Entry to the competition, which is supported by Hot Press and RTÉ 2fm, closed on Friday, with a huge number of bands and artists from all over Ireland submitting tracks.
To vote just go hotpress.com/playontheday
Over the weekend, a panel of judges worked round the clock to shortlist the very best acts in each of the four regions.

"It was an extraordinary task, but hugely encouraging," said Niall Stokes, Editor of Hot Press. "There is a phenomenal amount of talent out there, people who genuinely have the potential to make an impact over the next few years."


"The quality of the acts that entered was outstanding," Ian Wilson senior producer with RTÉ 2fm said. "The judges were faced with a daunting task, but there is no doubt looking at the list of shortlisted bands that this competition has captured the imagination in a really exciting way."

The public voting is now open and will run until August 21st. The top four acts in each region will then proceed to the Regional Finals, which take place in Cork, Limerick, Dublin and Belfast. The four regional winners will then proceed to the Arthur's Day – Play On The Day final in the Róisín Dubh, in Galway, on Friday September 16th.


"We're really thrilled that there has been such a fantastic reaction to the competition," said Sarah Acton of Guinness. "It reflects the extraordinary wealth of talent that exists in Ireland at the moment, which is hugely encouraging for the future of music here. We are really pleased to be able to offer a platform for the very best of this talent on Arthur's Day, which takes place on Thursday September 22nd. It is going to be a fantastic celebration."


ARTHUR'S DAY – PLAY ON THE DAY – THE COMPLETE SHORTLIST

The full list of bands and tracks is as follows:

The East
(All of the province of Leinster)
After the Explosions - Reflected Eye
Alarmist - Giraffe Centre
Autumn Owls - A Thousand Blind Windows
Bear Bones - The Great Escape
Cars Love Girls – Lose Your Mind
Cathryn Green - Can You Understand?
Cocophone - Hollow Tree
ColourMePink - Just So You Know
Cry Monster Cry - The March
Downhill - Extended Vacation
Emer Kenny - Freaks
I Am Kaii - Broken Glass
Junah - Sad Song
Jupe - Get Up
Killer Ceol - The Magic Door
Leaders of Men - Bite Your Tongue
Meesha Lane - All Good Now
Modern India - Knifefight
Murder Plan - Soul Dance
Nuisance - Shoelaces
Owensie - Cat and Mouse
Press Empire - Let Go
Red Queen Contest - Fruitless Endeavour
Reko - Midnight
Roisin O - The Thrill
Santa Cruz - Blow It All In Vegas
Sinead McNally - The Green Eyed Monster
Soldiers Can't Dance - Show Your Skin
Teekay Da Newborn - Keep On Shining
The Barley Mob - Everybody's Music
The Curtain Thieves - Only In The Night
The Fallen Drakes - Masquerade
The Original Rudeboys - Stars In My Eyes
The Paddy Usher Band - Beat Me Like A Devil
The Radioactive Grandma - Chasing My Tail
The Rambleers - Ebb & Flow
The Whatmans - Come Along
Tieranniesaur - Sketch!
Tiny Magnetic Pets - Goodbye, Goodbye, Goodbye
Touch Wood - A Day Or 3

The North
(All of the province of Ulster)
Allison and Soulantics - One More Moment
Cathal King & Pauric Carney - Up and Down
City of Stars - Magic Cape
Clubbed Foot - Good Get Right
Comply Or Die - Shanghaied
Eatenbybears - Vanderhoof
In Elegance - The End
Katie and the Carnival - Went To The Fair
Like Statues - A Journey To Speak Of
Miss Paula Flynn - Holiday In Sweden
Mojo GoGo - Romance In The Lie
Nine Lies - Save Me
Paul Casey - Big World
Red Light Inferno - Envy Glorious Envy
September Cross - Closer to the Edge
SertOne - Off The Burn
Shawn Morrow - Found Something
Shouting At Planes - Surrender
Suzanne Savage - Damage
Swanee River - Gypsy Promise
Terence Rowlands - Zen
The Bandits - Vicious Little Missus
The Making - Beautiful Tonight
The Popgun Plot – Svengali
Young Aviators - Life in the Front Seat

The South
(All of the province of Munster, except Clare and Limerick)
Agitate The Gravel - Wilderness Years
Amber Jean - Morning Snow
Bocs Socail - Shot One
Bona Fide Federation - Festival
Cathal Flaherty - Where To Hide
DC Tempest - Sometimes
Dead School - Frailties
FreezerRoom - Recommended Dose
In Valour - Into the Light
John Blek & the Rats - The Tide Will Rise Again
Jonny Rep - If You Had A Plan
Lisa Murphy - Clocks
Love Street - Don't Rush a Good Thing
Mind At Risk - Anywhere
Mishap - Fake
Monorail - River
Nicole Maguire - I Don't
Ophelia Mc - Revolutionary
Paradox - Mr. Bureaucracy
Pavlov's Dogs - Home
Southern Highway - Oh Why
Ten Past Seven - Macroom
Time Is A Thief - Our Game
Vita - Dirty Silhouette
Zombie Computer - Get Over You

The West & Mid-West
(All of the province of Connacht plus Limerick and Clare)
Bad Pennies - Mr Parking Meter
Birdthistle - Let It All Go Home
Blackpenny - Shame On You
Bug - Forks
Celtic Crossroads - Ned of the Hill
Dead Red Light - We Waste Ourselves
Dennis McCalmont - Carousel (Sun is Shining Down)
Fox Jaw Bounty Hunters - Strip The City
Intinn - Come Away
Ka tet - Bob n' Charlie
Kelvin Busher - Everybody Feels Alone
Last Days of Death Country - Venom
Lorcan James - VIP
Mark O'Connor - Roll Back The Years
Naughty Polly - Snowglobe
Oswald Green - Man on Stilts
Loyal Cuckoo - Sound of Revolution
Senakah - Clarity
Siomha Brock - I Just Want You
The Aoife Scott Band - Dónál Ná Fág
The Disconnected Bliss - The Hedonist
The Plea - Praise Be
The Rye - Love Grows Cold
Thomas McPartland - Hungry Eyed
Very Angry Girls - Red Balloon



Arthur's Day – Play On The Day – How It Works

The competition is divided into four regions, North, East, South and West and Mid-West. For a full list of the shortlisted acts in each of the regions, see below.

Tracks from all of the shortlisted bands and artists can now be heard at www.hotpress.com/playonthe day. Members of the public, who must be over 18 to vote, can vote in all four regions, with a maximum of one vote per region. Four acts in each region will be voted through to the Regional Finals. There will be four regional winners, who will then compete for the ultimate prize in the National Final. Stay tuned to RTÉ 2fm and check out hotpress.com for further details.

THE NATIONAL WINNER'S PRIZE PACKAGE
• The opportunity to play the Main Stage at the Guinness Hop Store on Arthur's Day
• A full recording session with a senior record producer in RTÉ studios
• A special Flip Cover of Hot Press
• A label to release the single, with no strings attached
• A full professional photo session for the Hot Press cover
• A place for a member of the band/manager on the MIX course run by Hot Press
• A special consultation with MIX lecturers/industry experts
• An interview and spread in Hot Press
• The following items of musical equipment:
• €4,000 worth of guitars from FENDER
• €4,000 worth of Drums & Keyboards from YAMAHA
• €3,000 Gift Voucher from WALTON'S MUSIC


THE REGIONAL WINNER'S PRIZE PACKAGE

• To join the line-up for Arthur's Day in one of the four centres where Arthur's Day celebrations are happening
• To record an in-studio session for broadcast by RTÉ 2fm, to stream on hotpress.com and for the band's own use
• To feature on a special Flip Cover of Hot Press
• A full professional photo session for the Hot Press flip cover
• An interview in Hot Press