A local radio disc jockey who set up a record label because of his passionate belief in the quality of the Galway music scene is now eagerly awaiting the release of two new albums next month.
Jon Richards has recorded no fewer than 267 sessions for his radio show since January of last year and is determined to prove to the world that Galway is buzzing when it comes to original rock and dance sounds.
He set up Origin Records with studio engineer Aiden Reid and financial expert Denise Tormey after being impressed by a myriad of talented acts on his Drivetime programme on Galway Bay FM.
Their first efforts paid off in February with the release of the acclaimed To Boldly Go compilation album featuring eight unsigned acts from the west of Ireland.
Three of the acts on the CD, Ruth Dillon, Charis and Orangewood, have received considerable national airplay, and a leading American producer is rumoured to be interested in working with one of the other bands.
No fewer than 89 acts applied for inclusion on the label's second compilation, which is due in record shops nationwide on Friday, October 1st.
Less than a week later, Dillon will release her first solo album on the label.
"People seemed to think that traditional music was the only consistently good thing coming out of Galway," said Mr Richards.
"While I am delighted that the traditional scene is so strong, I was sick of rock music in Galway being classed as second-rate. We were determined to show that there was something else going on here, on a bigger scale."
Origin Records see themselves as a launch pad for unsigned artists, and all of the acts featured on the albums retain the copyrights to their songs.
"Our job is to get bands noticed," he said. It started off as a kind of a hobby, but it's turned into a small business at this stage. I have gone out of my way to feature Irish music at the radio station, but sometimes I was getting rubbish in the post which I just could not get on air.
"It's a huge gamble to play unknown talent on an evening radio show and you have to think very carefully about how you present the product. With our sessions, I was able to give bands free studio time and I became aware that there was so much talent out there."
Richards's studio sessions have reached legendary status, as he has recorded live takes with the likes of Kristin Hersh, Paddy Casey, The Devlins and Ocean Colour Scene, plus virtually every Galway rock band, during a hectic year and a half at the radio station. Hersh, the Throwing Muses' former singer, hopes to use one of the Galway Bay FM takes on her next album.
The city's main live music venues, the Roisin Dubh and Cuba, have rowed in to sponsor the Origin Records releases and Mr Richards has also been delighted by the sponsorship of Zhivago Records in Galway.
"Local gig operators often come into our studios and listen to what's there," he said.
"The scene here is very healthy at the moment. The gig owners actually listen to demo tapes and return calls. While they are there to make money as well, they are prepared to give support slots to unsigned young bands."
The new compilation album will feature a mix of acoustic pop, dance, rock and ambient sounds. The artists featured are David Lydon, Spengo, Fable in Youth, Sean Crosson, Tongue, Rococo, Ultan Conlon, One Mind and Fuzzburger.
Ruth Dillon will release her debut album, called Silent Thief, in Galway on Thursday, October 7th.