The RTÉ Choice Music Prize descended upon Dublin’s storied Vicar St. venue yesterday evening, offering a delightful charcuterie of the most critically-acclaimed Irish sounds of 2023.

Crumlin DJ, singer and unfairly talented workhorse Jazzy earned two awards – winning Irish Artist of The Year and Irish Breakthrough Artist of the year. Her frequent collaborators Belters Only looked on like proud older brothers from the balcony, as the artist thanked them on both occasions for their role in her chart-topping year both at home and abroad.

Other award winners on the evening were U2, who won Classic Irish Album of The Year for Achtung Baby. Unable to attend with their commitments in Las Vegas, Adam Clayton and The Edge left a video message to express their gratitude. A similar video link was sent in by the absent Cian Ducrot, who won Song of the Year for ‘Heaven’ in the only publicly voted category.

Jazzy at the RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.

While the above can give themselves well earned pats on the back, the night was, as Murder Capital frontman James McGovern put it, “not a competition” - the real joy being in the sheer quality and diversity of the musical performances from the Album of The Year nominees.

The bar was set high from the off, as host Tracy Clifford introduced Ezra Williams, who brought their original, Midwest emo-tinged indie songwriting to Dublin 8. The Wicklow native earned a nod for her impressively mature debut Supernumeraries – a poignant dissection of life on the spectrum. Braving the ever-difficult task of opening, Williams and their bandmates showed why many critics see promise in the youngster.

Following swiftly was what many punters marked down as their favourite set of the night, with Rachael Lavelle’s quirky yet defiant dreampop showcase of songs from her nominated record Big Dreams.

“Rachael Lavelle has created a world of her own”, said Piper Sewell in her review of the album last year. “Ghostly and ambient, her angelic voice harmonises with enough dissonance to grab one’s attention – and refuses to let go.” Her breathtaking voice is even better al vivo, Lavelle’s staccato lyricism and synth soundscapes creating an etheral atmosphere.

Rachael Lavelle at RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.

The Murder Capital were third on the bill, flaunting their gritty, brooding and powerful post-punk from nominated sophomore LP Gigi’s Recovery. Tumultuous and experimental, the album exhibited the five-piece’s sonic growth, and MC’s brief set at the Choice Prize would undoubtedly have had attendees scrambling across the Liffey to catch their midnight set at The Grand Social, where they were set to test out some new material.

Marked down by Hot Press critic Will Russell as “the bookiest favourite to win the 2023 Choice Music Award”, Cabra native Kojaque was as charming, cheeky and entertaining as ever while taking the stage where he played two sold out homecoming gigs last November. Pipped for his 10/10 album Phantom Of The Afters, the rapper broke ground for Irish hip-hop with his tableau of the emigrant experience and being a troublemaking youngfella. Confidently strutting his stuff in his snazzy Jackie Dandelion attire, the musings remain just as effective in person.

The genres were switchingbut the theme of top class music remained the same. John Francis Flynn with his project Look Over The Wall, See The Sky, duly earned himself recognition as one of the most exciting sounding songsters on the circuit. Similarly returning to the venue where he sold out last December, his set was typically hypnotic, as crushing distorted instrumentation, Frankenstein tin whistles and Flynn’s distinct guitar plucking washed Vicar St in beautiful noise.

Kojaque at the RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.

There was an underlying current of excitement in the arena caused by the late addition of 2022 Album of The Year winner CMAT to the lineup. Back once more as a hot favourite with her smash hit Crazymad, For Me, the singer proved that she’s worth the hype. With only her guitar, mesmeric voice and stomping cowboy boots at her disposal, the Dubliner’s stripped back set was self-assured and heartbreakingly sincere.

CMAT at RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.

Music man Pat Carty described Soda Blonde’s lead singer Faye Rourke as “what Lana Del Ray would sound like if she was a better singer in a better band and got over all the tiresome ennui.” Add some killer dance moves and a fittingly poignant anti-war sentiment to the mix and it’s easy to see why the alt-rockers garnered such high praise for their latest full-length Dream Big.

While Soda Blonde were the first to address the depressing, looming elephant in the room, it would be eventual Album of the Year 2023 winners Lankum who dedicated their rousing, boundary-pushing drone-folk and award speech to the plight of the Palestinian people.

“We’re really grateful to get this award, but to be honest it’s really hard to see how we can celebrate it with an actual live genocide going on,” said the band’s Ian Lynch upon accepting the accolade from Denise Chalia for False Lankum.

“It feels like there’s very little to be celebrating to be honest and every day seems more and more hopeless than the one before it.

“You know, you’re trying to appeal to the consciences of people who may or may not have a conscience to begin with.”

Bittersweet for the victors, the sentiment was well received by the audience, who stood in unison to applaud Lankum for using their platform to call for the boycott of Israeli products, and for the government to “introduce some actual meaningful sanctions” - a fitting, affecting note on which to draw the curtains on another stellar year for Irish music.

Lankum at RTE Choice Music Prize 2024. Copyright Peter O'Hanlon.