If Irish gig venues had personalities, they’d be sizing each other up and muttering insults under their breaths in advance of next week’s Imro Live Music Venue of the Year Awards.
The annual shindig hands out gongs to the best venues in Ulster, Munster, Leinster and Connacht, with a separate shortlist for Dublin and an overall National Live Music Venue of the Year award.
The criteria includes best ambience, lighting, staff, and the diversity of their music programming.
Hundreds of venues qualified for inclusion, but shortlists were eventually drawn up – and this year, for the first time, the public were invited to participate in the vote for Venue of the Year.
More than 3,000 votes were received in the poll, which will see Vicar St fighting to retain its crown against competition from The O2, Whelan’s, the National Concert Hall and the Olympia. There will also be a Music Festival of the Year award, as voted for by IMRO members.
All winners will be announced at the organisation’s Dublin headquarters on Thursday.
