Jika Jika, a collective of Derry promoters, has a new live event on the way. Jika Jika: The Festival runs in Tooban, Burnfoot, Donegal on August 31. Headliners include Nick Warren, Dave Seaman, Danny Howells and Paul Woolford. facebook.com/JikaJikaFestival 

Happy 10th birthday to Electric Picnic! Time to pack our tents, locate that missing wellie and head to Stradbally Estate, Co. Laois to celebrate. This year they’re pulling out all the stops with confirmed acts including Fatboy Slim, Bjork, Disclosure, Tiga, our very own Le Carousel, Aeroplane, and too many others to name. As always, be ready for Body And Soul, Trenchtown, Casa Bacardi, and the many other stages. It’s all going down from August 30 to September 1. Check electricpicnic.ie/line_up 
Speaking of the aforementioned Bjork, if you haven’t already seen her documentary with David Attenborough, you have new plans for tonight. Get on it. It’s delicious! channel4.com/programmes/when-bjork-met-attenborough/4od
Dublin-born, London-based producer, Krystal Klear – playing the Picnic’s Casa Bacardi stage – has a new single due on Rinse Records on September 1. ‘Addiction’ sees the producer team up with vocalist Jenna G for a record that makes you remember the time Pepsi released a clear version of their soda, and when Paula Abdul was in the charts! youtube.com/watch?v=3nMPeN5qdL4#at=69
Thumbs up to my Belfast mate Jupiter Ace, a producer who’s found support from Tiesto, Dada Life, Swanky Tunes, TV Rock, Robbie Rivera, Michael Gray and Kim Fai. He recently produced a track for Yamashita Tomohisa, which went to number one in Japan! Omedetou Gozaimasu, which is congrats in Japanese! youtube.com/watch?v=81R7HsfIFhY
Speaking of Japan, Derry’s Japanese Popstars have put out their third studio album, Disconnect/Reconnect. Interestingly, the Japanese version contains two exclusive tracks not featured on the worldwide release. Well, wipe those tears away! We’ve got one of them for you at soundcloud.com/the-japanese-popstars/the-japanese-popstars-kontrol
Heads up Ireland! If you didn’t get to the white sands of Ibiza or the blue waters of Croatia for some of your favorite music festivals, have we got the event for you! The Valentia Isle Festival is back from September 13 – 15 with DFA DJ duo Pat Mahoney and Nancy Whang, David Holmes, Daithi, New Jackson and Jape who’s currently working on his new album. Tickets available from valentiaislefestival.com or from Knightstown Coffee Shop in Valentia, Roisin Dubh in Galway, Primetime Clothing in Cork, and All City Records in Dublin. 
Dublin’s OffShoot Records have just released two EPs as a taster for the debut album from Replicants, Playing With Wires. Replicants are three girls and a guy from Dublin, Budapest, Prague and Bratislava. The Insignificant and Lonely Streets EPs are out now. All their music is recorded in real–time with no overdubs or multi-tracking. Be ready for some dub-step, electro and house!