U2 have swept the boards in the 2002 Hot Press Readers’ Poll, the results of which are published in the latest issue of the magazine. Despite the fact that they were without a new album during the year, they topped the poll in a total of eight categories, including Best Group. Best Live Act and the coveted Best Polling Act.

U2 also took the prime position in the Love of the Year category for their two performances at Slane Castle, which were widely considered to be among the live music highlights of the band’s career to date.

The Hot Press Readers Poll has always been regarded as one of the most important benchmarks of the shifting sands of popularity in the annual Irish rock calendar. In this respect, the poll holds good news for both The Frames, who won the Best Album in the Irish section with their superb For The Birds,

and for David Kitt, whose impact is evident in his performance in taking the Debut Album category with The Big Romance, as well as runners-up positions in the Male Singer, Songwriter and album categories.

There was cause for celebration too for Juliet Turner, whose growing stature is reflected in her appearance in four categories and in particular by her elevation to No.2 Female Singer.

The top spot in the latter category was lifted by Andrea Corr, for the second year running, with The Corrs coming in as 4th. Best Polling Act, overall. Other Irish winners included Ash, David Holmes and Altan.

The International categories were dominated by David Gray, who was voted top Male Singer, Songwriter and Live Act. Gray was also the No.2 in the overall Best Polling Act category. REM took the No.1 album category with the excellent Reveal and The Strokes emerged as the favoured newcomers with Hot Press readers, taking three categories, including Most Promising Act and Debut Album.

In the international Female Singer category, Dido scored a significant victory, pipping the hotly tipped Madonna to the top spot. Faithless were the winners in the tightly contested Best Dance Act category, ahead of Avalanches, Orbital and Basement Jaxx.

Among the other acts that polled well were Radiohead, Stereophonics and Bob Dylan.

To read the Reraders' Poll results in full, consult your nearest copy of Hot Press: on newsstands from Thursday, January 17th.