Are you as tired as we are after the long bank holiday weekend? You'll know you are if you need twice as many cups of coffee as normal and if you go to bed two hours earlier than usual and still sleep in. And if every second person is saying, 'I need a holiday after that holiday!'

While there's a good chance that you will be thinking about not doing anything over this short weekend - especially because *sigh* there's yet another BH next weekend (how will we ever cope?!) we implore you to think again. Why waste your time staying in? What will you talk about with your co-workers on Monday morning? They've all already seen Breaking Bad and the new episode of Game of Thrones - those conversations are long over.

There are a few good gigs on around the place and as you already know, we're inching towards festival season proper and some fests have already kicked off. So get out there and live your life as Wallis Bird says at the start of her new track, Hardly Hardly. She plays The Academy, Dublin on Friday, Monroes Live, Galway on Saturday and the Half Moon Theatre, Cork on Sunday by the way.

Friday, April 25

What? Music: We Cut Corners
Where? Roisin Dubh, Galway
What time? 9 pm
How much? €5/€10

This Choice Music Prize nominated act (for Irish Album of the Year) play the City of the Tribes on Friday night. We think the duo are one of the most intriguing acts on the Irish music scene today and that you would be a fool to miss the show. Especially if you're a Roisin member when the ticket would be a mere fiver!

What? Festival: Beyond the Bookshelf (April 24 - 26)
Where? The New Theatre, Dublin
What time? 7 pm
How much? €12

Ease your way into festival mode with Beyond the Bookshelf - probably the smallest festival in the world. So cute! Two headline acts will perform each night but there'll be fun and frolicks to be had besides, with 60 or so of your (new) best friends.

Saturday, April 26

What? Festival: Darklight Festival of Independent Creativity (April 24 - 27)
Where? Block T, Smithfield Square, Dublin 7

Darklight is rebooted and back wit a vengeance (in a good way) and taking over Smithfield with a weekend packed with future-forward film screenings, visual art, live music, street games, workshops, discussions and hack jams. In a nutshell.

What? Music: Courthouse Live - Launch
Where? The Courthouse Inn, Ballina, Co. Mayo
What time? 10.30 pm
How much? Free Admission - with ticket / on guest list

Ballina's newest live venue, The Courthouse Live is launching tonight and it's going to be one hell of a hooley. Featuring two super bands in Johnny Gallagher Boxtie Band and Buck Taylor, admission is free BUT by ticket only or guest list. So go sort yourself out and get thee to Court!

Sunday, April 27

What? Music: Rosanne Cash
Where? Vicar St, Dublin
What time? 7.30 pm
How much? €36.50

Did they name give it away? C'mon, don't pretend you don't know who this songtress is. Roseanne Cash is a well respected artiste in her own right and this should be a trés memorable show. (Her dad is Johnny Cash. There.)

What? Music: Harry Bird & The Rubber Wellies
Where? De Barras, Clonakilty, Co. Cork
What time? 9 pm
How much? Free!

This act has such a fun name we bet their set is real fun too. The group are based in Bilbao and Dublin but have spent the last three years traveling around Ireland, the UK and Europe enchanting audiences in bars, cafes, theatres, circus galas, festivals and folk clubs alike with their 'intimate cabaret of joyful sing-a-long choruses and general participatory fun.' See, I told you it would be fun!