Conor Thornton, a sound engineer from soundandlightening.ie, recently launched the first of many open-mic nights in Dundalk Golf Club.

Five acts played at the last bank-holiday weekend, and a further fifteen acts are set to perform in the near future. Thornton is also organising midweek gigs to facilitate for any artists who perform cover material.

“We set this up to try and provide and network and base for all the singer-songwriters in the north-east area because there’s nothing really up in this end of the woods, everything’s based down in Dublin. So it’s just trying to provide a service for [those bands who want] to get their music exposed.”

However, Thornton has considered changing the name to ‘Any Music Unplugged’, still to be hosted in the Golf Club free-of-charge. Thornton also records each of the acts using hi-fi mp4 technology. “It’s essentially a showcase for up-and-coming acts to get their name out there”.