On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me... a rocking good night of music from the cream of Swindon's finest musicians, playing genres completely outside their comfort zone.

Tomorrow, Saturday December 17, the local artists strutting 'not their stuff' at The Vic, Victoria Road, Old Town are: SN Dubstation, Plummie Racket and The Dicemen, The Harlers, A Way With Words, Raze*Rebuild, Zoe Mead, Diagonal People, Martyrials, Polar Front, The Nomarks and Yves.

The 12 Bands of Christmas has become a vital part of Swindon's Christmas tradition. Twelve bands play two cover songs both in a different genre to their normal style, for example a rock band could play reggae and a soul band tackle some heavy metal.

One of the solo artists this year is Zoe Mead, an acoustic singer/songwriter whose Suzanne Vega style won her a place in the regional finals of Live and Unsigned national competition twice in a row. Zoe treads her own musical path, with no formal training but a passion for writing and performing.

Another popular entrant in this year's Christmas extravaganza is Polar Front led by Sophie-Rose Goldsworthy. Sophie comes from an artistic family as her family is well known in the hairdressing world of Wiltshire. Last year the band were asked to create a backing track for Geordie Shore star Vicky Pattison's advertisement for her latest fashion range with website Honeyz. Their song Hide and Seek was played behind the advert all through last Christmas on MTV, E! and various music channels.

Tickets to the 12 Days of Christmas beginning at 8pm are £7 from 01793 535713. http://www.thevicswindon.com/get/main - Flicky Harrison