With just a few days to go until Castlepalooza takes place in the beautiful surroundings of Charleville Castle in County Offaly, it's time to get planning.

You may have already seen the timetable, which will help on that front – but we've also made a list of the must-see acts on the reliably eclectic line-up for this year's festival.

Without further ado, get your red pen out and start circling the below names....

1. WILD BEASTS

Who? Four-piece experimental indie troupe from Cumbria
When? Friday, 11.30pm
Why? Because as they've proven with their musical evolution over five albums, they're one of the most original bands out there right now and are always stellar live.

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2. BITCH FALCON

Who? Dublin trio who have generated quite a buzz over the past year in particular
When? Friday, 10pm
Why? Because their brand of grungey, raw rock music will shake off the cobwebs and get you set up for the weekend in tremendous fashion.

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3. DAMOLA

Who? Young Dublin-based MC
When? Saturday, 7.30pm
Why? Because as we've seen, Irish rap and hip-hop is going from strength to strength and this guy has a great, soulful flow as heard on the likes of 'WorkFlow'.

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4. DEIRDRE O'KANE

Who? Comedian, actress and all 'round funny woman
When? Sunday, 4pm
Why? Because she's one of the sharpest, brightest, wittiest highlights on the ace comedy line-up at this year's festival.

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5. R.S.A.G.

Who? Drummer extraordinaire Jeremy Hickey from Kilkenny, also known as Rarely Seen Above Ground
When? Saturday, 10pm
Why? Because his visuals - his AV set sees him 'play' in a virtual band with multiple versions of himself - are a superb enhancement of his brilliant songs.

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6. HOT COPS

Who? Young three-piece from Belfast
When? Sunday, 5.45pm
Why? Because they're seriously underrated and fans of punky, grungey, slacker Pavement-y, Weezer-y Nirvana-y rock will love them

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7. AIKJ

Who? Aik Jolayemi, a young Dubliner who has impressed with his early releases and new EP 'Heights'
When? Saturday, 5pm
Why? Because if slinky contemporary soul with a urban twist is your bag, you simply must catch this guy live.

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8. COLM O'REGAN

Who? The man behind the 'The Book of Irish Mammies' and its accompanying very funny Twitter account
When? Saturday, 3pm
Why? Because his hilarious take on Irish society is always worth a watch

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9. DAVID KITT

Who? You know him – sure he's a stalwart of the Irish indie scene, at this point.
When? Sunday, 10pm
Why? Because while his material under his 'New Jackson' guise is brilliant, so is his eminently reliable low-key 'David Kitt' stuff

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10. I HAVE A TRIBE

Who? Dublin musician and owner of impressive facial hair, Patrick O'Laoghaire
When? Sunday, 8.45pm
Why? Because he's a purveyor of beautiful, carefully crafted indie-folk-chamber-pop songs that are occasionally intimate, occasionally epic and always essential.

 

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