Iarla Ó Lionáird (March 17), Smash Hits (30) and The Original Rudeboys (April 13).
Anything else? Two comedians grace the bill for April; Reginald D. Hunter (14, Langton’s) and Pat Shortt (27 and 28).

THE THOMAS HOUSE
86 Thomas St., Dublin 8
Tel: +353 (0) 1 677 2619. facebook.com/thomashousedublin

Hosting DJs every night of the week in the genres of punk, hardcore, oi, ska, rockabilly, psychobilly, soul, reggae and ‘50s and ‘60s, the Thomas House is an alternative music bar and venue in Dublin’s hopping historic quarter. Independently owned and run by two local promoters and DJs Kevin O’Kelly Jnr. and Gareth Cummins, it’s one of Dublin’s most authentic alternative bars, providing genre-hopping live music in the basement venue Bruisers each weekend. Opening seven nights a week from 5pm, it also, carries an impressive array of gargle.

Key show: New Orleans rockabilly ‘n’ roll group Green Mantles (March 14).
Coming soon: Hear live music every Sunday at The Hangover Sessions, featuring bluegrass, blues and rock ‘n’ roll.
Anything else? The Thomas House is known for its theme nights, featuring live DJs and drinks promotions; at the Monday Service you’ll hear punk, indie and alt. rock, Cat Talk on Saturdays favours rockabilly and ‘50s R&B and at Damaged Punk Club on the last Friday of every month, expect punk, hardcore, ska and psychobilly.

WHELAN’S
25 Wexford St., Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 478 0766, whelanslive.com

Combining world-class programmes with a warm and friendly pub atmosphere, Whelan’s is a fully-fledged institution of the Irish live music scene. A musical landmark as well as a place to cosy up with a pint, Whelan’s has a reputation that has travelled around the globe, attracting the likes of Jeff Buckley, Nick Cave and a fresh-faced Arctic Monkeys in their formative years. Over the past 12 months alone, Everything Everything, Matthew E. White and Mumford And Sons have added their names to that illustrious list. Make no mistake; this place is a music-lover’s paradise.

Key show: heartstring-pulling troubadour Gavin James (March 22).
Coming soon: Willy Mason (March 14), Frontier Ruckus (17), The Laundry Shop (21), Poliça (23), Maria Muldaur (26), The Young Folk (28) and more.
Anything else? You’ll find the best of the Irish underground upstairs at the Midnight Hour every Saturday night, and for free before 10.30pm.

THE WORKMAN’S CLUB
10 Wellington Quay, Dublin 2
Tel: +353 (0)1 6 706 692, theworkmansclub.com

Since opening its doors on Dublin’s quays in 2010, The Workman’s Club has grown substantially, both in size and stature. Already a thriving venue that has been used by Villagers in the recording of a live album and welcomed the likes of First Aid Kit, Anna Calvi and Imelda May, it has recently added two new rooms, a granny chic-inspired Vintage Room and western-style Bison Bar, the latter of which boasts a relaxed atmosphere and impressive range of whiskeys. Thanks to its effortlessly cool decor and friendly staff, this cult music spot and hip hang-out is now a firm favourite with Dubliners and savvy visitors alike.

Key show: dreamweaving electronic duo Young Wonder (April 5).
Coming soon: Dirty Epics (March 21), Axis Of (22), Eric Pulido of Midlake (23) and The Beat (30).
Anything else? On March 17, the Workman’s/Garage Bar Paddy’s Day Extravaganza promises 12 hours of music from 3pm to 3am, including live sets from The Urges, Tandem Felix, Gangs, September Girls and more. Also look out for the monthly Plateau Sessions, one of Dublin’s favourite open mic nights.