Letterkenny band Apollo 6 will represent Donegal at the Irish Youth Music Awards final after claiming victory in the Donegal Heat, which was held in Voodoo INK last Saturday.
The event, which was co-ordinated at local level by the Donegal Youth Service, saw 16 finalists take to the stage in what was a great day’s entertainment.
Apollo 6 consist of Eilis Cusack (vocals), Ashley Kavanagh (guitar), Thomas McDaid (bass) Chris Cullinane (guitar) John O’Connell (drums). They will now represent the county at the Irish Youth Music Awards National Final in Liberty Hall in Dublin on April 28th. Dungloe band The Loose Bananas finished a very close second when the votes were counted, also winning best original song, meaning they will now have their song performed by Apollo 6 in the national final.
The Irish Youth Music Awards is unique in that the regional final works off a principle where all the competing bands have one vote and they have to select who they think will represent the county best at national final. This is where the work really begins also however, as fellow bands will now be asked to work together to support the young Letterkenny band. If Apollo 6 is successful in the national final all the local acts get to be part of a professionally recorded album in Dublin.
This is the 5th year of the Irish Youth Music Awards, with Donegal claiming the Paul Clancy Songwriting award in 2011, having previously won the overall award in 2008. At the national final there is also the added bonus of all the bands learning a little bit more about the music industry and meeting representatives from the Irish music industry, and they are judged on all aspect of the Donegal team’s project, such as putting on preparation gigs, photography, styling and fundraising efforts to help bring the band and supporters to the national final.
The Donegal Youth Service would also like to thank all at Voodoo INK for hosting the event.
The Irish Youth Music Awards are a Youth Work Ireland Initiative. For more information on the Irish Youth Music Awards Donegal Heat contact Letterkenny Youth Information Centre on 074-9129640.
Tags:
