• The Irish Government are Officially Taking the Piss

    November 16, 2021 - By 

    After 19 months of uncertainty, wilful obstruction, and – finally – some brief reprieve over the last four weeks, the Irish government has once again U-turned on its decision to throw the hospitality sector a lifetime. From midnight on Thursday, all pubs, nightclubs and restaurants in the Republic of Ireland will have to close at midnight. For the music industry that means one very obvious thing: those weeks of frantic planning, scheduling, booking, organising and liaising by bookers, venue owners, artists and DJs? It was more or less all for nothing. There’s no two ways about it: the Irish government…

  • Full Capacity Indoor Seated Events Set For NI Venues

    September 27, 2021 - By 

    The Northern Irish executive has tonight announced a relaxation of social distancing, while will allow NI’s music venues, theatres and conference venues to host full capacity indoor seated events from 6pm on Thursday, September 30. With 100% capacity live events to be allowed both indoors and outdoors in the Republic from October 22, the news has come as a relief to venue owners and gig-goers in the north. “We welcome the NI Executive’s decision to remove Social Distancing for indoor seated venues,” said Joe Dougan of the Limelight. “This is a progressive step which will enable many businesses to get back…

  • #WeMakeEventsNI Warns of Events Sector Collapse

    September 16, 2020 - By 

    Right now, the live music and events sector, far and wide, faces collapse. It’s something that workers right across the island are painfully aware of, not least in more recent weeks. In the north, a new initiative is calling for support through the launch of #WeMakeEventsNI. Comprising lighting designers, tour caterers, truck drivers, tour managers, riggers, backline techs, video directors and festival promoters, the team has set out to shine a searing light on the imminent collapse of the industry. At the heart of the drive is a call to the UK Government to support the myriad workers within the sector.…

  • Irish Music Industry Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund Launched

    April 16, 2020 - By 

    A new COVID-19 emergency relief fund for the Irish music industry has been launched. Set up by Irish Music Rights Organisation (IMRO), the Irish Recorded Music Association (IRMA) and First Music Contact (FMC), the fund has been created to assist Irish music creators who are currently experiencing the most financial need. It is open to songwriters, composers, performers, session musicians and arrangers who are currently trying to navigate through this challenging time. As well as financial contributions by IMRO and IRMA, Spotify is making a donation and is also matching donations made to the Irish Music Industry Covid-19 Emergency Relief Fund…

  • A Problem Shared: How The Irish Music Community is Navigating Self-Isolation

    March 25, 2020 - By 

    A wise man once said, “The country’s cowped”. And you know what? He wasn’t wrong. But in strange, unprecedented times – in totally unchartered territory such as this – it doesn’t take long for the best of us to come together. Even now, as we’re all adapting to being cooped up in our own liminal little worlds, a sense of solidarity in numbers grows stronger by the day. For many of us self-isolating like it’s nobody’s business, the last week-and-a-bit has felt more than a little dream-like. And yet, loitering in the forefront of my mind, demanding to be heeded, is…