Aspiring up-and-coming Irish acts hoping to be scouted may be interested in the Imro Showcase Tour, which takes place during March and April. The music rights organisation has put out a call to interested parties to apply for a place on the tour, which it has run since 1992.

Showcases will take place in a number of cities and towns, and some of those bands will then be chosen to perform at a Best Of gig at The Academy, Dublin on April 30th.

Each year, some 50 acts are chosen for the tour (four at each venue). To keep costs down, acts play in the venue closest to their base. Imro cover the venue hire and PR costs, while the bands share the box-office profits evenly.

Previous alumni of the tour include Fight Like Apes and Delorentos. The latter’s guitarist, Rónán Yourell, has called the experience was “an important step” in his band’s development.

To apply, send a website or MySpace link to showcase @imro.ie before February 12th.