It isn’t too much of an exaggeration to say that John Peel shaped contemporary music broadcasting in a way that few others ever did.

Through radical programming, a truly eclectic musical taste and by championing bands that would otherwise have remained unknown, he single-handedly created the template for music radio as we know it today.

The reason I mention this is that Saturday marks 10 years since his passing, and I for one salute you, sir. You were a lighthouse in an ocean of music mediocrity. More of that later in the article.

And having mentioned the great man, tonight has a suitable eclectic and musically left of centre feel to it.

At Riffs Bar, Lifesigns will be reminding us that progressive rock isn’t the indulgent and retro-minded genre that some would have us believe. Quintessentially English soundscapes are constructed from the usual prog palette but brought bang up to date with slices of melodic rock and pop and a very accessible nature.

Songs of Praise at The Victoria is by way of an album launch this time, as Port Erin unveil their latest release, Floating Above the City.

Taking the experimental, space rock elements of their earlier days and mixing it with the ambient, jazz infused vibes of more recent days has produced an album that is both imaginative and exploratory yet tuneful and, dare I say it, commercially viable. Support comes from the sonorous and somnolent acoustic dreamscapes of Andrew Burke.

The Beehive is the place to be to catch the mercurial mix of underground pop, psychedelia, wit and wisdom of Anton Barbeau.

Acoustic music is high on the menu for Friday.

Child of Imber are a duo who mix delicate acoustica, soaring vocals and thoughtful lyrics and they can be found at Riffs Bar for the regular acoustic session. For a high-energy take on the genre, you should definitely catch Sam Green and The Midnight Heist at The Victoria. Theirs is a blend of blues from the Old South and the more pastoral sounds of an English folk dance and the result is the best freewheeling, roots-rock party you have ever been to. Support comes from psych-pop trio Emperor Yes and the twin guitar dexterity of Bren Haze.

Rock fans also have a lot to shout about. If original music is your preference then Level 3 is the place to be as A Way With Words, DIRTE, In Bloom and Over to You offer a heady mix of alt-rock, punk, metal and grunge, a theme that will be continued by the Reboot club night that follows it.

Meanwhile, upstairs at The Rolleston, Metalhead will be playing classic rock and metal covers through the ages.

As mentioned, Saturday marks the 10 year passing of Our Lord John Peel and in his honour The Victoria have a night dedicated to the man himself with suitably challenging and offbeat acts.

There will be fast, furious punk with sweary between song humour delivered in machine gun salvos from 2 Sick Monkeys. The Chaos Brothers will provide abrasive punk and sleaze rock in the style in which it was originally intended.

Coasters are all about the contemporary sound of acoustic music with a punk end drive and Ian Doeser does what he does best, abusing guitar and audience in equal measure. I think John would find it all rather amusing.

But there is another famous John in town as well. John Coghlan is best known as being the drummer with Status Quo and he brings his current band to Riffs Bar. This is no tribute band but a set that mixes the bands big numbers, lost classics and songs never performed before played in the style of the 70s heyday by the man who was the bands engine room. If anyone is entitled to reappraise those songs, I reckon he is.

There is also a bit of a blast from the past at The Rolleston with The Wirebirds. Although predominantly a blues band they add in rock, west coast psychedelia and even more contemporary sounds, and add to that the remarkable vocals of one-time Babe Ruth vocalist Jenny Haan, and you have something pretty special.

Final mentions go to Bob Bowles who plies his trademark blues at The Beehive on Sunday and a rare outing for The Chalice Folk Band who can be found at The Roaring Donkey on Wednesday.