Van Morrison, The Boomtown Rats, Imelda May and The Frames are among the well-known Irish acts on the line-up for Hot Press magazine's special gig at Dublin’s 3Arena early next year.
History In The Making: The Concert is set to take place on Friday, 6 February as part of the publication’s 50th anniversary celebrations. Tickets go on sale this Monday at 9am via Ticketmaster.
Damien Dempsey, Clannad, Picture This, Florence Road, Belters Only, Jazzy, Denise Chaila and Irish Women in Harmony will also take to the stage, while Michael D. Higgins will appear as a special guest on the night.
Speaking about the event, Hot Press editor Niall Stokes said: "I want to say a huge thanks to all of the artists who have jumped on board for the show. I love the sense of comradeship and support that is evident at every level in Irish music. There is so much extraordinary talent here, across all genres in Ireland – and the calibre of the artists here is utterly exceptional."
He added: "We are all really looking forward to a night of extraordinary music to kick start our 50th Anniversary activities. It is going to be one of those amazing, special occasions."
Bob Geldof of The Boomtown Rats has admitted that the magazine had a huge impact on his band's career and paved the way for many artists.
"We grew up together Hot Press and the Rats. While we got big, the magazine grew. And grew. You know all the names that followed that wouldn't have, had it not been for this fabulous paper Hot Press, that was negative," he said.
Geldof said the magazine has consistently encouraged and supported new and emerging talent.
"Hot Press created enough heft for the fledgling music outfits it wrote about to gather music attention from outside these shores. It gave space in its pages for new writers, new thoughts – for modernity. It posited, felt like and helped to create OUR Ireland. A newer, fresher, very different and much more open and progressive country.
"Hot Press has never stopped tracking – and promoting – the flow of musical, political and intellectual ideas of the country. It has constantly encouraged every new band with something to say. It has baptised them and sent them on their way."
More acts for History In The Making: The Concert will be announced in the coming days.
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