- Ice cool :Rap icon Ice Cube will play Dublin's Tripod on April 19th. The sometime actor released his eighth studio album Raw Footagelast year. Tickets are on sale today from usual outlets.

-  Belfast says yeah:Belfast's Oh Yeah music centre is planning an all-ages event this St Patrick's Day. "St Patrick . . . Unplugged" is an alcohol-free gig that will feature sets from local acts Jackson Cage, Paul Casey, Paul McMordie and more. Admission is £8.

- Born slippy:Eels will release their first album since 2005's Blinking Lights and Other Revelationsthis summer. Hombre Lobo, their seventh offering, will be released in early June

- Young at heart:Neil Young releases his new album Fork in the Roadnext month, and will play Dublin's O2 on Sunday, June 21st to coincide with it. Tickets are on sale this Monday.