The events of Oxegen are now a distant memory and we're back to reality now. There's heaps of pictures up on the main Beat website if anyone fancies taking a look. I seem to be in the majority of them for some reason!

So all of Beat are off to Oxegen and we'll be broadcasting LIVE all weekend. As I write this, my tent is airing out the back, not having seen daylight since last year's festival season. As an indulgence, I bought a brand spanking new pair of wellies, in farmer-chic green. I will surely be the belle of the ball.

Heaps of interviews lined up, including Mundy, Fight Like Apes, Republic of Loose, The Kinetiks, Dirty Epics and lots lots more. If last year is anything to go by, we could end up with anyone in studio over the weekend.

If you're not going, listen in all weekend for all the goings-on that are on-going.

Now, got to stock up on refreshments ...

Counter-culture comedian George Carlin sadly passed away yesterday. He was 71.

Following the success of their two EP's in 2007, Fight Like Apes will digitally release their brand new single Something Global on July 13th 2008 on new Irish label Model Citizen. Fifteen hundred numbered copies of the single will also be made available as a limited edition CD on July 18th 2008.

Recorded in Seattle and produced by John Goodmanson (Death Cab For Cutie, Wu Tang Clan, Los Campesinos, Sleater-Kinney, Bikini Kill, Nada Surf), Something Global is a three-minute blast of electronic punk rock, which captures the energy of FLA's already legendary live performances. Also featured is their version of Mclusky's Lightsabre Cocksucking Blues (a live favourite) and another new Apes' song - Knucklehead.

Hailing from Dublin, and weighing in at over six hundred pounds, Fight Like Apes combine the synth with the sword in a heroic combination of loutish vocals, brutal bass and digital distortion. Formed in 2006 with the simple intention of scaring audiences with 'poppy songs played so obnoxiously that everybody leaves', Fight Like Apes are: MayKay (vocals, keyboards), Pockets (keyboards, backing vocals), Tom (bass, backing vocals) and Adrian (drums).

Fight Like Apes will play the Glastonbury Late n Live stage on June 27, the Glastonbury BBC Radio 1 Introducing Stage on June 28, T in the Park on July 12, Oxegen on July 13, and both Indie-pendence and Castlepalooza on the August Bank Holiday weekend. An nationwide Irish tour will follow - dates to be announced.

Something Global will release online on July 13th and in all good record stores from July 18th on Model Citizen. To pre-oder the single by text message for 1 euro just text 'MUSIC 1224' to 57501.

Those handsome devils from Acrojunk and the screaming simians from Deaf Animal Orchestra will be making much noise and pomp in Kilkenny's Pumphouse this evening. If you're around, do come and join us ...

This Friday the 13th sees a special performance by Laminate, The Skins and guests in Cleere's Theatre as the curtain falls on one of the country's most highly charged and respected independent acts.

Energetic rock three-piece Laminate (Wexford) are no strangers to the Kilkenny music scene. It's been almost a year to the day since they last played locally, performing an outstanding set last June 16th to a packed house in the old ID venue. Although they were in preparation for one final EP release, the band effectively called it a day last December.

However, not to disappoint their fans in the Southeast, the Wexford trio have organised one final round of gigs this coming weekend with Kilkenny being the first stop on the list. "We had to come back to Kilkenny and hook up with everyone again", says front-man Derren Dempsey, "Every single time has been great. We're hoping we'll have the new CD with us too as a farewell gift". The fact that the band are drawing a line under their career as Laminate is certain to disappoint many but for one final night, local fans will have the chance to hear tracks such as 'Tom Petty', 'Always' and crowd favourite 'Paper' which organisers claim "nearly took the house down last year" in the small upstairs (evidence to which can be found on YouTube).

"At the Christmas Party a few years ago they came in and just blew everyone away. The band are an example of rock music at it's finest in Ireland", mentions KKM's Ken McGuire.

Laminate started out as a side project for Derren Demspey (ex-Wilt, Halite) in Wexford in 2003 before evolving into the powerhouse it became in 2006 alongside Harvey (drums) and Johnny Fox (bass).

They recorded a three track demo in Grouse Lodge (famed for having hosted Muse & The Manic Street Preachers among others) which was well received by Kerrang! Magazine, and received an impressive 9 out of 10 in Rock Sound Magazine with Ken McGrath describing the band as "A cross between Jimmy Eat World and Weezer, with some Queens of the Stone Age thrown in for good measure."

Laminate's ever evolving sound has been described in many ways, with some calling it punk rock, others saying it's too melodic to be punk, and some seeing it simply as an eclectic blend of heavy rock music - as long as the audience can take something from the songs, the band don't care how its labelled. The band are well known for putting "absolutely everything" they have into their live sets and this weekend will be no different, the band delighted to come back for "one last hoedown" in their adopted home.

Joining Laminate on the night are Dublin three piece The Skins featuring Kilkenny man Keith O'Neill. This alternative rock band were formed back in 2004 and comprise of Aaron Gaffey (guitar / vocals), Keith O'Neill (bass) and Riche Mason (drums). Good friends of Laminate, the band's music has been described as "riff based alternative stoner rock, with a mixture of time signatures", the description drawing on the fact the band hail influences as varied as The Who, Thin Lizzy, Mastadon, Lamb Of God, Eric Clapton and Queens of the Stone Age.

Doors open this Friday night (13th) in Cleere's at 9:30pm with the first act taking to the stage for 10pm. Admission is just five Euro with more gig details available on www.kilkennymusic.com. This will be the last and final time Laminate will be seen in Kilkenny so organisers are urging fans not to miss out.

Acts also appearing with KilkennyMusic.com this month include Travega, Dirty Epics, Joe Cleere, Evan Prendergast (all June 19th) and The Guggenheim Grotto (June 28th).

This week we've been moving the Beat 102-103 websites to a new server and unfortunately, all the podcasts have disappeared in the process!! I have copies of them all so at the very worst, I'll upload them again. Anyway, none of the audio links are working at the moment, but hopefully we'll get it sorted soon.

Apologies to those who're dying for an Irish Beats fix ...

Well, I'm very surprised that Dustin didn't make it through the Eurovision semi-final last night. I didn't actually see the competition as I was at the cinema. However, I've watched a few of the entries that will progress to the final - FINLAND?!!! Seriously!!! Have you watched it? It's like that joke band at the end of School of Rock, who take themselves waaaayyyy too seriously.

Hard luck Dustin. I guess everyone else is wrong but us. As Dustin said himself:

"I'm very disappointed, not for me but more for Europe itself, which has yet again lost a real opportunity to have a truly inspirational leader - a leader of all of Europe, from France to Serbia, Finland to Canada."

Those cheeky gossip merchants Popbitch have put together an Unofficial Guide to Eurovision that covers some of the more bizarre sides of the competition. For example, Dana International being shielded by a Mossad agent who thought her falling over was an assassination attempt. Or what about the full story behind Germany's "Ich Bin Ein Horny Spaceman." It's all in there ...

... it's even presented as a nice Flash magazine-style website. Very shiny!

After a stunning live set at The Savoy in Cork last night, Waterford's Gorbachov were crowned 2008 winners of the Murphy's Live music award, following the success of Ilya K in the same competition last year. As we've said before....Waterford rocks !

The lads are headlining a celebratory gig at Electric Avenue this Friday 23 May with support from Derry's finest hard rockers Fighting With Wire and the always brilliant Deaf Animal Orchestra. The Friday Club's Rob Carey will be playing all that's cool, new and alternative before and after the live action. Admission is free before 9pm and €10 after.

Oft described as reckless, irresponsible and brilliant, Gorbachov are a five-piece guitar rock outfit from Waterford. The band have been together for four years, performing across Ireland and the UK, supporting bands such as The Frames and The Blizzards. They have spent the last year in Liverpool putting their debut album together, following on from the acclaim that has greeted their increasingly catchy singles, including "Mr. Fahrenheit" which has been featured extensively on XFM in the UK and "Go On My Son" which is included on the CD given away with this month's Hot Press magazine. Gorbachov have been described as a cross between Queens Of The Stone Age and Talking Heads and are buzzing about winning the Murphy's Live.

"Man Vs Monster" the debut album from Derry trio Fighting With Wire is 45 minutes of razor sharp riffs colliding full force with huge melodies. Recommended for fans of Jimmy Eat World, Foo Fighters, Husker Du and Biffy Clyro the band emerged from the ever creative Northern Ireland music scene in 2003. An idealistic bunch, they've since done what rock bands are meant to do: they wrote a bunch of killer songs, and took to the road. The last three years has seen them play shows with the likes of Reuben, Biffy Clyro, Million Dead, Seafood, YCNI:M and Future Of The Left, racking up hundreds of miles and honing their live show into a ferocious explosion in the process. Hard Rock bible Kerrang said "as debuts go this is an absolute corker, Fighting With Wire sound like they're already headlining stadiums" !

The Deaf Animal Orchestra have been playing together since early '06 and are fast gathering a reputation as one of the country's most promising new acts. Alan Jacques of Limerick's Live 95FM has boldly declared them "the best new band in Ireland!". The band are already on their third record release. Recent single, 'Falling Asleep/Morning Running' is currently doing the business for them and previous single, 'All Together Now/The Madman' received airplay all over the country and received Jackie Hayden of Hotpress' 'Pick of the Fortnight' award (something any Irish band worth their salt should pick up along the way!)

See you down the front.