It may not be the busiest of weeks but it certainly plays host to some pretty big names, especially if you are a fan of the alt-folk and acoustic genres. And with that in mind I’ll leap straight in and talk about the next artist to take the stage at The Beehive as part of The Songs of Praise May Mini Roots Residency.

As part of her Songs of Our Years album tour, Gill Sandell is back in town. You may have seen her as a member of the critically acclaimed Red Clay Halo alongside Emily Barker, you may have even seen her playing the opening ceremony of the last Olympic Games alongside Frank Turner. But tonight it is all about Gill’s own lyrically captivating, perfectly crafted, modernist folk. Opening up the night is the haunting and dulcet tones of Luke De-Sciscio.

Meanwhile at The Victoria, Erica bring a bagful of ear-worming riffs that take the accessible elements of rock over the last few decades and repackage them for todays more critical and discerning punter. Support comes from The Dirty Smooth, a band who walks a similar line between drive and delicacy, grunt and groove.

Sheer Music have always been a safe pair of hands when it comes to booking the right acts and their latest offering is one hell of a coup. Sam Duckworth rose to fame under the name Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly and he is now back with his new project Recreations and in support of the first full-length album he brings his emotive, richly textured and subtle songs to The Victoria of Friday.

FAB208 may sound like a sickeningly cheerful radio station but it is actually a party band playing all the 70’s glam rock classics from Abba to Mott The Hoople and you will find them at The Rolleston. Other familiar music can be found at The Beehive with Hooch who play all the big songs of the nineties and at The Locomotive WMD approach the cover band thing with a much broader brush, both generically and chronologically speaking.

And staying at The Locomotive for Saturday’s dance card, after a few fits and starts, Oscillator return with a new line up but the same clash of punk, new wave and garage rock influences and they are joined by Martyrials who channel a sound akin to that if punk had happened after synthesizers had become a mainstream instrument. Intriguing yes?

The Rolleston will be raising the rafters to the sound of classic rock with a distinctly 80’s bias thanks to the return of the hilariously named Kok Rok, whilst below at Level 3 the “ultimate party band” (aren’t they all?) Uptown Junction will be playing all the hits replete with a mass of horns and harmonies.

Okay. Cards on the table time. You know how people think that I hate tribute bands (I don’t, it all stemmed from a promoter who doesn’t understand my arid sense of humour.) Well, Just Floyd are a band that I have seen a couple of times and can’t recommend them highly enough, capturing as they do the majesty of the music of original band without resorting to wigs, props and the like.

The day of rest finds this months Lazy Sunday Afternoon session at a new location, The Savernake Street Hall and offers a great line up. You know those pretty big names in folk and roots I mentioned at the beginning, well headliner Jess Vincent is definitely in that category. Blending sunny up-beat folk and country vibes with confident vocals and some wonderfully delicate touches, this is definitely an artist which will have you using lines that start “I saw her way back when…” in years to come. She is joined by that purveyor of fine music through a massive range of instruments and member of LightGarden, David Moss; you may even be treated to a touch Mongolian throat singing. Your hosts as always are Mr Love and Justice.

On Wednesday another scoop comes to The Victoria courtesy of Sheer Music. Agit-pop? Stoner roots? Freak folk? It’s difficult to easily sum up the wonderfully named Beans On Toast but his slacker approach and his down beat wit make for a charming, amusing if slightly shambolic set.

And finally Kitchen Sink Dramas return to The Roaring Donkey for another round of politically poignant, emotive and emotionally based songs from, in my humble opinion, one of the most insightful lyricists treading the boards today. Opening up the night will be Steve Degutis.