The Temple Bar Music Centre has launched a new series of showcase gigs, sponsored by Scrumpy Jack and featuring five up-and-coming Irish bands every fortnight. "Wanted" gives young bands the opportunity to play in front of a big crowd in a major Dublin venue, say the organisers, and the next one happens on Wednesday 25th from 8 p.m. till 2 a.m.

Nick Cave and Patti Smith had such a lovely time at Liss Ard '97 that they've planned a return visit to the West Cork tree-hugging festival. Liss Ard '98 is another five-day orgy of all things organic, starting on September 2nd, and it will also feature the sean nos singer Iarla O'Lionard, the dyspeptic poet Murray Lachlan Young, the Welsh folk-rocker David Gray, and plenty of peace, love and brown rice.