Sound/bites

The Heineken Roller-coaster Tour is ready to rock all over the country once again, with a head-spinning cargo of up-and-coming Irish bands Cuckoo, Kaydee and co.uk, plus disco revival group Boogie Nights. The tour starts in Sligo's Equinox club next Tuesday, then rolls on to Elroy's in Cork on Wednesday.

Ministry Of Sound are set to become fixtures in Dublin's club-land next month, when they begin a bi-monthly residency in the Red Box. The UK's most famous club collective will be opening its Irish dance account on February 20 with New York DJ Kenny Carpenter of Studio 54 fame.

Top techno is on the menu in the Kitchen tonight, when Blueprint Records DJ James Ruskin brings his hard-edged sound to the Temple Bar venue. Providing covering fire is Dublin DJ Mick Mason, Power FM's very own techno guru.

Young people can now contact the Samaritans at concerts and festivals around the country, thanks to a new initiative which was launched last Saturday. Festival Branch brings trained counsellors onsite at major rock events, where they can provide confidential advice and help to troubled teenagers. The venture has the blessing of Radiohead drummer Phil Selway, who is also a Samaritan volunteer.