After hosting last June’s superb High Noon event, the Pine Lodge in Myrtleville, Co. Cork is stepping up the ante when it comes to live gigs. Full details are available for punters and prospective acts alike at www.pinelodgemyrtleville.com or <http://www.pinelodgemyrtleville.com> . There is another one day bash this weekend (Sunday September 15th) entitled The Drift – a day-long event showcasing the best of Cork and Dublin’s alternative scenes, with bands, DJs, noise groups, agit artists and, in conjunction with the International Frank O’Connor Festival, special appearances by published writers. Check the website for up to the minute information and line ups.

Niall Connolly has just released his debut solo album Songs from a Corner. Niall will be a familiar face to trad aficionados in the South West, regularly gigging in the Lobby, De Barras in Clonakilty, The Bulman in Kinsale and McCarthy’s in Baltimore. He also made four guest appearances with traditional group Meitheal at the Festival Interceltique in Lorient in Brittany where he performed his songs to audiences in excess of a thousand and also did a live radio session for a listenership of over 200,000 Bretons... Danny Guinan, formerly of the well-loved folk and trad-billy band Speranza who extensively toured Ireland between 1990 and 1996, has just bounced back onto the gigging circuit. Danny moved to the Netherlands after disbanding Speranza in ‘96 and has been busy gigging away on mainland Europe. Keep an eye out for Irish engagements soon.

Fresh Mode has been flying the flag for Dublin’s burgeoning hip-hop scene every Tuesday over the summer months. September 25th sees the bright light of Galwegian beats, DJ Hazo, touch down to oversee the party. Hazo is best known for his work under the Illdependents moniker and stunning 12” releases and EPs on the Ultimate Dilemma label...The Midlands answer to a Pixies/Primus mutant, Obsolete, launch their new 5 track EP Elsewhere and their classy website (www.obsoletemusic.com) this week... Volta Sounds, the label that has already handled the Accelerator OST featuring David Holmes and Brian Eno, will launch a subsidiary called Volta Beats on September 21st with the release of the debut double A-sided 12” ‘Bloodrush’ from the hotly tipped and extremely talented Creative Controle. Other Volta artefacts that will be stocked by discerning record stores in the coming weeks include the debut album from Paul O’Reilly First Thing In The Morning and a real beauty of a collector’s item... (cue drum roll)... a split 7” single with The Frames doing a rendition of the Will Oldham favourite ‘New Partner’ and Calexico doing a Nick Drake song ‘Clothes of Sand’. You heard it here first.