First up: we speak to online sensations Versatile, about soundtracking their generation through some incredible songs and music videos. Speaking with Stuart Clark, they document their riotous rise to the top - and toss a few grenades back at their critics.

Next: In a world exclusive, Hot Press gets the first ever opportunity to view the private notebooks of Bob Dylan's masterpiece Blood On The Tracks - recently given the boxset treatment with More Blood, More Tracks. In these remarkable diaries, the iconic singer's unique perfectionist approach to his art is dramatically reveals. Noted Bob Dylan writer and lecturer Anne Margaret Daniels takes us deep into the artist's mind.

Elsewhere in the issue, Ed Power catches up with our Female Artist of the Year Sigrid. The Nordic chart-topper talks about blubbing with joy at Electric Picnic and talks about the stories behind her breakthrough hits.

Paul Nolan gets the opportunity to quiz our Legend Of The Year David Byrne, about his brilliant stage production, performing Talking Heads classics, and collaborating with St. Vincent and Brian Eno throughout his legendary career.

Our Actor of the Year, the indomitable Aidan Gillen, talks about shape-shifting in Bohemian Rhapsody, dystopian teen dramas, and much more besides, while actress Tessa Thompson discusses her stellar performance in Creed 2, the rip-roaring new installment in the Rocky franchise.

On top of all that, we have writer Paul Charles recounting the extraordinary saga around the ill-fated attempt to promote a Rolling Stones gig in Ireland in the early '80s, All Ireland-winning Tipp hurler Seamus Hennessy on mental health advocacy, and his hopes to raise 200,000 euro for charity by running the Atlantic-Ice marathon.

We also run down our definitive list of Albums of the Year, Films of the Year, Books of the Year and Games of the Year. Meanwhile, we let The Whole Hog rip loss on all the social and political events of the year, and Cynthia Catania gives us the Sex News highlights of 2018.

That's all before mentioning interviews with Booker Prize nominee Donal Ryan, Hip-hop sensation Rejjie Snow, and Ladies football star Carla Rowe.

It's a jam-packed one! Get it in-stores now or chose your cover below: https://shop.hotpress.com/collections/hot-press-annual-2019