This weekend sees a staggering number of stars becoming temporary residents of our shores. Georgia band REM have taken up a five-night working with the city. The band announced on the website that a limited number of tickets will be on sale at 4pm on 3, 4 and 5 July from the Olympia box office on a first-come-first-served basis.

Over at the RDS, Justin Timberlake continues his European tour with two nights and a third, more intimate affair at Vicar Street tonight. Tickets for the latter gig were going for upwards of Euro230 each on internet auction site Ebay this weekend.

The endless roll-out of festivals and events now seems unsustainable, and ticket sales are showing evidence of a mixture of consumer fatigue, an excess of choice, and a lack of affordability by not selling out. While the two most popular festivals - Oxegen at Punchestown racecourse next weekend, and Electric Picnic at Stradbally Estate in Laois in September - have sold out, other events have been slow to shift tickets.

The first festival of the summer, Garden Party in Westmeath in early June, was saved by beautiful weather which enticed the crowds, but elsewhere a lack of enthusiasm among the buying public is causing some concern among promoters.

Ireland's appetite for live music has not stalled entirely, but there's a consensus in the music industry that it's too much too often. Never before have Irish gig-goers been so blessed with choice and frequency of quality music acts.

Simultaneously, there is a worry that if bigger promoters start losing large amounts of money on events that sell poorly, Ireland's reputation as gig capital of the world will implode.

There are, however, some events that remain good value. The 5th Hard Working Class Heroes festival based around the Pod complex in Harcourt Street, Dublin, charges just Euro33.60 for unlimited access to gigs over three days in late September.

Castlepalooza at Charleville Castle in Co Offaly is Euro120 for two days, 40 bands and, most importantly, real toilets. And if all that is too pricey, you can't argue with Mitchelstown's Indie Pendence festival on the August bank holiday featuring Republic of Loose, Sultans of Ping and Delorentos for no cover charge at all.

See You Down The Front: the cost of a gig-goer's summer Garden Party: �99.50 Oxegen: �197.50 Lovebox: �79.50 Mantua: �65 Midlands: �170 Castlepalooza: �125 Cois Fharraige: �84.50 Electric Picnic: �220 Hard Working Class Heroes: �33.60 Slane: �86.50 Al Green @ Malahide: �75 Kaiser Chiefs @ Marlay Park (LEFT): �49.50 Total: Euro1,285.60 (Not including booking fees, transport, food, alcohol, camping equipment or pain medication)