Our Thursdays' events took place across Ireland with hundreds of bands competing to play at official Arthur's Day events. One hundred acts will join names such as Snow Patrol and Paolo Nutini on the line up for Arthur's Day on 23rd September. The competition has now reached regional showcase stage, where 24 bands will compete to be shortlisted to play at the National Showcase. The most promising act as chosen by the judges will play on stage with headline act Snow Patrol, live in St James’s Gate on 23rd September.
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NATIONAL SHOWCASE
12-16 Bradbury Place, Belfast 
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Laverys Bunker offers an eclectic range of live gigs and club nights with universal appeal. Various strands of real music coexist with outstanding results providing the greatest variety of any venue in Belfast. The recently renovated Ballroom and Roof Terrace has already revolutionised entertainment in Belfast. The combination of a classic billiards hall fused with a cutting edge music venue is a first in Ireland with sell out crowds every Saturday night to prove it. Across all four bars, in what is Belfast’s oldest family run pub, every taste is catered for with an unending selection of DJ sets, club nights and live music events. |
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Dave Peyton Dave is a singer/songwriter/musician raised in a small country town in the midlands after he and his family moved down from Dublin the early 80s. He has been very fortunate with gigs, having shared stages in small venues and big festivals with Irelands finest: The Frames, The Blizzards, Mundy, The Pogues, The Hothouse Flowers, Declan O'Rourke, Ronnie Drew, The Walls, and many international acts such as, Avril Lavigne, Starsailor, The Editors, Sister Sledge and Mystery Jets. Dave's debut solo album Couch Lovers was released on iTunes on the 1st of July 2010. |
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Reko Reko is a four-piece electronica / psychedelic band from Kilkenny. They play beats to enthused crowds, and have been making a name for themselves both in Kilkenny and further afield. Their first single Stop My Eyes reached number fifty in the Irish single charts in its first week. Reko\'s seven-track debut album will be released in September 2010. |
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Maud in Cahoots Maud Reardon came to New York in June 2007 to pursue her life-long dream of being a pop star. Having recorded in such studios as The Cutting Room in New York, she has finally found her voice amongst two top New York musicians, Sunny Knable and Ben Stapp and her sister, Zoe. Together, they are Maud In Cahoots. George Kimball of the IRISH TIMES describes the group as "unique". She calls it contemporary alternative pop, mixed in with soul, Motown and the occasional glockenspiel solo. |
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Empire Saints Empire Saints were formed in 2008 by brothers Fiachra & Uisneagh Treacy. Shortly after, long-time friend Noel Healy, drummer & co-songwriter joined the Saints along with Pete Cheevers. Empire Saints have headlined gigs in some very prestigious venues even at this early stage in their career including the Sugar Club and Whelan\'s in Dublin and The Hope and Anchor in London. Empire Saints were also shortlisted in Hot Press\'s "London Calling" competition with the top prize of playing in front of 20,000 people in Trafalgar Square at the St. Patrick\'s Festival. The band was selected because of the video for "Float On", which has been selected for the 2010 BORNSHORTS Film Festival in Denmark in August 2010. |
