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There are no two ways about it – this year’s Music Show was an outstanding success. Despite the lean economic times, the numbers coming through the doors were well up on previous years – a sure sign of the massive interest in all things musical in this country. The queues outside the main entrance from opening time onwards told their own story, while inside, thousands of music fans – they were young, old and loads in-between – milled around the historic RDS Main Hall creating the kind of atmosphere that would be difficult to describe to anyone who wasn’t in attendance. You really did have to be there to experience it.

The live shows, seminars, workshops and master classes were universally packed out and in many instances, oversubscribed. Throughout the weekend, the exhibitors’ stands in the main exhibition area were thronged with a mixture of everyone from the serious-minded muso to the curious enthusiast. Well-known musicians, young hopefuls and family groups mingled together, checking out the impressive array of instruments and gear on display. The hard-working staff manning their posts certainly had their work cut out for them. Virtually every strand of the music business was represented in some shape or other and there was huge interest in the stands – whether that of music superstore X Music, the long established Dublin family firm Walton's Music Distribution, or more specialist players like Big Bear Sound and A.M.P. Distribution, among others.

The brilliant range of Gibson and Epiphone guitars, among a huge variety of instruments, looked brilliant on the Walton's stand. The Roland space, facing the front door as people came in, was a hugely impressive statement of intent.

Lesley Kane of the newly established KMI Distribution, who handle Pearl drums noted the growth in the number of serious musicians attending this year’s show. “I think there was definitely more end-users there compared to previous years,” she observed. “We had a world launch of a Marshall product and it was very well received.”

She also noted an increase in the dealers in attendance this year, many of them praising the unique atmosphere of The Music Show. “We did business with all the dealers we met,” she says, “and I had comments sent to me from various international visitors, who said they loved the atmosphere around the place. Business is business but it’s rock and roll after all, and the atmosphere is important. It’s a huge effort on all our parts but it’s making people aware that they can buy products in Ireland rather than from foreign-based internet companies.”

Aidan McCullough from Keynote Music, distributors of high end brands such as Martin Guitars, Meinl percussion and D’Addario strings, said he was more than happy with his experience of the event. “I found this year to be very good,” he enthused. “I’m happy – that’s for sure.” The Keynote stand was busy throughout the weekend with all sorts of actiivities designed to attract and impress – and it worked.

Adam Leddy of The Sound Shop, Drogheda immediately pointed out that the attendance at this year’s show was at an all-time high. “There’s been a really fantastic crowd coming through our stand compared to previous years,” he said. “We’ve collected a lot of names for our mailing list and for the various competitions we’ve been running over the weekend. We’re all a bit exhausted – but it’s all good as far as I’m concerned.”

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Colm O Hare