Play On The Day finalists revealed!

Hundreds of entries have flooded in over the summer, bringing many of the finest up-and-coming acts from the four corners of Ireland together, all united in their aim – to have the chance to take to the Main Stage on Arthur's Day. Now, following several rounds of judging, four regional finals have determined who will slog it out on September 16 to become this year's chosen act. After the National Final in Galway's Róisín Dubh, those hundreds of hopefuls will have been whittled down to one. One of Foxjaw Bounty Hunters, Leaders of Men, Mojo Gogo, Zombie Computer, will become the deserving winners of 2011's mammoth Guinness Arthur’s Day Play On The Day trawl through Irish music.

"The turn-out for the Regional finals has been fantastic - great atmosphere, and really strong acts performing," said RTÉ 2FM's Dan Hegarty. "Whoever wins the final in Galway next week is certainly going to deserve the very long list of prizes, and of course slot on September 22nd."

Having put in performance after convincing performance en route to their September 22 destination, the ultimate victor will be Dublin-bound. The winning band will take to the Main Stage at the Guinness Brewery Storehouse to help the assembled masses celebrate what is fast becoming an Irish institution, Arthur's Day. Our winners will join a line-up that includes such established artists as Scissor Sisters, Ash and Calvin Harris and will play alongside Stereophonics at down St. James's Gate way. An utterly fantastic, potentially life-changing prize and one that will most certainly have been hard-fought for.

Many thanks to all the acts that applied in recent months, ensuring that the competition maintained its usual high standard of entries and a special mention must go to those sixteen bands who made it all the way to the regional finals.

"It's going to be an almighty ding dong next week in Galway!" said Stuart Clark, deputy editor of Hot Press. "The standard of acts has been extraordinarily high, and all four finalists would be worthy Play On The Day winners."

The West & Mid-West contingent battled it out in Dolan's of Limerick on September 7. Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters, Siomha Brock, The Aoife Scott Band and The Disconnected Bliss all made good accounts of themselves, with judges Jenny Huston (RTÉ 2fm), Celina Murphy (Hot Press) and Eric Fitzgerald deeming Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters to be the winners. Down South, Cyprus Avenue in Cork was the September 8 setting for a showdown between The Empire Lights, Zombie Computer, Amber Jean and Dead School. Dan Hegarty (RTÉ 2fm), Colm O'Hare (Hot Press) and Colm O'Sullivan opted for Zombie Computer. Heading North that same night to The Limelight, we had In Elegance, Mojo Gogo, Shouting At Planes and Shawn Morrow being judged by Rigsy, Edwin McFee (Hot Press) Connor Phillips (Cool FM) and Francis Jones and Mojo Gogo were the victors. Cormac Battle (RTÉ 2fm), Stuart Clark (Hot Press) and Danny McElhinney had the difficult job of assessing Roisin O, The Original Rudeboys, Leaders Of Men and The Fallen Drakes in Whelan's on September 7. After much deliberation, Leaders of Men became the regional winners in the East.

Each regional final (in fact, every stage of the competition), was a testament to the continuing strength of this country's music scene. Whoever is destined to play on Arthur's Day come September 22, the other significant winner will unequivocally have been the listening public of Ireland. Best of luck to our finalists and we will see you on Arthur’s Day. Now, here's to Arthur, and doing it all again next year!