The Bank Holiday weekend is swiftly approaching and if your plans are still up in the air, here's a helping hand.
The great gigging action gets underway this evening and are pick of the bunch has to be Sligo Live's main event.
Hailing from a legendary musical family, Rufus Wainwright has long since established himself as a masterful melody-maker in his own right. A prodigious talent as a youngster, now in his 40s he's penned countless numbers of beautiful confessional pop songs and even turned his hand to opera writing, as you do. In the current issue of Hot Press, Rufus acknowledges the amazing array of material he has at his disposal: "quite a repertoire, be it a bit of Judy [Garland], a bit of French, a bit of my mother's material, a bit of opera. So I just go out there and sing for my supper essentially." He does more than that. A unique showman, you never know quite what you're going to get when Wainwright rolls into town. Knocknarea Arena is the place to find out tonight.
Down in the Rebel County, the performance worth seeing this evening is undoubtedly Dublin's Fight Like Apes. They'll be tearing Cyprus Avenue a new one. Great fun guaranteed.
Of course, the Guinness Cork Jazz Festival is currently underway, running all weekend across Leeside. The Coronas, Aslan, Blackalicious, Booka Brass Band, the Darius Brubeck Quartet, Jack L, Marcus Miller, Cassandra Wilson, Jerry Fish, Grace Kelly, Savina Yannatou, GoGo Penguin and the Phil WareTrio are among those stretching the definition of 'jazz' to its outer limits.
For full details go to [link]guinnessjazzfestival.com[/link].
The biggest presence in the capital is probably Jools Holland and his Rhythm And Blues Orchestra taking to the Bord Gais Energy Theatre stage.
Up north, Father John Misty is getting ready to dazzle Mandela Hall, fresh from charming Galway.
SATURDAY
No rest for Belfast, as Mandela Hall welcomes another stellar act. Fancy a bit of dream-pop? Beach House, who have just released new album Thank Your Lucky Stars have you covered. We're very excited about seeing 'Zebra' live...
In Dublin, Father John Misty concludes his Irish jaunt with a Vicar Street show. One of the most interesting songwriters on the planet right now, he's also an electrifying live presence. You'll want to catch his serpentine moves as his band turn it up to 11 for 'Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings'.

SUNDAY
Waterford has the pick of the Sunday bunch, with Adrian Crowley gracing the Garter Lane Arts Centre stage. The Choice Music Prize winner is the closest Ireland has o our own Leonard Cohen and that sonorous voice is without equal.If you're in that part of the South East, head for the O'Connell Street venue.
MONDAY
To close us out on the bank holiday, The Waterboys bring their 'Big Music' to The Millennium Forum in Derry.