It's time for the birthday JD Set to celebrate Jack Daniel's birthday, where britrock legends Brett Anderson, Carl Barat and John McClure join forces for a unique collaboration - and talk bout media manipulation, Jade Goody and, aaah, premature deafness!

Never mind the recession, the outstanding attendance made this year’s MUSIC SHOW the most successful ever.

Those were the final, prophetic words from STEPHEN GATELY on Twitter, as he planned to finish his children’s fantasy novel, The Tree of Seasons. Tragically, death was to intervene, bringing a sad and premature end to the career of a man who was much loved, warm and wonderfully likeable.

There is no better or more fitting tribute to Stephen Gately than that which was read and said at the funeral in St.Laurence O’Toole’s church in Seville Place by Keith Duffy, Mikey Graham and Ronan Keating of Boyzone. The fourth remaining member of the band, Shane Lynch, stood beside the three others and shared in the emotion and the grief. The tribute was written by Ronan Keating, with Keith Duffy providing his own personal introduction and improvising around the text.

The first day of The Music Show saw some hot debates, great music and Glen Hansard in stirring form. Reporting: Peter Murphy, Celina Murphy, Niall Stokes, Stuart Clark and additional Hot Press reporters

Alex Ferguson’s incessant terrorising of referees has long been one of his least appealing traits

Jinx Lennon’s backing singer is spreading her solo wings, while some of Scandinavia’s most acclaimed folkies are bound for these shores.

How do I get there? Ryanair flies from Dublin to Torp airport for as little as e5 each way. So you’ll have no trouble finding return flights for under e50. A word of caution; saying Oslo (Torp) is a bit like saying Dublin (Borris-In-Ossory). A bus service Torpekspressen links the airport to Oslo city (about 1 hour 45 minutes away) and costs e20 for a single ticket or e35 for a return. SAS Scandinavian also flies from Dublin to the main Oslo airport (a mere 20 minute train ride from the city centre) but you’ll pay around e200 for a return ticket. A connecting flight with Aer Lingus stopping in London Heathrow works out at about the same price.

Sunday morning coming down to Stradbally. I skip from my car to be accosted by a raddled festival veteran lying face down in the mud. Weeping.

Poxy fucking Irish weather! Now that we’ve let the elephant out of the room – or should that be tent? – let’s concentrate on the musical delights that Day Two of the Picnic had to offer.