Blow up that inflatable sofa and settle down for a summer of sound. Jim Carrollon the gigs coming to a field near you this summer

• May

GREEN ENERGY The first outdoor hop of the year features Kasabian May 5th, Sinéad O'Connor May 6th and a solo David Gray May 7th all holding court. Dublin Castle, Dublin

• June

GEORGE MICHAEL The first show is sold out, and the second is going the same way, proving the Whamster can do it in the open air. RDS, Dublin, June 6th-7th

GARDEN PARTY A promising line-up for this boutique event including Pet Shop Boys, Hot Chip, Vitalic, Switch, Charles Webster and Carl Cox. Ballinlough Castle, Co Meath, June 9th

LIFE FESTIVAL  A second year for this fest and a new venue. Confirmed acts include Long Range Orbital lad Phil Hartnoll's new project, Dreadzone, The Orb's Alex Patterson, Krafty Cutz and Electric Penguins. Lough Cutra Castle, Gort, Co Galway, June 15th-17th

ARCTIC MONKEYS Flogging their ace new album Favourite Worst Nightmare. First show sold out. Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 16th-17th

LIVE AT THE MARQUEE The temporary tent proved to be a seasonal highlight down south over the last two summers. This year's happy campers include Antony & The Johnsons June 21st, Slayer June 26th, The Who June 30th, Bell X1 July 1st, Flaming Lips July 3th and Madness July 5th. The Marquee, The Showgrounds, Cork

PETER GABRIEL, CROWDED HOUSE A double-bill made in radio-friendly heaven sees Peter Sledgehammer Gabriel and the reformed Crowded House get together to entertain Marlay Park's mallard and muscoy ducks. Marlay Park, Dublin, June 22nd

PINK Alecia Beth Moore gets the party started in the brightest way possible. Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 23rd; Fitzgerald Stadium, Killarney, July 14th

AEROSMITH You want hits? From Walk This Way to Dude Looks Like a Lady, Aerosmith have hits galore. Support from Chris Cornell and The Feeling. Marlay Park, Dublin, June 26th

THE WHO Still talkin' about their sixtysomething generation. Support from Velvet Revolver. Marlay Park, Dublin, June 29th

BEACH PARTY  Raving in the sand dunes with Basement Jaxx and friends. East Strand, Portrush, Co Antrim, June 30th

BELL X1 The Irish band's biggest headlining show to date is proof that a split from Island Records may not be a bad thing. Malahide Castle, Dublin, June 30th

JUSTIN TIMBERLAKE  Two nights in Dublin with the man who wanted to bring sexy back, but didn't keep the receipt. First show sold out. RDS, Dublin June 30th-July 1st

• July

AL GREEN & JOE COCKER The strangest pairing of the summer. On the one hand, it's a Sunday service with the magnificent Rev Al. On the other hand, it's Joe flaming Cocker. Maybe they meant to book Jarvis Cocker. Malahide Castle, Dublin, July 1st

DAY OF DARKNESS Featuring Entombed, Sabbat, Candlemass, Skyforger, Hatred, Cruachan and other death metal, black metal and thrash metal pin-ups. Ballylinan, Co Laois, July 6th-7th

OXEGEN The most impressive line-up of the summer. Must-sees include Arcade Fire, The Gossip, Bloc Party, CSS, Muse, The Hold Steady, Enter Shikari and Amy Winehouse. A tenner says Pete Doherty will be a no-show. Punchestown,  Co Kildare, July 7th-8th, sold out

ROD STEWART  Rod still sells records 15 million copies of his four American Songbook albums, so he can obviously flog concert tickets too. RDS, Dublin, July 13th-14th, sold out

LOVEBOX A Groove Armada-helmed one-day bop starring themselves, Sasha and many more including Irish acts the Japanese Popstars and Source Code. Malahide Castle, Dublin, July 21st

MIDLANDS MUSIC FESTIVAL  Another of last year's debutants returns to a new location. Acts worth ducking stetsons to see include Gillian Welch, Jose Gonzalez, Richard Thompson and Steve Earle. Belvedere House, Co Westmeath, July 28th-29th

• August

CASTLE PALOOZA A 2,000 capacity bank holiday weekend bash featuring various to-be-announced acts. Charleville Castle, Tullamore, Co Offaly, August 4th-5th

ROLLING STONES A hugely lucrative box office take as 60,000 Irish people put their hands in their pockets for Mick, Keith, Charlie and Ron's pension fund. Lets hope the guitarist stays out of the trees between now and then. Slane Castle, Co Meath, August 18th, sold out

FOO FIGHTERS  Dave Grohl is the nicest man in rock and the Foo Fighters are always welcome visitors to these parts. Support from Nine Inch Nails, which is as big a draw for some as the Foos. Marlay Park, Dublin, August 22nd

FESTIVAL OF WORLD CULTURES  Family-friendly smattering of world grooves, music workshops and street performers. Full line-up announced in July. Dún Laoghaire, Co Dublin, August 24th-27th

DAMIEN RICE Sales for Rice's 9 album have been steady, but it may be a bit ask for him to get 20,000 punters to Rathfarnham. Marlay Park, Dublin, August 25th

ELECTRIC PICNIC  Festival of the year 2005, 2006 - and perhaps 2007? Starring Bjork, LCD Soundsystem, Beastie Boys, The Good, The Bad & The Queen, Jesus & Mary Chain, Modest Mouse, Go! Team and dozens more. See you at the Pieminister stall. Stradbally, Co Laois, August 31st-September 2nd

• October

THE POLICE The reformed Police extend the summer festival season by a couple of weeks. Isn't it chilly in Ireland in October? Croke Park, Dublin, October 6th

Indoors: gigs for undercover lovers

• May

DIRECTOR Dolan's Warehouse, Limerick, May 3rd; Ambassador, Dublin, May 4th; Sky Venue, Portlaoise, May 5th; Roisín Dubh, Galway, May 6th; Cyprus Avenue, Cork, May 9th; Left Bank, Sligo, May 10th

BRYAN ADAMSPoint, Dublin, May 4th (sold out); Odyssey, Belfast, May 5th

TERRY RILEY St Peter's Church Of Ireland, Drogheda, Co Louth, May 4th and May 6th

THE LEMONHEADS Ambassador, Dublin, May 5th

CALVIN HARRIS Temple Bar Music Centre, Dublin, May 6th

MR HUDSON & THE LIBRARY The Village, Dublin, May 7th

LOW The Village, Dublin, May 9th

THE TREMELOES Vicar Street, Dublin, May 9th

CAT POWER Tripod, Dublin, May 10th

AFEL BOCUM The Village, Dublin, May 11th

DIANA ROSS  Point, Dublin, May 11th

MARTIN HAYES, DENNIS CAHILL & BILL FRISELL  Vicar Street, Dublin, May 12th

PATTI SMITH Vicar Street, Dublin, May 13th

AU REVOIR SIMONE Whelan's, Dublin, May 14th

JOHN MARTYN Vicar Street, Dublin, May 14th

ROGER WATERS Point, Dublin, May 14th (sold out)

FOUNTAINS OF WAYNE Ambassador, Dublin, May 17th

NEW YOUNG PONY CLUB  The Village, Dublin, May 20th

SIMPLE KID The Village, Dublin, May 23rd

LIONEL RICHIE  Point, Dublin, May 21st; Odyssey, Belfast, May 23rd-24th

NOUVELLE VAGUE  Tripod, Dublin, May 26th

DUKE SPECIAL Opera House, Cork, May 21st; Vicar Street, Dublin, May 22nd and 25th; Town Hall Theatre, Galway, May 23rd and 24th; Music Factory, Carlow, May 25th

RAY DAVIES  Vicar Street, Dublin, May 23rd

THE CONGOS Tripod, Dublin, May 23rd

DAVE MATTHEWS BAND Point, Dublin, May 23rd

JULIAN COPE Tripod, Dublin, May 24th

ARCHITECTURE IN HELSINKI Tripod, Dublin, May 25th

EDITORS Olympia, Dublin, May 27th

NAS Tripod, Dublin, May 27th

KATE WALSH Sugar Club, Dublin, May 28th; Auntie Annie's, Belfast, May 30th

JASON DONOVAN  Millennium Forum, Derry, May 27th; Waterfront, Belfast, May 29th; Vicar Street, Dublin, May 30th

FUNERAL FOR A FRIEND Ambassador, Dublin, May 29th

BONDE DO ROLE  Crawdaddy, Dublin, May 30th

MEAT LOAF Odyssey, Belfast, May 31st; Point, Dublin, June 2nd and 4th

• June

ELTON JOHN Odyssey, Belfast, June 1st

GIRLS ALOUD Point, Dublin, June 1st; Odyssey, Belfast, June 2nd

BEYONCÉ  Point, Dublin, June 9th-10th

MEGADETH Ambassador, Dublin, June 10th

XZIBIT  Ambassador, Dublin, June 16th

MACY GRAY  Dublin, June 17th

DEVO  Vicar Street, Dublin, June 21st

TRAVIS Tripod, Dublin, June 26th; Waterfront Hall, Belfast, June 27th

INXS  Olympia, Dublin, June 27th

REM  Olympia, Dublin, June 30th, July 1st, July 3rd to 5th, (all sold out)

• July

OZZY OSBOURNE Point, Dublin, July 3rd

GEORGE CLINTON & THE P FUNK ALLSTARS Tripod, Dublin, July 4th

SMOKEY ROBINSON Vicar Street, Dublin, July 9th

KEANE Point, Dublin, July 19th