The acts performing at this year’s Choice Music Prize have been announced, with six of the 10 nominees confirmed to play a short live set on the night.
Fight Like Apes, Mick Flannery, Halfset, Jape, Messiah J The Expert and R.S.A.G. will perform at the ceremony, which takes place at Dublin’s Vicar Street on March 4th. Lisa Hannigan, Oppenheimer and The Script are unavailable due to prior touring commitments, and Belfast DJ/musician David Holmes does not perform live.
The Script said they were “gutted” not to be there, and wished their fellow nominees the best of luck. “We are proud to be Irish and when Ireland congratulates us for our achievements, there is no better compliment,” they said.
Co-founder and organiser David Reid said: “It’s just down to bad timing that three of the acts can’t make it. It’s going to be a great showcase of Irish music, though – there’s plenty of variety to keep people happy.”
The confirmed bands will perform three songs each, and all nominees will have video footage screened courtesy of MUZU TV, while the 12 judges (I’m one of them) debate who should take the title of Irish Album of the Year, along with a a commemorative trophy and cheque for €10,000 .
A limited number of tickets for the event, which will be broadcast live on Today FM, are still on sale for €27 from the usual outlets.
