Here comes the summer

Just when you thought the Irish events calendar couldn't take any more summer festivals, a couple of new ones come along.

This year's first new arrival sees Groove Box's Lovebox weekender in Dublin on July 21, while the hugely acclaimed Latitude festival is mooted for Co Westmeath's Belvedere House.

Both last year's newbies, Midlands and Garden Party (to be headlined by the Pet Shop Boys), are back. Midlands will be bringing new-school country to its new location at Belvedere House in July, while Garden Party will be reinventing club culture at Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath in June.

The Hi-Fi festival has been axed in the UK following poor ticket sales last year, so its Irish subsidiary which debuted last summer faces a similar fate.

Let's hope people have enough euros left over to contribute to the Rolling Stones pension fund when those veterans come to Slane this summer.