• Monaghan Town will host a country music festival at The Diamond next weekend. Robert Mizzell will get the series off to a flying start when he and his band take to the stage on 16 July. Derek Ryan tops the bill on Friday and Mike Denver on Saturday night. Jimmy Buckley is there on Sunday.

  • John McNicholl and his band will perform a concert in the intimate setting of Knock House Hotel on 17 July. The Derry man is no stranger to Knock and has performed at the annual August Novena many times. Tickets for the show are available from Knock House Hotel on 094-9388088.

  • Old time rock ’n‘ roll is the choice of song for Jimmy Buckley as he launches his latest single. The Limerick man has opted for Summertime Blues, a big song in years gone by for Eddie Cochran.

  • Justin McGurk has released Picked A Winner as his new single. This is another of his original songs from the talented northern artist. You can see Justin at the Foreglen Club in Co Derry on 12 July and at the Rocking By The River Festival in Co Tyrone on 26 July.

  • Fans of the late rock guitarist Rory Gallagher, from Ballyshannon, will be delighted to learn that a four-cd boxset of Rory Gallagher’s Taste, regarded as Ireland’s first seminal rock band, will be released on 28 August. The collection, I Remember, contains remastered versions of their two studio albums, Taste and On The Boards, as well as previously unreleased live concert recordings.

  • Kevin Prendergast will host his annual party night in Bourke’s lounge in Irishtown, Co Mayo, on 31 July. Joining the well-known singer on this occasion will be Kay and The Country Stars, John Kelly, Mary Prendergast, Noreen Burke and other guests.