Fancy some festival action as part of your summer holidays? Ed Power selects the ten best events around Europe

MUSIC NEWS: Netflix subscribers now have access to two worthwhile music documentaries: Keith Richards: Under the Influence, in which the Rolling Stones guitarist talks about his new solo album and the sounds that have inspired him over the years; and Time Is Illmatic, the film that tells of Nas’s classic 1994 album, and his background in New York that gave rise to it. 

Button Factory, Dublin

Running an arts festival in these tough economic times is challenging, says Declan McCarthy, one of the organisers of the Skibbereen Arts Festival (July 25-August 2).

Icelandic music star Ásgeir has released an English version of his hit album, says Ed Power.

Sugar Club, Dublin

MUSIC NEWS: Arcade Fire have exploded back on to the music scene with a promotional blitz for their forthcoming album Reflektor, due out on Oct 29. Last Monday, the band released the single ‘Reflektor’, complete with backing vocals from David Bowie.

JULIANNA Barwick is contradictory. Her music is esoteric, often eerie. In person, however, Barwick is chatty, upbeat. and sociable, so the isolation of Iceland, where she recorded her new album, Nepenthe, drove her to distraction. She would sit in cafes, watching the world pass. The loneliness worsened as the weeks passed. She worried for her sanity.

ONE of the strangest sights at the recent Electric Picnic festival was the mass exodus from the main stage ten minutes into the swoonful noise-rock of My Bloody Valentine.

IT’S already been a stellar year for albums from Irish bands.

A novel collaboration at the Midsummer Festival will see Amiina work with primary school students from Cork for a unique concert, writes Nicki ffrench Davis

Children are being invited to provide a commentary on some of Cork’s best known restaurants as part of this year’s Midsummer Festival.

ELENA Tonra is surprisingly skittish and unsure of herself.

Three hours of The Cure might have been a bit much, but the bill at Stradbally was certainly eclectic, says Sorcha Coleman

Thousands of people have already arrived at the Electric Picnic venue in Co Laois for the annual three-day music and arts event at the Stradbally Hall estate.

MUSIC NEWS: Irish twin sister duo Heathers are probably best known for their ‘Remember When’ tune from the Discover Ireland ads.

Organisers of Electric Picnic 2012 have said their mature and respectful audience should mean a trouble-free festival later this month.

Cork super group’s members are enjoying a success they haven’t achieved in their other bands, says Don O’Mahony

Gavin Friday’s album Catholic pays tribute to those killed between 1916 and 1922 who might have built a better nation, says Alan O’Riordan

Shia LaBeouf appears naked in a new Sigur Ros music video.

COMEDY CAPERS: He splits opinion between those who love or loathe him, but top British comic Michael McIntyre will probably sell out his three nights at Cork Opera House from Jun 25-27.

Crystal Castles, SBTRKT and Squarepusher are among the 14 acts that have been added to the Electric Picnic lineup today.

‘We Bought a Zoo’ opens with the voice of Dylan Mee (Colin Ford), narrating glimpses of his journalist father Benjamin's (Matt Damon) worldly adventures.

The Killers and The Cure will headline this year’s Electric Picnic festival.

The Cure are the headline act at this years Electric Picnic at Stradbally in Co Laois.

Amiina began as a female quartet but have acquired two male performers.

THE CURTAIN came down on this year’s Electric Picnic early this morning after British trip hop legends Massive Attack were cheered off the stage after their 10.30pm gig.

Festival organisers have released the schedule for this weekend’s Electric Picnic festival.

The lineup for this year’s Electric Picnic festival in Stradbally, Co Laois has been announced this afternoon.

Duran Duran’s 'Rio' has been named the greatest music video of all time.

Punk legends The Sex Pistols are among the headline acts confirmed for this year’s Electric Picnic.

Punk legends The Sex Pistols are among the headline acts confirmed today for this year’s Electric Picnic music festival.

Led Zeppelin will not be playing the 2008 Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival, concert organisers announced today.

The reunited Led Zeppelin will headline the 2008 Bonnaroo Arts and Music Festival, organisers announced today.

Kylie Minogue, Amy Winehouse and Paul McCartney shared the spoils at the Q Awards today.

MOD legends The Who and American funk-rockers Red Hot Chili Peppers will lead the line-up at this year’s Oxegen music festival.

The line-up for the Oxegen music festival at Punchestown this summer has been announced.

The biggest stars in pop were today gearing up for the MTV Music Awards.

British rapper The Streets has joined Floetry, Cody Chestnutt and the Yeah Yeah Yeahs to vie for this year’s Shortlist Music Prize, which honours the best non-mainstream artists in the music world.