A new year means a fresh start and new opportunities – and if you’re a musician or a member of an Irish band, there are plenty of the latter available over the coming weeks.

Aer TV's Back to Basics will soon return for its second series and has put the call out for interested parties to apply before January 31st. The series, which is in partnership with Today FM, is an initiative which films independent acts performing acoustic sets in a variety of unusual locations.

"The locations we film in are a bit of eye candy, even if your band is not," joked producer Karen Howley. The first series has attracted more than 30,000 views since its launch last October.

Meanwhile, if you'd like to ply your wares alongside the likes of Marina and the Diamonds, Two Door Cinema Club and Soak at the forthcoming Other Voices Derry series next month, get your skates on and apply to the Imro Other Room contest, as the deadline is 8pm tonight. Three acts will be shortlisted and put to a public vote on January 25th. See othervoices.ie