The Hawk’s Well Theatre has been shortlisted for the IMRO Live Music Venue of the Year of 2014, for the third time in four years.
Sligo’s premiere theatre played host to jazz, country, folk, classical, rockabilly, samba and Gospel music during 2014. As well as hosting several trad music and trad fusion concerts, the Hawk’s Well was also a major venue during the Sligo Fleadh Cheoil in August of last year.
IMRO, the Irish Music Rights Organisation, announced the shortlist for the seventh annual Live Music Venue of the Year Awards on January 14. The awards recognise the Irish venues which deliver the very best standards in live music entertainment.
“We are delighted to have been nominated once more for the IMRO Live Music Venue of The Year Awards,” said Hawk’s Well Marketing Manager Maeve McGowan.
“These awards are presented by the Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO) in recognition of Irish music venues that provide the very highest standards in live music entertainment so it is fantastic to see the Hawk’s Well Theatre appearing in the shortlist for the last few years.”
She continued “The nominations come from the musicians themselves so it is great that musicians in Ireland regard the Hawk’s Well as one of the top venues for music in the North West. Since our Director Marie O’Byrne came to the Hawk’s Well over three years ago, the theatre has produced and hosted many fantastic music gigs.
“It would be fantastic to get the Sligo public behind us to vote for us as the overall winner is decided by the public so we would ask all your readers who have been to a music gig at the Hawk’s Well over the last few years to please vote before February 2 [link at end of article].”
Hundreds of venues across Ireland qualified for the awards and more than 10,000 IMRO members were asked to vote for their top choices in an online poll.
Venues have been judged on their ambiance, staging, sound and lighting facilities, the diversity of their music programming, the staff and management at each venue and the work they undertake in promoting the venue and its programme of music events.
Along with one overall award for National Live Music Venue of the Year, awards will be presented to the leading live music venues in Dublin, Leinster (excluding Dublin), Connacht, Munster and Ulster (covering Donegal, Monaghan and Cavan).
IMRO are now offering the public the chance to have their voice heard in the 2014 honours roll.
The shortlist for the Overall IMRO Live Music Venue of The Year Award is drawn up from the IMRO member’s poll and music lovers across Ireland are invited to nominate their favourite Irish venue from the shortlist of 25 venues (which includes five from Connacht).
One lucky voter will be chosen at random to receive a prize of a Samsung Galaxy Tab 3. Visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/imrovenueawards
The deadline for voting is February 2 and the winner will be announced the following day.
