Goppa Records is re-launching activities this December with Orang-Utan, a new compilation featuring Nurse With Wound, The Tycho Brahe, PKD, King Camera meets Volcano the Bear, Belinda Quirke, The Jimmy Cake, Aranos and Melanie Finch.

The Chalets, NeoSuperVital and The Last Post do the festive season tour together in association with Foggy Notions magazine. Visuals from D.A.D.D.Y. will accompany the roadshow as it calls to Belfast, Cork and Galway. The Belfast date will be a benefit for the Starfish Project in Cambodia with Belfast Circus Performers. The Last Post label mate Corrigan earned a single of the week accolade from Kerrang. The Belfast based outfit launch their debut album entitled How To Hang Off A Rope in the New Year on Bright Star Recordings.

Also hot to trot over the festive season are the wonderful Cork band Phonograph. Terence O’Mahony and Paul Campbell will join Pat Spillane, Katell Keineg, The Frank And Walters and David Kitt for a brace of gigs throughout the country. Rodrigo y Gabriela will support Youssou N’Dour in the National Stadium in addition to their own nationwide jaunt. The Mercury Music Prize nominated Kathryn Williams will support Damien Rice on forthcoming Irish tour dates which include no less than a three night stand in the Olympia...

The 66 Electric release the I Died In A Movie EP which has been A-listed on Phantom FM.

The Irish Anti-War Movement hosts a fundraiser with Hazel O’Connor and Sonny Condell in the Music Centre on December 18. It’s a rather sad state of affairs that this is one of the very few music events to be held opposing an attack on Iraq…

Indie kids young and old had a rare in the fresh sighting of Kevin Shields last week checking out his brother supporting J Mascis in Whelan’s. Former Rollerskate Skinny skin beater Jimi will release an album in 2003 unless he takes after Kevin and keeps the world waiting... and waiting!