WHEN the Hot Press Rock Awards moved from its usual Dublin venue to Belfast this year, the organisers were not just looking for a change of scenery - they were going straight to the heart of Irish rock in the 1990s.
Many of us have long suspected that the Republic's music scene had lost the edge to its Northern Irish counterparts. The proof came last night when Northern acts Ash, The Divine Comedy, Brian Kennedy and Van Morrison swept the board.
The ceremony was held at the BBC Blackstuff Studios in Belfast. In another first for the Heineken sponsored ceremony, the event will be televised on BBC1 tonight at 9.30.
The winners were selected by a judging panel. The awards show was presented by British television presenter Ulrika Johnson and BBC Radio Ulster presenter Mike Edgar, with former Riverdance star, Jean Butler, a guest presenter on the night.
Downpatrick trio Ash won two major awards, Best Irish Band and Best Irish Single for their 1996 Top Ten hit, Oh Yeah. The three, hold the distinction of being the only Irish act to enter the British charts at Number One with their debut album.
Belfast singer Brian Kennedy won the Best Solo Male award, beating his mentor, Van Morrison. Van The Man was compensated with an award for Best Live Performance in Ireland by an Irish act, for his most recent concert in Dublin's Olympia Theatre.
Fermanagh singer Neil Hannon, who is The Divine Comedy, won Best Songwriter and Best Irish album for last year's Casanova, which includes the hit singles Something For The Weekend and The Frog Princess.
It wasn't all disappointment for Best Songwriter and Best Irish album for last year's Casanova, which includes the hit singles Something For The Weekend and The Frog Princess.
It wasn't all disappointment for Dublin musicians, however, with Boyzone winning Best Pop Act and U2's Larry Mullen arriving to collect the Rory Gallagher Musician Award.
Dublin band Bawl was presented with the Philip Lynnott New Band award by the late singer.
