The 2009 edition of France's premier summer indie festival features My Bloody Valentine as headliners of a fantastic line-up that includes Grizzly Bear, Andrew Bird, Camera Obscura, Peaches, Four Tet, Telepathe, St Vincent and many more cult favourites.

Because if Sir is a pint-sized world leader in waiting, then Sir should really be speaking the language of Napoléon and Sarkozy. From a 2005 awards show in Cannes, here's himself with the cupla focail for the locals.

'Do The Joy', available for free download on the French duo's website, is yet another boring and disappointing rehash of their signature style.

Fancy some charming, melodic retro-pop? Here's Chicros and a current airplay hit called 'What's New Today On TV?' - '70s German adult films, judging by the video. The band's other recent single, 'New Orleans', has a more family-friendly promo, featuring black magic and underage violence.

The current edition of the respected political magazine features a piece on French rap and hip-hop. However, it's a poor article that ill-serves its subject. Here's why.

Electro-pop bands rock out. Local boy does good. We all get home okay.

Puck fair: Day one of the Paris summer festival features an impressive show from Hockey and some irritating wackiness from an otherwise-likeable The Dø. But we don't remember promising to report on Yuksek and Digitalism, okay?

A day of glorious pop, joyous Africana - and lovely folk. Allez la Diane!

The Irish College in Paris is home to the Centre Culturel Irlandais, which in turn has an excellent library that features all the essential Irish albums for any Parisian looking to learn about our tunes.

Rocking the Bastille: Two great record shops near a historic part of the French capital - one quite retro, the other very countercultural, both definitely worth a visit.

Rap, punk, ska, traditional musette - it's all in the sound made by one of France's favourite live bands.

The French government is trying to bring in a three-strikes law against illegal internet filesharing. They're not doing a great job of it, though. But what's Hadopi? Who are Lonah and Guarapita? And where can I hear Misty Socks playing their song 'Not A Wanker'?

Dublin's annual Fête de la Musique party takes place from 18-21 June, and includes cinema appearances by Serge & Jane, a tribute to France's most famous Belgian - and a concert by Housse De Racket.

Oui: 'Ulysses', book of the day, may be the quintessential Dublin novel but it has a bit of Paris in it too - and plenty of music. Here's Kate Bush's homage to Molly Bloom.

To kick of Dublin celebrations for France's national music day later this month, the L.A.-loving Paris electro-pop-rap fellas will be playing at Twisted Pepper on 6 June.

Ready, tame, fire: By taking no significant risk with their sound, the Versailles band's 'Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix' is a slight disappointment.

A high-profile headline slot at the Maroquinerie tonight, a prominent billing at Benicassim - the Kildare lads are slowly conquering France and the rest of mainland Europe.

Version 2009 of the annual Paris music/AIDS-awareness festival is definitely on in late June and certainly has a cracking programme: Manu Chao, Amadou and Mariam, Friendly Fires, Metronomy, The Virgins, Alela Diane, Cocoon and more. From the days of Mano Negra, here's Chao rocking round the clock with 'Out Of Time Man'.

The pan-continental pop, rock n'folk fest in Clermont Ferrand, featuring Bloc Party, Maximo Park, I'm From Barcelona, Loney Dear, Emily Loizeau, Vitalic, Declan de Barra... and Herman Dune.

My Lovely Horse: Coming up the rails on the far side, it’s the terrible name but gorgeous dancefloor-pop of Pony Pony Run Run and ‘Hey You’ - well worth a flutter.

Tunnel of love: another fine set of tunes from the UK-based French trio. Their 'Pick The Ghost' E.P. gives us more dark indie that's illuminated by the melodic flashes of Marion Andrau's voice.

A reprieve of sorts for the famous Paris rock venue - new owners and remedial works will see La Flèche d'Or re-open in August. But will the new broom sweep out the old alt-rock spirit?

George Gershwin's other epic work, by way of Paris car salesmen, Gene Kelly and Kim Jong-Il. Here's the New York Philharmonic playing it at their historic 2008 Pyongyang performance. Watch out for those car horns!

Our annual round-up of festivals where you don't need rain gear or a bank loan begins with the trip to Belfort for France's most internationally-popular summer show. This year's line-up includes Kanye West, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, The Prodigy, Tricky, Birdy Nam Nam and French heroes Phoenix - from them, another new track and another classical composer namecheck.

French revolutions per minute: For World Record Store Day, here are some of the independent music shops we know and love in Paris and the rest of France.