There's so much happening in Irish music this week, I thought it deserved noting. This Friday August 27th, not one, not two, not even three, but four of the more highly anticipated Irish albums of the year are set to be released.

The first, and biggest, is the follow up to Fight Like Apes' Choice Prize nominated debut 'Fight Like Apes and the Mystery of the Golden Medallion', the blasphemously titled 'The Body of Christ and the Legs of Tina Turner'.

Fight Like Apes - Poached Eggs by stripeyjumper

The second is Wexford instrumental rockers Adebisi Shank, who made waves with their debut 'This is the Album of a Band called Adebisi Shank' in 2008, and now follow it up with 'This is the Second Album of a Band called Adebisi Shank'. Anyone who picked up ASIWYFA's debut last year should really give it a listen.

International Dreambeat by richtercollective

The third are mates with FLApes, and are even supporting them in Cork's Cyprus Avenue this Friday (27th)ahead of their own album launch in Whelan's on Saturday (28th). Yes, Grand Pocket Orchestra's debut 'The Ice Cream' is out this Friday too.

Grand Pocket Orchestra - Basketballs by statemagazine

And finally, a band whose god awful name has undoubtedly held them back, the unashamedly upbeat and purely entertaining The Brad Pitt Light Orchestra release their debut 'Lowering the Tone'.

Soon! - BPLO by sillygooserecords

Meanwhile, last week saw the release of the third album from Groom. 'Marriage' has been put out by relatively new Dublin collective Popical Island, who've also just released a 15 track compilation which also features the likes of Feed the Bears, Land Lovers, Yeh Deadlies and So Cow. Get it at popicalisland.bandcamp.com.

Groom - Mysteries Of Life by popical_island

But it's a great week for Irish music in more ways than one. James Vincent McMorrow has gone and gotten himself new record deal with American record label Vagrant (home to Stars, Eels, Placebo , Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, School Of Seven Bells, The Hold Steady) who'll be releasing his debut 'Early in the Morning' in the States and Canada.

09 from the Woods by jvmcmorrow

And some great up and coming Irish acts have made new gig announcements this week too. O Emperor have just announced that they will play their own headline show at the Sugar Club on November 6th (€15). They're also playing the Picnic next weekend and Sligo's Temple House Festival the following weekend, and are set to release their debut album 'Hither Thither' on October 1st.

O Emperor - Po by DamianChennells

We're really looking forward to that one, but are even moreso looking forward to the debut album from Belfast electro-pop duo SkiBunny, who will be celebrating the release of 'Hugs' (September 27th) with a very special launch show on A Barge beside The Waterfront Hall on September 15th. Email [email protected] for free admission.

Skibunny: Walk Don't Walk by CultureNI

And the list goes on. The Cast of Cheers (whose album 'Chariot' you can download entirely for free from thecastofcheers.bandcamp.com and we advise you to do so immediately) have announced an entire Irish tour, which looks like this:

Wed 22 Sep DERRY, Mason's
Fri 24 Sep BELFAST, Stiff Kitten
Thu 30 Sep DUNDALK, Spirit Store
Tue 5 Oct LIMERICK, Dolan's
Wed 6 Oct CORK, Cyprus Avenue
Thu 7 Oct DUBLIN, Academy 2
Fri 8 Oct GALWAY, Roisin Dubh

The Cast of Cheers - Derp by Nialler9

And just because it's really good, here's Clown Parlour's new single 'Stanley Kubrick', taken from the album 'The Sum Of Sounds'.

Clown Parlour: Stanley Kubrick by CultureNI

So, while I'm rambling I'm going to give myself another shameless plug. These are the sort of brilliant Irish tunes you'll hear every Thursday at 10pm on The National Express on 103.2 Dublin City FM. Yes, you can go ahead and judge me now.