Play On The Day regional finalists announced


The Regional Finalists have been announced in the Guinness Arthur's Day – Play on The Day competition. In all, sixteen acts remain in the race to win the ultimate prize package in the Arthur's Day – Play On The Day competition 2012.

The competition, which is supported by Hot Press and RTÉ 2fm, has been a huge success to date with hundreds of bands and artists submitting tracks for consideration. In all 55 bands were shortlisted and the public have now voted for their favourite tracks from a rich selection of Ireland's leading emerging talent.

The top four acts in each region (see below for full details) have been voted to go forward to the Regional Finals, which take place in Belfast, Dublin, Limerick and Cork. To get FREE TICKETS to support your favourite act – or simply to check out a night a great home-grown music – see [link]www.playontheday.com[/link].  
So, with further ado, the regional finalists...

East: Whelan's, Dublin – Thursday Nov 1
*Stewart Agnew
*The Hot Sprockets
*The Juice
*The Thomas Donoghue Band

North: The Limelight, Belfast – Thursday Nov 1
*In Their Thousands
*Peter McVeigh
*Suzanne Savage
*Triggerman

West & Mid-West: Dolan's, Limerick – Friday Nov 2
*Animal Beats
*Paddy Dennehy and The Red Herring
*Protobaby
*Strange Boats

South: Cyprus Avenue, Cork – Thursday Nov 8
*Aine Duffy
*Dead School
*The Calvinists
*Walking On Cars

"A huge number of votes were cast and the competition is fierce," Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said. "It is really great to see that there are so many great artists and bands in Ireland right now, across every genre of contemporary music. The scene is set for some fantastic live gigs across the country".

"The standard of the bands in the regional finals is remarkable. The competition is going to be really tough – which makes it all the more exciting for RTÉ 2fm, to be broadcasting from the Regional Finals. We're really looking forward to it,"  said 2fm producer Ian Wilson.

For more on the competition and to be in with a chance of going to the regional finals, head to [link]www.playontheday.com[/link] now.