Hot Press has announced the dates for the broadcast of the Up Close and Personal Series, featuring Gemma Hayes, Mary Coughlan, Damien Dempsey, Tim Wheeler of Ash, Conor O’Brien of Villagers and Andy Irvine and Donal Lunny of Planxty.

If you weren’t lucky enough to bag tickets for the live Up Close & Personal shows, fear not, because all six of these exclusive listening parties are being broadcast on Hot Press YouTube and hotpress.com – kicking off this week with Gemma Hayes powerful reflections on her 2002 gem, Night On My Side. – and the way in which it was shaped both by the time and circumstances, but also by her own fearless innocence as an artist.

“These six special events turned out to be absolutely brilliant nights,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes enthuses. “There was such a sense of occasion, and also of warmth. It was fantastic – and inspiring – to hear the artists recall the circumstances surrounding the release of the records and to hear them talk in detail about the way wonderful songs are written, and great albums come together.

“We had an instinct that they could be really fascinating, insightful and engaging,” he adds, “but you never know until you get stuck into it and do it. In addition to paying homage to some of the most important and influential moments in Irish music, they turned out to be really revealing, very funny at times and highly entertaining overall.

“The live performances were also amazing: intimate, powerful and very special. It was a real privilege to be there.”

The gigs were also of significant historical importance.

“These six broadcasts,” Niall adds, "will also add something vital and genuinely important to our understanding of the history of Irish music and the gorgeous way in which things can happen by accident, alongside the hard graft that drives real original creative brilliance. I think fans of Irish music are going to love the Up Close & Personal broadcasts. Stick the dates in your diary. They really are a must-watch for fans and friends of Irish music all over the world.”

The broadcasts will go out at 7pm, over the coming six Thursday evenings, and will then be available to view on the Hot Press YouTube channel.

The full line-up is:

Gemma Hayes – Night On My Side (January 20) – Presented by Lucy O’Toole

Mary Coughlan – Tired & Emotional (January 27) – Presented by Paul Nolan

Damien Dempsey – Seize The Day (February 3) – Presented by Lucy O’Toole

Ash (Tim Wheeler) – 1977 (February 10) – Presented by Paul McLoone

Villagers (Conor J. O’Brien) – Awayland (February 17) – Presented by Paul McLoone

Planxty (Andy Irvine & Donal Lunny) – Planxty (February 24) – Presented by Pat Carty

This special series of intimate conversations, is produced in association with Aidan Shortall of Up Close and Personal Promotions and supported by the Live Performance Support Scheme and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media. Our thanks to all the participants. From start to finish, it was a real pleasure.