The non-college knowledge

It's the fun way to educate yourself. Here's our guide to all the culture and current affairs you need to get you through the year, by Donald Clarke, Laurence Mackin, Kevin Courtneyand Joe Humphreys

KNOW YOUR: GIGS

The hottest tickets this term

Noise Control

The Academy, Oct 1, €5

Phantom's First Friday kicks off a new term with a line-up that features Noise Control, We Should Be Dead and Reko. Get there before 10pm and you'll get in for free – you can also stay on for some indie disco action with Derek Byrne.

Hard Working Class Heroes

Various venues, Oct 7 – 9

Get ready to cram a year's worth of great bands into three days. HWCH is the finest showcase of Irish bands – and this year's lineup includes Dark Room Notes, Cloud Castle Lake, Kid Karate, The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra, Sweet Jane and Tallulah Does The Hula. Several of the 100 bands will become your new favourites, so catch them before your mates.

Foggy Jam .01

Whelans, Oct 10 at 4pm, €20

Where else could you catch seven great bands for €20? Not just any band, mind – the lineup for Foggy Jam's first all-dayer in Whelans includes No Age, Mice Parade, Male Bonding and Squarehead. Also on the bill are Norwegian singer-songwriter Silje Nes, Hipster Youth and "special guest".

The Cast of Cheers

Nationwide tour, including Academy 2, Dublin on Oct 14, €13.50

Great name – oh, and great band, too. This Dublin "robot rock" four-piece gave their debut album, Chariot, away free via their website; it's a quick-fire burst of math-rock energy. They're starting a countrywide tour in Derry tonight, see myspace.com/thecastofcheers

Holy Fuck

Whelans, Nov 19, €18

The Tourette's titled band from Toronto are back in town, trailing their analogue synths and crackly old Casios, and bringing us funked-up fare from their third album, Latin, with no help from new-fangled laptops or samplers.

Belle & Sebastian

Ulster Hall, Belfast, Dec 1, £27.50

Grand Canal Theatre, Dublin,

Dec 3, from €39.20

Scotland's fey indie heroes are back with their first Irish dates since 2006 (gosh, you'd have been just going into third year then). The band members have reconvened for a new album, Write About Love, out October 8th, and have already headlined this summer's Latitude Festival.

Arcade Fire

O2 Dec 5 and 6, €55.80

Any worries that the Canadian firebrands might lose their spark were eliminated by their masterful new album, The Suburbs.Any worries that this O2 gig will be a stadium rock circus should be swept aside when Win Butler and his crew blow the roof off. And any worries you won't get your 55 yoyos worth of magic aren't even to be entertained.

Villagers

Vicar Street, Dublin, Dec 21, €25

They wuz robbed of the Mercury Music Prize, but that won't worry Conor O'Brien & Co, because they're too busy touring the US, UK and Europe, their fan population swelling by the minute. They'll be rounding off a great year with a bash at Vicar Street on December 21st.

Frightened Rabbit

Empire, Belfast, Dec 8, £12.50

Academy, Dublin, Dec 9, €18

Brothers Scott and Grant Hutchison head up this Scottish band of stress-bunnies; their third album, The Winter of Mixed Drinks, is a cocktail of wide-eyed and big-hearted tunes, including Nothing Like You. Live, they're far from rabbit in headlights, but a juggernaut of upbeat sounds.

Reverberation

Featuring Power of Dreams, Sultans of Ping FC and The Frank And Walters, Academy, Dublin, Dec 23, €27.50

Now you can relive your parents' college years when these three classic 1990s bands team up for one wild night of indie nostalgia . . . just don't tell your dad, or he'll want to come along too.

– Kevin Courtney

KNOW YOUR: NEWS

The upcoming events that will change our world – maybe

Budget: If you are having a bad start to the day on December 7th, it's best not to listen to Brian Lenihan's Budget speech. With the Government seeking to raise €3billion-plus through cuts or taxes this year, every sector, including the third-level, will feel pain – despite the Greens' insistence on "free fees" remaining.

Elections: If the Government makes it into the New Year (Paddy Power is offering 15/8 against) it faces three by-elections in Donegal South West, Dublin South and Waterford, which will almost certainly narrow its majority in the Dáil. The three may take place on the same date in spring, along with the Dublin mayoral election.

Children's referendum: Wording is still being finalised for the proposed poll, also scheduled to take place next spring. It is designed to better uphold children's rights.

Census 2011: The last State Census in 2006 showed the population at 4,234,925, the highest since 1861. It also highlighted new trends in migration. Fill out your form on April 10th and be a part of history – or at least an aid to history, social science and economics undergrads for many years to come.

Nuclear threat:Global warming and Iraq may well fall down the international priority list behind the proliferation of nuclear weapons. Pakistan is set to launch its first space satellite in April, in a potentially provocative move, but the biggest concern is over Iran's nuclear intentions. Buy a CND badge now.

Church reasserts itself:After an annus horribilis, clergy are likely to start finding their voice again on, among other things, school patronage. The large number of young people celebrating the Pope's visit to the UK suggests the church still has youth appeal. It is even possible the word "abstinence" could enter student vocabulary.

Focus on France: The next meeting of the G8 group of the world's richest countries, due to be held in late spring or early summer in Nice on the French Riviera, will probably turn into the year's biggest protest event. Get arrested – and a tan!

Union under strain: That you can impress your friends by dropping the name Herman van Rompuy into conversation doesn't say much for the EU's attempts at creating clear and recognisable leadership. The anonymity of Mr van Rompuy, the first fulltime president of the EU Council, is symptomatic of an economically troubled union (the presidency of which goes to Hungary and Poland next year) that could be sleepwalking into disaster.

Cyber terror:Certain downsides from the internet have become apparent in recent times – from Wikihoaxes to Facebook's erosion of privacy – and there is now growing fear over cyber attacks. The US set up a new Cyber Command last May to tackle the threat, and web analysts believe we are due some kind of cyber terror "spectacular" soon (a real one – not just crashing the CAO's website).

Race for the Áras: Ambitious young freshers may be disappointed to learn that candidates for the Presidential election, scheduled for October 2011, must be at least 35 years of age.

– Joe Humphreys

KNOW YOUR: FILM

Ten upcoming must-see films

Mr Nice

Can it be coincidence that Bernard Rose's biopic of Howard Marks – the Robin Hood of dope dealers – arrives just in time for the new university term? More imaginative than it sounds, featuring cunning use of different film stocks, the picture stars Rhys Ifans as the charming rogue. (October 8th)

The Social Network

Maybe one of your 5,000 online "friends" will already have told you about this. David Fincher tries to recover ground after the dreary Benjamin Buttonwith a film detailing the development of Facebook. (October 15th)

Machete

It's trashy. It's pulpy. It features Danny Trejo. It must be the latest film from Robert Rodriguez. The story of a renegade mercenary, Macheteis inspired by one of the (hitherto) spoof trailers that accompanied Grindhouse. (October 29th)

Another Year

The most Leighesque Mike Leigh film yet made, this touching piece stars Jim Broadbent and Ruth Sheen as a middle-class North London couple coping with various troubled pals. The best reviewed film at Cannes 2010. (November 5th)

Let Me In

Cloverfield's Matt Reeves directs Kick Ass's Chloe Moretz in an American remake of the hugely admired Swedish vampire chiller Let the Right One In. Early reviews suggest that the film-makers have been very respectful. (November 5th)

Uncle Boonmee who can Recall his Past Lives

The latest head-wrecker from Thai master Apichatpong Weerasethakul (he answers to "Joe") features huge monkey ghosts, strange adventures in caves and libidinous catfish. Deserved winner of the Cannes Palme d'Or. (November 19th)

The American

George Clooney's a star, but his films rarely make money. Perhaps Anton Corbijn, director of Control, can change things with this low- key thriller about an assassin's holiday from slaughter. (November 26th)

Tron: Legacy

Somewhat belated follow-up to the 1982 picture about a chap who gets sucked into a video-game universe. It will be interesting to see how they cope with advances in technology. After all, computer games look just like real life these days. (December 17th)

The Way Back

Released at the height of Oscar season, Peter Weir's film features Colin Farrell and Saoirse Ronan in the story of an escape from the Russian Gulags. This is Weir's first film since the excellent – though financially ruinous – Master and Commander. (December 26th)

The Tourist

Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck has paused before following-up his much beloved The Lives of Others. Such was that film's reputation that he has secured the world's two biggest stars – Mr J Depp and Ms A Jolie – for this thriller set in Venice. Remake of a modestly successful French film, Anthony Zimmer. (December 31st)

– Donald Clarke

KNOW YOUR: BANDS

The up-and-coming acts to soundtrack your year

Cloud Castle Lake

They share a name with a book by Nabokov; they have a song called Synchronicity. But there the resemblance with Sting's old muckers end. This Dublin quartet were a hit at Electric Picnic, their hypnotic, high-pitched vocals and tribal electro beats perfect for Stradbally. They cite Liars, Grizzly Bear and Godspeed You! Black Emperor among their touchstones. There's no mention of Radiohead, but there's more than a hint of Yorke in the vocals.

myspace.com/cloudcastlelakeband

We Are Losers

Gavin Elsted won the Choice Music Prize as guitarist with Super Extra Bonus Party; We Are Losers is one of a couple of side-projects that could end up becoming the main event. WAL's trippy, fuzzy tunes are reminiscent of Animal Collective or Panda Bear, but Elsted keeps his tongue firmly in his post-rock cheek.

growuptobelosers.bandcamp.com

Sacred Animals

If you spent enough time looking from the Sally Gap over the beauty of Lough Tay, you might imagine the kind of music made by this Wexford man known only as Darragh. His band is well-named – Sacred Animals' songs are both primal and celestial, taking the high road while keeping an ear close to the ground. sacredanimals.net

Leaflog

Who needs vocals when you can paint a million-word picture with some densely woven instrumental sounds? These Killarney post-rockers dispense with vocals completely, leaving a lovely, uncluttered landscape of organic sound. Nuff said. They'll be playing the HWCH fest on Oct 8 (see below), and performing at the Kerry film festival in Tralee. leaflogtheband.com

Nouveaunoise

This Dublin electronica duo have become indispensable via remixes of Super Extra Bonus Party, recordings with Jape, and live outings with Messiah J the Expert. Avoiding the cut-and-paste approach of other electro-merchants, the Nouveaus weave their sound so skilfully you can't hear the seams. With echoes of Four Tet and Polar Bear, their debut album Paraphrase Accoladeis recommended. nouveaunoise.bandcamp.com

The Low Sea

Lo-fi sounds by the sea are the stock in trade of this duo, who describe themselves as "Phil Spector meets Georgio Moroder in a reverb chamber". This boils down to a spaced-out shoegazey sound that evokes Suicide, Spacemen 3 and Donna Summer lost in orbit. myspace.com/lowseamusic

Male Bonding

Three guys hooked on grunge, punk and pop – it's a recipe for serious Male Bonding. This London trio is signed to Sub Pop, and their quickfire debut album Nothing Hurtshas been getting high praise. The sound is reminiscent of your favourite 1990s noiseniks, but speeded up to avoid getting bogged down in lumber-shirted heaviness. myspace.com/malebonding

Tamaryn

Shoegazing is back, and few do it better than this dreamy duo from San Fransisco, whose debut album, The Waves, is a woozy blend of Mazzy Star and My Bloody Valentine. Singer Tamaryn is backed by the warped playing of Rex John Shelverton – the pair exude shoey cool, looking like The Kills or a Boy-Girl version of The Jesus Mary Chain. myspace.com/imagesmusic

Gayngs

This 23-piece Minneapolis band led by Ryan Olson lean towards the softer end of 1980s rock – as evinced by their cover of Godley Crème's 1985 hit Cry. Luckily, Olson stays just on the right side of cheesy. He's lucky to have an enviable cast of chums to help him craft his soft-rock sound, including one Justin Vernon aka Bon Iver. gayngs.net

Twin Sister

This quirky, quarked-up Long Island five-piece have charmed all and sundry with their debut EPs, Color Your Lifeand Vampire With Dreaming Kids.

Floaty beats, flighty instruments and the breathy vocals of Andrea Estrella conjure up echoes of Shades of Stereolab blended with United Future Organisation. twinsistermusic.com

– Kevin Courtney

KNOW YOUR: BOOKS

What to read – apart from your study notes

Skippy DiesBy Paul Murray

There was much wailing and gnashing of literary teeth when Paul Murray failed to make the Booker shortlist. Read this novel, set in the torturous confines of a posh Irish boarding school, to find out why. Tragedy, comedy, and the fevered, porn-addled ramblings of a 14-year-old. What more could you want?

The Rest is NoiseBy Alex Ross

If you want to read a book on music that is more than sex, drugs and dullness (that's right Slash, we're looking at your reeking biography), then grab this. Yes, it focuses on classical music, but it tells us more about where modern music is at than any amount of slipshod ghost-scribbled biographies.

My Paper ChaseBy Harold Evans

Most people on arts and English literature courses have aspirations towards journalism. This is the biography of the man most people reckon was be the greatest editor to ever put blunt correcting pencil, to paper and it could teach you more about media than some degree courses.

ZeitounBy Dave Eggers

Dave Eggers is a one-man publishing force of nature. His latest book follows the true story of Syrian-born painter and decorator Abdulrahman Zeitoun, in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

It shows the unfolding of a disaster through the lens of one family's suffering. Outstanding.

Matter of Death and Life By Andrey Kurkov

Kurkov paints darkly hilarious set pieces in short, blocky paragraphs. Blink and you'll miss a point and find yourself meandering down a Kafka-esque cul de sac – unsurprisingly, Matter of Death and Lifeis no different.

FreedomBy Jonathan Franzen

Franzen is regarded as the finest writer of his generation and every time he publishes, the industry takes a sharp breath and prepares to be stunned. You might as well read this now; in the next few years you'll probably have to study it on your literature curriculum.

Lean on PeteBy Willy Vlautin

A novel from the perspective of a 15-year-old boy whose best friend is a horse, written in deceptively simple language that leaves a lasting impression? Here you go.

Blood's A RoverBy James Ellroy

Ellroy's whip-tight sentences will kidney-punch you into submission. This, the latest in his Underworld USA trilogy, is an expansive book that mixes its history neat with its fiction. A volatile, violent masterpiece.

Super Sad True Love StoryBy Gary Shteyngart

Gary Shteyngart is an odd combination – he not only has a dark, tortured soul with an iron seam of comic intuition of his Russian heritage, but also a fascination and sense of adventure that come with his American outlook. This novel combines both beautifully. Hell, there's even a YouTube trailer for it, if you can't be bothered to read it.

Three Cups of TeaBy Greg Mortenson and David Oliver Relin

Okay, this isn't exactly new, but it is still in the New York Times bestseller lists. For every person who says you can't change the world, the two-word answer is Greg Mortenson.

His account of setting up schools in some of the most dangerous parts of the world is inspirational, thrilling and humbling.

– Laurence Mackin