Tonight, the great, the good and the downright rubbish elements of the Irish music scene will be donning their finest in the hopes of being honoured in Ireland's equivilant to the Grammy's and the Brit's.
It's time to play the music 
It's time to light the lights
It's time to meet the nominees for the Meteor Awards tonight.
Ah award season. There's nothing like dusting down the old penguin suit and getting ready for the glitz and glam that comes with reporting from the front line of the Irish music scene. In the coming weeks we have The Choice Music Prize and, eh, Eurosong 2008 [Insert own turkey gag here], but tonight the Irish music scene gather to give themselves one big collective pat on the back at the 2008 Meteor Awards.
The Meteors, or the Meteor Ireland Music Awards to give them their proper title, are a uniquely Irish event. Westlife, for example, have won the Best Irish Pop Act category every year since its inception. Ray D'Arcy, despite playing very little music, has a similar hold over the Best Irish DJ category. Key Notes isn't a betting man - indeed the last time he bet on a horse it died, not figuratively, but literally, while leading with just 100 metres to go! - but you could get very short odds on both these categories being awarded to familiar faces tonight. What is it about Irish people and their ability not just tolerate rubbish, but to reward it?
Conversely, this years Meteors have the potential to be the "indiest" Meteors yet. HypeFight Like Apes are up for Best Irish Band alongside Future Kings of Spain, The Flaws and Delorentos. If there is any justice in the world Cathy Davey should walk away with Best Irish Female, while Glen Hansard's Oscar nomination is likely to be enough to see him secure the award for Best Irish Male. With Paddy Casey the only pop act in the running it is also likely that the award for Best Irish Album will go to an indie act.
The following is a run down of who Key Notes thinks should/will walk away with the main Prizes tonight:
Best Irish Band
Will: Fight Like Apes
Should: Future Kings of Spain
Best Irish Album
Will: Tales of Silversleeve - Cathy Davey
Should: Tales of Silversleeve - Cathy Davey
Best Irish Male
Will: Glen Hansard
Should: Duke Special
Best Irish Female
Will: Sinead O'Connor
Should: Cathy Davey
Key Notes would love to hear what you think about the Meteors. Who do you think should win what? Do you care or are award nights just an excuse for musicians to get drunk cheaply? Whatever you think, feel free to leave a comment below.