Bands across the sea in a big night of super-karaoke

It was certainly the glitziest karaoke night Dublin has ever seen. Though, in fairness, they did all provide their own backing tracks and their own voices. The top names from Irish rock music over the past 30 years were taking part in the "Hot Press Uncovered" event in Dublin's HQ venue last night.

A joint venture by the BBC and Hot Press magazine saw the stars sing their own tracks and a number of their choice from a fellow Irish melody-maker who had inspired or delighted them in their younger days.

The event was part of the BBC's "Music for the Millennium", a celebration of all things musical, which saw up to 38 live events across Britain and Ireland. The programme included violinist Nigel Kennedy, live from the island of Sark, a live edition of Top of the Pops and a concert by Elton John from Woburn Abbey, as well as our own celebration.

Each of those taking part in "Hot Press Uncovered" had in their time graced the cover of the magazine.

First up last night were the Corrs, performing Thin Lizzy's Old Town and Radio. They were followed by, among others, Therapy?, The Four of Us, the Undertones, Paul Brady, who joined up with such southern stars as Ronan Keating, Jack L, the Hothouse Flowers, Mary Coughlan and Sinead O'Connor, with her version of Rory Gallagher's A Republic. The Chieftains gave a rousing rendition of U2's Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World.

"Absolutely chuffed", was how Ronan Keating summed up his feelings about taking part in the event. "Looking at all these covers," he said, pointing towards the Hot Press magazine covers adorning the venue, "I can see loads of faces of people whose music was very important to me when I was younger."

Although there was no headline act, the high point of the night was undoubtedly the moment Ronan Keating and Paddy Moloney took over from Lou Reed in New York as part of a global performance of Perfect Day. They then handed over to Heather Small at the Millennium Dome in London.

Uaneen Fitzsimons, sipping a bloodymary before the show, had just flown in from Cork where she had been presenting the Network 2 music show, No Disco. Shedescribed the event as "unique" and said she was particularly excited about seeing the Undertones, all of whose records she had bought by the time she was "about seven".

Mike Edgar, host of the show, looked a little less relaxed. He said he was a bit exhausted, a bit terrified, very excited and dying to see the end-product.