A year today I fully expect to be dashing around the Messe Dusseldorf at Drupa 2012 - yes, that's right the world's biggest print fest is a mere year away. Doesn't time fly?

More immediately, a week today I shall be perambulating around the rather more compact footprint of the Harrogate International Centre, home to Northprint. A fortnight on and it'll be Hamburg and Fespa Digital.

In short, a veritable whirl of print expo-based activity awaits. Love them or loathe them, trade shows provide a perfect opportunity to take the metaphorical temperature of the industry sector being targeted.

Next week's Northprint is surely going to be a watershed show for owner IIR, as it attempts to bounce back with a reinvigorated exhibition after 2009's limp showing, when the show was badly-affected by the widespread market uncertainty caused by the financial crisis. I had wondered whether a more radical revamp of Northprint would have been in order, perhaps something along the Easyfairs type of model, but IIR has not opted for this route. The floorplan looks pretty familiar, but in addition to the exhibits we're promised "the most comprehensive range of visitor features and attractions in the show's history" in the shape of additional seminars, masterclasses and case study workshops.

Next week we'll find out if this has attracted the requisite number and quality of visitors to keep the show on the calendar.

Fespa Digital, meanwhile, is sold out. Evidence, if any were needed, of the level of activity and interest in the wide-format digital space.

Back with Drupa, the organisers have released the new Drupa song today, too. Warning: europop alert, you may find yourself inadvertently singing along after just a couple of listens. Afficionados of the genre have already likened the singer to a 'Male Lady Gaga'. I'll leave you to make up your own minds on that.