Never mind the Oscars...

The nominations for the 2002 Hot Press Irish Music Awards have been announce with Ash, U2, The Corrs, David Kitt and Westlife among those who'll be getting dickie-bowed up for the occasion.

In all, 14 gongs are there for the taking, voted for by a panel that includes the leading critics and broadcasters from national newspapers, TV and radio stations all over Ireland.

Hot Press celebrating its 25th anniversary this year adds extra spice to the event, which takes place in Belfast on April 25th and airs two days later on BBC1 Northern Ireland.

"We're so excited that the Hot Press Awards are coming back to Belfast," enthuses the BBC's Mike Edgar. "The television coverage over the last few years has been amazing with guests such as U2, Ash, Morrissey, David Bowie, Radiohead, The Corrs, Sinéad O'Connor, Nina Simone and Ronan Keating all taking part.

"2002 should be no different as it's been a great year for Irish music. The event is viewed with great integrity by Ireland's music community and always generates a fantastic feelgood factor."

Those sentiments are echoed by Hot Press editor Niall Stokes who adds: "There's no better reflection of the sense of shared community that exists on this island than contemporary music and we've had some wonderful gatherings of the rock 'n' roll clan in both Dublin and Belfast as a result.

"There's wonderfully exciting music being made at the moment all over Ireland – north, south, east, west – so the competition is likely to be particularly intense."

Slugging it out on the night are:

Male Singer

David Kitt

Bono

Ronan Keating

Mark Greaney (JJ72)

Female Singer

Andrea Corr

Juliet Turner

Gemma Hayes

Samantha Mumba

Band

Ash

U2

The Frames

The Corrs

Philip Lynott Newcomer Award

The Revs

Relish

Damien Rice

Melaton

Album

Ash – Free All Angels

David Kitt – The Big Romance

The Frames – For The Birds

Snow Patrol – When It's All Over We Still Have To Clean Up

Single

Ash – 'Shining Light'

U2 – 'Stuck In A Moment You Can't Get Out Of'

David Kitt – 'You Know What I Want To Know'

The Frames – 'Lay Me Down'

Pop Artist

Samantha Mumba

Westlife

The Corrs

Ronan Keating

Roots

Dervish

Cara Dillon

Kila

Enya

Songwriter

Bono

Neil Hannon

David Kitt

Christy Moore

Rory Gallagher Musician Award

Caroline Corr

The Edge

Glen Hansard

Declan Sinnott

Live Gig By An Irish Act

Ash at Witnness festival

Paul Brady at Vicar St., Dublin

U2 at Slane

Divine Comedy at the Mandela Hall, Belfast

Live Gig By An International Act

David Gray at Marlay Park

Radiohead at the Odyssey, Belfast

Bob Dylan at Nowlan Park

Red Hot Chili Peppers at Slane

Dance Award

Phil Kieran

Firstborn

Decal

Mr. Spring

Industry Award

John Hughes

David Holmes

Pat McCarthy (Producer, REM)

Dave Fanning