Birthdays… time to look back on the year gone by. Well, the Ballroom of Romance chappies must be very pleased with themselves. Over the last year the Ballroom has played host to the likes of The Coldspoon Conspiracy, The Warlords of Pez, Deputy Fuzz, The Chalets, The Dudley Corporation, The Tycho Brahe, Derrick Devine and many others. The regular showcase event in the Lower Deck has chosen the Sugar Club as the location of its birthday bash on August 3 so pop along and wish them a Happy Birthday!

One of the acts appearing on the birthday night is Steerage who recently released their debut EP ‘Smash them all to bits’ on Sinkorswim records. New guitarist Peter Sisk made his second live appearance at the launch. Drummer Brian O’ Higgins is packing his bags and heading to Cork for a year so the band plan to wind down and work on some material with Peter…

On another amorous note, ‘Over The Mountains’, the debut single from Cork’s Romance Is Dead, is now available locally in Plugd Records and Road Records in Dublin. Local avant garde outfit Queen Kong are said to be making quite an impression on the ears of the city and apparently their stage garb is a sight to behold…

Other releases from the south include Liam Merriman, the well-known Waterford singer/songwriter, who has just brought out his CD Three Rivers…

The aquatic theme continues in the North where The River Rock Music Revolution in Lisburn flows from August 8 to 16. Making waves during this week of sonic bliss will be The Frames, The Stranglers, The 4 of Us, Turn and Juliet Turner. The event also provides a varied programme of daytime workshops and seminars to complement the nightly live music performances. Also, a competition – Music Quest – has been up and running since spring and will climax on August 8 with a final between four of the shortlisted acts.

One of the contenders, Red Sirus has also made it to the last twelve acts to be shortlisted for Donna Legge’s competition to support Interpol on August 24. The band is currently finishing off a new CD and has generated quite a following. Amongst their admirers they already count Andy Cairns, who has lavished the following praise: ‘the thing that struck me about your songs was their originality and sonically they stood out.” Sounds as if the lads are building quite a fanbase…

Meanwhile The Walls have been busy building themselves a new studio in Harold’s Cross in which to purge their creative talents. The boys have been toiling around the clock for quite a while now but the project is near completion… well done lads!

They have, however, taken time out to lash out a few numbers at the Hard Working Class Heroes event in The Project on August 3 and 4. The two-day event features a varied crop of indigenous talent including Woodstar, Sack, Turn, Berkeley and Fairuza.

The highlight of bank-holiday goings on in Waterford is without a doubt the Spraoi Festival. This year, Teenage Kicks, a showcase for young local bands presented by Waterford Music Network, takes place on Saturday August 2. The voluntary organisation aims to promote original music and to give young musicians an opportunity to perform in front of a live audience. Catch the new breed on Hanover Street between 2.30 and 6 where you can treat yourself to an ear-bashing from The Second Coming, The Gentleman’s Club, Downfall and Ineek.

If you happen to be up north on that day and feel like unleashing your talents on the populus the Muff festival is the place to be. The festival busking competition is open to all musicians and street performers, both soloists and groups. Interested parties can register in the Muff Community Resource Centre (behind Maxol garage) before 2.30…

If you love all things acoustic then get yourself along to Whelans on August 11 for the launch of the new Acoustic Junction EP. Culled from a fine array of domestic treats the collection features Sean Needham, Cellar Club, Chira Browne and The Guggenheim Grotto… sounds divine.