The winter gig calendar is filling up fast, and recently-announced November concerts at Dublin's Olympia Theatre include Bjork (Mon 17th), Portishead (Wed 19th), Cast (Thurs 20th), Supergrass (Sat 22nd), and The Charlatans (Tue 25th & Wed 26th). Texas are in the Dame Street venue in December (Mon 15th), while Genesis have given early warning of their show in the Point Theatre for March (Sun 6th), allowing ample time to make other plans.

The Spice Girls kick off a crowded winter album release schedule when Spiceworld hits the shops on November 3rd. The Spiceys launched the follow-up to their 18-million selling debut in Grenada in Spain last Tuesday, and also announced a world tour starting next February. An Olympia Theatre date is not thought to be on the cards.

Other artists releasing new albums this winter include Michael Bolton (Nov 11th), Bryan Adams (Nov 17th), Celine Dion (Nov 18th) and Metallica (Nov 18th).