Never mind cats, you’d have been hard pressed to have swung a vertically challenged mouse last night as Ireland’s rock ‘n’ roll fraternity packed into The Academy for the launch of the 2010 Hot Press Yearbook.
Live music was supplied by We Cut Corners who make a very big noise for a two-piece; Brian Deady who is no longer Cork’s best kept blue-eyed soul secret; The Cast Of Cheers who get better every time we see them; Mundy whose mash-up of his own ‘July’ and M.I.A.’s ‘Paper Planes’ has got to make it onto CD; and Fight Like Apes who gave us a sneak preview of their ace sounding second album.
Among those soaking up the great music and equally fine vibes were Sharon Corr, Amasis’ Nofe Liberty, Crowded House’s Nick Seymour, Steve Wall, Cáit O’Riordan, Paul Brady, Philip Donnelly, Gavin Glass, Ollie Cole, Tara Blaise, novelist Marissa Mackle, Xposé’s Lisa Cannon, Philomena Lynott, Jim Fitzpatrick, Brush Shiels, filmmakers Dearbhla Glynn and Ian Thuillier, Corrs bassist Keith Duffy and assorted members of Bipolar Empire, Jupe, The Aftermath, Kíla, The Chapters, Ham Sandwich, Enemies, Adebisi Shank, Dirty Epics, Sweet Jane and Royseven.
The huge industry contingent also included Dave Pennefather, Freddie Middleton, Pat O’Mahoney, Sony’s Darren Reinhardt, Vodafone's Cara Twohig, Phantom 105.2's Nadine O'Regan and Brian Daly, Galway Bay FM's Jon Richards, Today FM's Paul McLoone, EMI's Pete Murphy, Saw Doctors manager Ollie Jennings, Jameson marketing manager Jane Macdougald, The Daily Star’s Shilpa Ganatra, the Mail on Sunday’s Danny McElhinney, the Irish Independent's Ken Sweeney, the Burrell Marketing team, Radio Nova’s David Tighe and Carol Dooley, venue owners Tommy Leddy, Pat Jennings and Shane O’Driscoll of INEC, MCD’s Noel McHale, Eamon Fitzpatrick, Madeleine Seiler, Reekus Records’ Elvira Butler, i-Tab’s Andy Hirst, Suzanne Doyle, Lance Hogan, Sarah Glennane, Town Bar & Grill's Ronan Ryan, producer Billy Farrell and Frank Murray.
With Jameson taking care of the drinks and superb food from the Diep folk, it was truly a night to remember!
The Hot Press Yearbook is available in newsagents across Ireland and online @ [link]www.hotpress.com/shop[/link]

Pictured (top) MayKay from Fight Like Apes and Sharon Corr.