The IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards are back! Voting has now opened among IMRO members, with the results to be announced at a special awards night, scheduled for February 2020.

By now, the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year Awards are a firm fixture on the Irish music calendar and have become a highly prized industry accolade within the entertainment and hospitality sectors.

"The ethos behind this awards programme,” a spokesperson told Hot Press, "is to acknowledge and reward venues that excel in the provision of superior live music entertainment in Ireland. These awards are primarily targeted at the live music scene."

The winner of last year’s premier award was The Sugar Club, in Dublin. The songwriters, composers and publishers who – as members of IMRO – are entitled to vote are being asked to consider the following criteria:

• General venue ambience
• Staging
• Sound / lighting
• Diversity of music programmed
• Professionalism in their dealings with performers
• Promotion / PR activities utilised by the venue to promote performances
• Venue accessibility for people with disabilities
• Qualifying venues may include: pubs, hotels, arts centres, theatres, and purpose built live music venues etc.

"In addition to this,” the spokesperson added, "IMRO members will have an opportunity to nominate their favourite Irish music festivals, venue production teams and an IMRO Outstanding Contribution to Live Music Award."

As part of the awards night, Hot Press will also be presenting the magazine’s Live Music Venue of the Year, as voted by readers and members of hotpress.com. The reigning Hot Press champion is Mike The Pies, which was voted Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year at the start of 2019. Mike The Pies ended the year on a real high, with the appearance at the venue on Saturday night of the all-conquering Fontaines D.C.. That triumphant show followed an appearance by Otherkin the previous night. Mike The Pies is in LIstowel, in north Kerry – and is run by the indefatigable Aiden O’Connor.

Previous winners of the Hot Press Live Music Venue of the Year include 3Arena, Vicar Street and The Olympia Theatre.

“The Irish scene is remarkably vibrant at the moment, with brilliant acts emerging across virtually every genre of music,” Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. “To a huge extent that is down to the fact that Irish musicians and bands are really delivering from a live perspective. But that is only possible because there are people all over Ireland putting their hearts and souls into creating venues and promoting great music. More than ever before, Irish artists have been afforded the platforms that are necessary to grow and develop creatively.

“In Hot Press, we are proud to link with IMRO in celebrating the achievements of venues all over Ireland. The work that is done by the people who create the venues, and those hardy individuals who book the shows for them, is of critical importance. Long may they flourish."