On The Verge is a weekly showcase for musicians and bands in Dublin.
The idea, inspired by Dave Murphy's "Singer / Songwriter Night" in the International Bar, the idea is simple enough: there is a lot of talent out there and a lot of them deserve a break. Give them a stage, a microphone and an audience and see what they can do.
There was an added extra for these aspiring Bono, Bob or Britneys though: the sessions are recorded to be broadcast by radio. Indeed On The Verge started out as a radio show on Dublin South Community Radio. Brendan Hickey, the man behind the sessions, worked for them back in 1996, and managed to convince them to give a slot to a program aimed at unearthing local talent.
Brendan had previously put together a similar show for a college media course, with gave Mundy, Paddy Casey, Damien Dempsey and Nina Hynes their first radio broadcast.
In December 2002, Brendan left the radio station to get involved in the groundwork, putting together these Tuesday night gigs with the same aim of unearthing new talent. The sessions have been growing steadily, with a wide variety of very different acts playing each week.
Brendan returned to the D.S.F.M. in 2004 to put On The Verge back on the ariwaves with a show going out live every Thursady at 8pm for an hour. Some of these recordings can be downloaded from the On The Verge website. In August 2004, On The Verge joined forces with Roach Records to promote Free gigs in Sin E every Wednesday night and ontherverge.ie also stages a free gig every Tuesday in MB Slattery's, Rathmines.
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