With the exception of Tibetan Jazz aficionados and fans of the burgeoning Polynesian trip-hop scene, most musical tastes will be catered for this week. Variety, as they say, is the spice of life and this week’s musical offerings prove to be a particularly fine condiment of existence.

Acoustic buffs should head to The Victoria tonight for a rather special triptych of players, headed by Darren Eedens, (pictured) a bluegrass and honky-tonk folkster as at home on the banjo as he is the guitar. A story-telling troubadour in the truest sense, he describes himself as an old soul with the imagination of a child.

Local support comes in the form of the elemental sounds of Drew Bryant and the atmospheric endeavours of Andrew Burke.

The newly revamped Beehive will be echoing to the sounds of Built For Comfort who channel the sound and the vibe of a late night, smoky, back room Chicago blues club.

And Friday, it would seem, is the new Saturday judging by the amount of gigs you have to choose from, a myriad of styles running from the sublime to the ridiculous.

Representing the sublime is Faye Rogers at Riffs Bar. Hers is a sound that has grown gracefully from an innocent, “girl with guitar” solo spot to a band that soundscape around the tunes with shimmering guitar riffs, sensuous cello washes and less is more beats.

Joining her is Antoine Architeuthis, who mixes Celtic jauntiness with sweeping English pastoral folk sounds and just a splash of eastern spiritualism to weave an exotic musical tapestry.

Representing the ridiculous (only joking, chaps) is The Hamsters from Hell, rhythm and booze experts whose talents at wrapping a risqué lyric around a grinding R‘n’B groove is exceeded only by the speed at which they can run up an impressive bar tab. Catch them at The Queens Tap.

It’s folk, Jim, but not as we know it. Actually it’s The Model Folk. Forget finger in the ear, bearded, jumper wearing folk police who still harbour a grudge over Dylan going electric, this is Balkan inspired, punked up gypsy folk with a fixation for railways, soviet farming machinery and 1930s drag queens… apparently.

Catch them at The Beehive not least because they use the word rumbustious in their band biog and you have to admire a band who keep such words in circulation.

Level 3 continues in its mission to throw off the gothic imagery and nu-metal fixations of the past (I can see the music forums ablaze already over such a comment) and embrace a broader musical sensibility by hosting a night of reggae. Empower the Gambia, a charity that aims to improve conditions in rural Gambia, brings you cool reggae sounds from Bobo Blackstar and The Tribe.

Something more familiar can be found at The Victoria with Fleetwood Bac (I’ll let you work out what they are all about), and at The Rolleston where The Dark Eyes will be playing covers through the ages from the sixties to the present.

In a change from their usual Thursday slot, those awfully nice people at Songs of Praise have a Saturday show at The Victoria. The top slot is taken by Colour the Atlas a band whose chilled, cinematic and atmospheric brand of trip-pop (if such a term is allowed) has seen them lauded by critics and touring with the likes of Newton Faulkner. Check out their brilliant new single, That Sound, now and then watch them live, right on your doorstep.

Also clutching a new release is Alex Rainsford, who creates a sound that embraces the drive of rock and the dexterity of folk and throws in soaring vocals and heartfelt sentiments.

And opening the night is Charlie Bath, a singer-songwriter who needs no introduction to the discerning local music fan. If a crystal clear yet warm vocal, emotive lyrics and wonderfully crafted songs are your sort of thing, then make sure you get to this gig on time.

If you are after something more visceral, then The Rolleston may have the answers, as The Keith Thompson Band will be firing off salvos on incendiary blues-rock in the style of Moore and Gallagher.

And finally, the Sunday afternoon session at The Beehive has what can be best described as “three in the morning porch blues” courtesy of David Bristow.