Up the stairs go the trays of food to the stars who are behind closed doors until the off and the mammoth Hot Press Uncovered Concert is broadcast live from Dublin's HQ Hall of Fame. They're offered tiger prawns, salmon steaks and chicken fillets.
Sinead O'Connor, in a pale grey trouser suit, does a sound check. She looks happy, confident and relaxed. Paul Brady is ready to rock, having already checked the mikes. Mary Coughlan is upstairs waiting in the green room. Jack L has just arrived looking like Zorro. The excitement mounts. The phalanx of security men tightens. Three women working as artist liaisons - Suzie Shorten, Caitriona Belton and Ciara Dufficy - are busy keeping the rock stars happy.
Paddy Moloney, of The Chieftains, is the first of his troupe to arrive, carrying his pipes and a bag of accoutrements. Liam O Maonlai passing down the stairs, stops to say hello, shake hands with the chieftain and poses for the cameras. Click. "Seachain mo phiob," cautions Moloney, pushing his box of pipes out of the way. Next week, The Chieftains are off to the US for "another round of concerts," he says. Some of the highlights include playing with Los Lobos and Jethro Tull but tonight, he promises, they'll do a U2 song - Trying to Throw Your Arms Around the World. They do, wearing shades a la Bono, and play in a very low-key kinda way, and follow it up by a rousing rendition of An Puc Ar Buile to which everyone claps and whoops.
O Maonlai is working with Claus Biegert, a writer and activist from Munich in Germany, on an album to support the Nuclear Free Future Award.
Highlight of the night is the arrival of The Undertones, who sing Teenage Kicks and the 20- year-old hit brings the house down. They had to return for an encore.