The Big Day Out: Pulp, Garbage, The Beastie Boys, Ian Brown, Cornershop, Castlegar Sportsgrounds, Saturday July 11th, 1.30 p.m.

Now that planning permission has been granted for the Big Day Out, we can look forward to a superb line-up of rock acts at Castlegar Sportsgrounds. The one-day event is headlined by Pulp, the Sheffield band with the common touch. Led by the polyester-clad Jarvis Cocker, Pulp will rip through hits such as Disco 2000, This Is Hardcore, Sorted For E's and Wizz, and of course, Common People. Also on the bill are Garbage (see feature), whose second album, Version 2.0, has already topped the charts. Original b-boy crew, The Beastie Boys, will give us some hip-hop from their forthcoming album, Hello Nasty, and AngloAsian band, Cornershop, will serve up some Eastern-flavoured funk from their acclaimed album, When I Was Born For The 7th Time. Finally, former Stone Roses singer, Ian Brown, will be there to see to a little Unfinished Monkey Business, his self-produced solo album.

The Saw Doctors, Footsbarn Tent, Fisheries Field, Monday 20th, 8 p.m.

Rock 'n' roll is coming home for the Galway Arts Festival, and it's taking the N17. The Saw Doctors, who cut their teeth on the Galway circuit, are back to headline a night at the Fisheries Field. The boys from Tuam have built up a big following in Britain and the UK, thanks to constant touring, and their new single, She Said, is a rollicking slice of Tuam rock.

Mike Scott, Town Hall Theatre, Thursday July 16th, 8 p.m.

Former Waterboy, Mike Scott, is also returning to his spiritual home in Galway Bay, having spent much time in Spiddal during the making of Fisherman's Blues and Room To Roam. Scott's 1997 solo album, Still Burning, proves he has still got the fire.

Kristin Hersh, Town Hall Theatre, Tuesday 14th, 8 p.m.

Since disbanding Throwing Muses and concentrating on solo albums such as Hips And Makers and Strange Angels, Kristin Hersh has become a new folk icon, attracting a loyal following for her quirky, introspective, acoustic songs.