Pioneering electronica duo The Future Sound of London lead the roll-call for this year’s Life Festival at Ballinlough Castle, Co Westmeath on May 29th, 30th and 31st. Grammy Award-nominated DJ Carl Craig will also play the festival, which was founded in Galway in 2006. Among the acts joining them are Goldie, Sebastien Leger, Andrew Weatherall, Astrix, Green Velvet and Altern 8. Tickets are €95, and available from Ticketmaster and usual outlets.

Dance music aficionados will also be pleased to hear about the Planetlove Festival at Fairyhouse Racecourse on June 6th, which will include sets by Ferry Corsten and Lisa Lashes. A Northern Irish tie-in dubbed Live in the Park will be headlined by The Prodigy at Donard Park, Newcastle, Co Down on June 19th.

Other independent festivals scheduled for the coming months include Castle Palooza in Tullamore on August 1st and 2nd, and the one-day Sibín Music Festival, which takes place on May 2nd in Balbriggan, Co Dublin. Sibín’s diverse line-up across six stages includes The Mighty Stef, The Hot Sprockets, T-Woc and Gaiser. More info from www.sibinfestival.com.

The recession, meanwhile, means that Dublin’s Analog Festival and Roscommon’s Mantua Festival will not take place in 2009.