The cold, biting Northerly winds, torrential downpours and traditional flooding let us know, in no uncertain or subtle terms, that we are mired deep within the early stages of another new year. Yes, the January blues is truly in full effect, with the collective belt buckles being undone a knot or two to allow the newly acquired bulge ample room to breath, while the purse strings are being tugged in the opposite direction after the Christmas excess!

Traditionally the post-Christmas period is quiet on the entertainment front – the masses go into their post-Xmas hangover hiding with the best of intentions, convinced that the time is ripe for change. However, as February edges ever closer, there appears to be glimmers of sunshine creeping over the horizon (metaphorically speaking of course), with a number of exciting music gigs, theatre productions, comedy shows and art exhibitions pencilled in.

Ping Pong (based out of the Liquid Lounge) arrived on our doorsteps last year with a simple agenda…to bring high-quality, genre-bending live music to Leeside. They can, in that regard, consider 2007 a roaring success.

In 2008 Cork's finest club looks to maintain those high standards set last year and already the signs are looking good. The club launches back into action in late February with the arrival of Seattle's epic Sub Pop approved rock-monsters Kinski. Having previously supported kraut-rockers Oneida, psych-rockers Acid Mothers Temple, post-rockers Mono and progressive-metal giants Tool, one may wonder where exactly Kinski fit in – the answer is between all four of the aforementioned groups. That would be majestic, expansive full-throttle rock action then.

The good times continue with the awesomely named F**k Buttons making their way over at the beginning of March, before the band embark on an extensive tour with Caribou. The duo initially started life as nihilistic-noise-inks, before slowly introducing melody and rhythms to their already immersive sound. The band recently stole the show at the Portishead curated ATP in the UK, and have also recently been invited to participate in the Pitchfork curated ATP. If most noise acts are about decay, then F**k Buttons slowly unfolding electronic compositions are all about flourishing beauty.

Veteran German Electro-Dadaist Felix Kubin follows in F**k Buttons footsteps midway through March. Combining Stockhausen influenced experimental composition with early electronic pioneers Kraftwerk, Kubin is widely regarded as a unique and precious talent within the electronic music scene. This gig also marks the club nights first birthday.

Staying with the Kraftwerk theme, those Ping Pongers are delighted to bring us UK kraut-rockers Kling Klang at the end of March as part of their ongoing birthday celebrations. The Liverpool group, named after Kraftwerk's studio, marry huge repetitive synth and guitar riffs with thumping drums (imagine if you will Kraftwerk or Italian prog group Magma amplified and beefed up). They rarely play live, so getting them to come to Cork is quite a coup. Way to go PP!

Meanwhile the excellent Electric Underground night also celebrates it's first birthday with the Detroit techno legend Kenny Larkin making his way over for his only Irish show. Considered a key-figure in Detroit's second wave of techno producers (along with Richie Hawtin), Larkin's 94 debut for Warp Records, Azimuth, is regarded as an all-time classic among techno aficionados. The EU crew also say they expect to announce more big names of similar calibre to Larkin in the coming weeks. Keep an ear out!