Every summer Parisians can enjoy their own temporary beach along the Seine. No surfing, though. Still, listen to Serge Gainsbourg's advice on how to make the most of the beach.

Sick of having your number one single going on and on about rain and umbrellas? Check out what the French have popped on top of their charts - a fantastic bit of sunny disco-pop by a TV talent show winner. The weather's better here too. Coincidence?

Meet the French singer who's making a name for herself on the Dublin indie-rock scene. Watch her perform her song 'Rude'. Just don't ask her where she's from, okay?

The excellent Tel-Aviv band Izabo have pitched their tent in Paris for the summer. Watch the video for their single 'Morning Hero'.

Blitzkrieg (teeny-)bop: France's current adolescent idols are Tokio Hotel - a German teen metal band singing in German.

The new public bike scheme introduced in Paris this week has already been a huge success.

B'jaysus! Bjork, Jarvis, CSS, Amy Winehouse, Kings Of Leon, Bat For Lashes, JMC, Dinosaur Jr, The Shins, Mogwai, The Fratellis, the now-obligatory Arcade Fire and loads more - all just a short metro hop out of the centre of the French capital at the end of August. Watch a video from one of the home-grown headliners, the brilliant Emilie Simon.

If you fancy a French touch to your night out, head for 'French Friday' at Thomas House in Dublin on 20 July and the third Friday of every month. There'll be the best of French indie, electronica and Celtic music, and entry is free.

Party like it's 14 July and celebrate France's national holiday this Saturday with our party playlist. Best of all, because you've been good, you can watch the legend that is Johnny Hallyday. Allumer le feu!!!

I'll be your mirror: three Paris-based female singers and their love for Lou. Watch the best of them - Vanessa And The O's singing 'Bagatelle'.

My favourite things: Some subversive folk-pop from a French singer-songer whose ode to addictive substances has become the cult hit of French alternative radio.

Going back to my [Bei]roots: New music from Lebanon is celebrated in a special band night in Paris tonight.

July in France means 'le Tour', still the world's greatest annual sporting event. This year's London start highlights France's current fascination with the British capital.

There will be a plethora of Parisian dance and electronica acts at Oxegen this weekend. Just don't go starting any French revolutions in the campsite this year, okay?

French-loving Damo is playing for Damo-loving French at the most romanticised venue in Paris.

Libertine, equality, fraternity: Because they call themselves brothers and sound like Pete Doherty's old band, okay?

Goldfingers: A festival near Paris this weekend celebrates the music of Django Reinhardt, the dapper gypsy guitarist who became one of France's many adopted Belgian-born music icons.

Drugstore POW!-boy: The US garage-punk cult hero and his band The Pharmacists rocked the bejaysus out of the French capital last night. Next stops: Dublin, Galway and Belfast this week.

...they forget the tunes. One previously-impressive French R n' B diva, Amel Bent, has gone 'political' on her new single - with boring results. Instead, watch the video for her fantastic 2005 hit 'Ma Philosophie': the soundtrack to a REAL French revolution.

Vive la difference: meet the brilliant Quebec band who are getting some attention in Europe. But will their French-language eclecticism scare away the English-speakers... and the French?

He's only got one great song - but that's one more than a lot of acts. Check out the brilliant 'Cookiemachine' on his MySpace page.

A new album this summer from France's biggest international music star. Watch the video for new single 'Rainin' In Paradize'.

In France on Thursday everyone is gonna party like it's 21 June - the French national music festival. If you can't make it to Paris, don't worry - you can stay in Dublin and join the 'French Music Feast' at Crawdaddy.

Off (with) their heads: France's indie princesses have just released a debut record of exciting English-language punk-pop laced with Parisian attitude. It's been annoying all the old punks and overserious rock fans, which is great news altogether. Watch the video for 'Shake (Twist Around The Fire)'.

Happy Bloomsday from Paris - where Ulysses was first published, in 1922. Here's a musical tribute to the greatest novel of all time: