GIG WISE: With Electric Picnic out of the way, the next biggie on the Irish music horizon is the Guinness Amplify festival taking place through the five provinces on different weekends in September and October.

THIS autumn, Christiania, the notorious freetown in the Danish capital Copenhagen, will be 42 years old.

The return of Glastonbury Festival after a year off feels like “a big family reunion”, according to organiser Emily Eavis.

The Rolling Stones were finally confirmed as headliners for this summer’s Glastonbury Festival after months of rumours, with Mumford & Sons and Arctic Monkeys.

Oh, it’s him all right. Here's Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan as you’ve NEVER seen him before…

The indie darlings hit their stride on latest album. Guitarist Jimmy Smith talks to Ed Power

YO La Tengo’s Ira Kaplan has no idea how he got here.

Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan "almost killed" himself "three or four" times.

Billy Corgan is writing his autobiography.

MUSIC NEWS:

Universal Music Group has won the qualified support of two North American artists' unions for its proposed $1.9bn (€1.44bn) acquisition of the recorded music division of the UK's EMI Group Ltd.

Courtney Love is writing a tell-all autobiography.

Smashing Pumpkins are recording their first album since 2007.

Courtney Love is being sued over comments she made on twitter.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan can’t remember collapsing on stage.

Jessica Simpson started dating NFL football player Eric Johnson last month, it has been revealed.

Courtney Love thinks she is good in bed because she is ugly.

Courtney Love has been accused of stealing Billy Corgan’s songs.

Jessica Simpson says Billy Corgan is “very, very dear” to her.

Jessica Simpson and Billy Corgan have called off their relationship.

The 29-year-old singer-and-actress Jessica Simpson – who has been dating Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan since late last year – has taken their relationship into her professional life after pictures appeared on twitter of the blonde beauty in the recording studio with the rocker and producer Kerry Brown.

Jessica Simpson is taking things slowly with her new boyfriend Billy Corgan.

Jessica Simpson is in a romantic relationship with Billy Corgan, it has been revealed.

Billy Corgan says he has "never been happier" with the Smashing Pumpkins.

STUDENTS attending private industry-focused degree courses should have access to state funding, according to Tony Perrey, a director of Pulse Recording College, which has just acquired the legendary Windmill Lane studios in Dublin.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is rebuilding the band after the departure of percussionist Jimmy Chamberlin earlier this year.

Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan is using his band's new legal battle with music industry heavyweights at Virgin to attack the whole business.

The Smashing Pumpkins are suing Virgin Records, saying the record label has illegally used their name and music in promotional deals that hurt the band’s credibility with fans.

Smashing Pumpkins are to play will play two Irish dates as part of the European leg of the eagerly awaited world tour, it has been announced.

The Smashing Pumpkins comeback tour was hit by tragedy in Richmond, British Columbia on Monday when a fan died while crowd surfing.

Reformed rockers The Police will headline the US leg of former US Vice-President Al Gore's summer Live Earth environmental awareness mega-gig.

Reformed rockers The Smashing Pumpkins have confirmed they'll perform their first North American show of 2007 at the Virgin Festival in Toronto, Canada in September.

Reformed rockers Smashing Pumpkins have thrilled fans by confirming they will release their first album in seven years this summer - on a Saturday.

The Who have given the strongest hint yet they're to play at this year's esteemed Glastonbury Festival.

Rockers Foo Fighters are festival favourites among their peers because they always cook up a treat backstage.

Rocker Courtney Love made a rare live appearance in Los Angeles on Saturday, and was joined by Smashing Pumpkins singer Billy Corgan and songwriter Linda Perry.

Billy Corgan's desperate attempts to reform his band Smashing Pumpkins have reportedly paid off, with the band rumoured to be playing this April's Coachella festival in California.

Rocker Billy Corgan abandoned a solo concert in Melbourne, Australia this week after fans repeatedly asked him to play songs by his former band Smashing Pumpkins.

Smashing Pumpkins drummer Jimmy Chamberlain has shattered hopes the band will reunite for a lucrative tour because they've never been interested in making money.

Former Smashing Pumpkins frontman Billy Corgan will make his solo acoustic debut with a concert in his hometown of Chicago next month.

Former Smashing Pumpkins guitarist Billy Corgan says his first solo album will be "loud and beautiful and poetic and dumb."

Simpsons creator Matt Groening is set to curate an American music festival.