YOU know that you are on to something great, musically speaking, when you have trouble finding the words to pin a band down and that is the problem I always have with Diagonal People.

Often, you can easily see what their constituent parts are, building blocks made of pop and rock, soul and blues, synth, post-punk and more besides, it’s just that they deftly weave and blend these disparate styles into their own layered, challenging and wonderfully textured beast. And if you don’t believe me, head along to The Victoria tonight to see if you can describe it any better.

At The Beehive, the more easily described but no less fantastic, David Celia, is back in town.

This roving Canadian wanders easily between rootsy, country vibes at one extreme and slick pop-rock at the other and it is easy to see why he has become a firm favourite with local fans. With him is his musical partner Marla, a similarly eclectic player with a voice that could be bottled and used to heal most ailments.

Friday has its fair share of rock on offer. Down and Dirty will be at The Castle with not only the standard rock fair but also picking some less obvious tracks from the prog, new wave and roots canon and Damn Good Reason at The Queen’s Tap play with a straighter classic rock bat, though I am troubled by the choice of verb (Damn) over adjective (Damned) in their name. I’m sure that won’t spoil your enjoyment of the night.

Metal 2 The Masses hold their third regional heat for bands aiming to get on the Bloodstock Festival line up at Level III. Dirty Rotten Scoundrels are on a mission to bring back real rock ‘n’roll, Not Quite Dead take a more classic metal route and Rollin’ Sixes blend hard rock and southern groove. Bloodstock stalwarts Fury play the post-competition headline slot.

At The Rolleston you can watch Swindon’s favourite punk street urchins, Dirty Outlaws blast their way through gutter punk rabble-rousers, football terrace anthems and Oi chants of their own creation. Similarly furious but in a ramshackle, rumbustious (you have to love a band who use that word in the band bio) and folksy sort of way, Model Folk are back at The Beehive. Expect wheezing harmoniums, clattering washboards, brazen brass and tales of railways, drag queens and soviet farm machinery. (A scenario known as QUATH…Quite Usual At The ‘Hive!) It may be April 1st but time to get serious. On Saturday, Riffs Bar are holding a fund-raiser for Steve Grimmett. Stalwarts of the NWOBHM scene since the early eighties, Steve put Grim Reaper back on the road a decade ago and still makes music under that name.

Sadly Steve was taken ill during a gig on the recent South American tour, resulting in a series of operations to amputate much of his leg. Due to a dispute on the part of his travel insurers he has been saddled with spiralling medical costs but a whole host of bands have stepped in to help. Check their on-line pages for more detail but currently Soul Stripper, King Fiction, The Darker My Horizon, Dealer, Toledo Steel, Burnthru, Twisted State Of Mind, Mike Guerrero, Sound Bites, Fist Full of Foozy are all lined up to help their rock and roll brother in his time of need.

There is plenty of rock elsewhere too.

At The Swiss Chalet Shepherds Pie lay out a stall of the best and most iconic rock and metal songs from across the ages played with all the energy, edge and technical skill required to do it justice. Vulcan Reign is also in the rock and metal game and they will be doing their thing at The Rolleston.

Tributes to the bigger names abound, The Rolling Clones are at The Victoria whilst Stipe – a tribute to REM can be found at Level III.

The Swindon Fringe Festival is a multi-arts programme of over 30 shows taking place throughout town from the end of March, on Sunday they have put together a rather wonderful music package at The Victoria. From late afternoon onwards you can catch the beautiful harmonies of Sweet Nightingale, foot stomping blues from NYC’s Damon T and Mark Cole, world vibes and flamenco fire of Flame and Co and the jazz eclecticism and global weaves of Against The Grain. There is also punk, funk, folk, soul…and ukuleles, what more could you ask for?