If you can spare a fiver between now and the festivities, you can do no wrong in picking up It’s All Good – The Best of Irish, a new compilation bulging with tracks from twenty artists brought to you by Phutloose.com. It all certainly sounds pretty good with contributions from The Bedhangers, Pugwash, Blo.tooth, Duncan Mainland, Moneypenny, Dot Creek and Subrosa plus more familiar names such as Sack, Saville and a title track from Damien Dempsey.

The Plethora Club is a new mid-week venture in Doyle’s of College Green which has predominantly featured entirely new artists to date. Featured guests have included Niall McGarty, an accomplished singer/songwriter, Irish College of Music students Cian O’Hara and Dave Creevy performing classical guitar pieces and Music Technology student Phil Grier and bluegrass specialist Alan Maguire playing electronica.

Dacianos [above] follow up their acclaimed debut Miss-Showbusiness with a new album in 2002 which will be available in the UK from February 1st. Some Irish retailers may be stocking it later this month so keep your eyes peeled when you are record shopping for your nearest and dearest or indeed your good self... Andy Irvine joined the ever-growing

Will Oldham Appreciation Society when playing with him in Whelan’s on the recent Bonny ‘Prince’ Billy Irish tour. A superb tour culminated with a phenomenal run-through of Palace classics in Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick with support from local skewered country balladeers Bandog.

Therapy? were involved in a bizarre CD mix up on their recent UK tour. Some copies of the new Shameless album sold from the merchandise stall contained a disc of cheesy Europop techno instead of the trademark beautiful noise of Mr. Cairns and company. Therapy? have apologized for the cock up, and you can get the CD changed by mailing it to; Therapy? CD Swop, PO Box 28, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland. A correct disc and postage refund will be sent ASAP unless you think this curious item will be worth money or kudos in years to come.

Irish artists who have released anything may be interested in posting their material to John Kennedy of London’s Xfm who has hosted sessions by Joan Of Arse and The Dudley Corporation. Put your goodies in an envelope addressed to X-Posure, Xfm, PO Box 1049, London WC2H 7XX.