LAST week I mentioned that the Stratton Festival was under way, a community gathering of events, fun and frolics in that part of town.

As is tradition, the week’s activities culminate in The Stratton Stroll, a day of music hosted in and around the local pubs, all for charity and best treated as a pub-crawl with a brilliant live sound track. Before I get into the normal catalogue of live options, a bit about that….

This year six venues offer music, from midday to midnight on Saturday and bands include the retro rock ‘n’ roll moves of Josie and The Outlaw, the tasteful and often offbeat cover choices of The Petty Thieves, a scattergun of genres and eras from The Laylow Band and contemporary rock and indie from Get Carter.

Solo players are represented by the bluesy-folk stylings of Ian O’Regan, the infectious pop-rock of Jenny Bracey, Jimmy Moore’s dexterous folk and much more besides. Find the event page, plan a route and save your pocket money, it is always one hell of a ride!

Right, back to business. Two fascinating solo players are on the menu tonight. Natt Davis, normally found fronting psychedelic rockers Alf Red, is at The Groves Company Inn, though I believe his solo set is geared towards perennial favourites but do check out their debut album, which is a mercurial blend of the thunder of Led Zeppelin, the emotion of Pink Floyd and the eccentricity of Jethro Tull. Tasty!

And talking of eccentric, Ash Mandrake is at The Beehive with his usual array of hats, homemade hybrid guitars, myths, mirth and musical mayhem. If Ed Sheeran can get a spot on Game of Thrones, Ash should at least get a residency in the great hall of Winterfell.

Friday sees a cutting edge pop-punk package hit Level III. Forget the short-trousered, American frat boy humour of decades past, this is pop-punk with real swing, this is eclectic jazz-punk, this is truly progressive punk, this is Ghouls. Joining them is the infectious pop-punk of Eat Defeat and the grunge grooves of Six Feet Above.

Going Underground bring their perfect storm of mod, ska and punk covers to The Victoria – not only do they have excellent taste in the music they chose to play, they have impeccable style in its delivery too.

The Runaway Boys can be found at The Rolleston paying tribute to iconic music as well and, as their name suggests, it is The Stray Cats who are their subject matter.

Tribute is also on offer at The Queen’s Tap as AD/HD relive the Bon Scott era of Australia’s most famous rock sons. Champagne Charlie brings the party tunes to The Swiss Chalet and Bradley Cowtan brings his of the moment alt-pop to The Groves Company Inn.

The Dirty Outlaws are back at The Castle on Saturday for another round of riotous street punk, and anthemic Oi! a mix of original creations and adrenaline-fuelled standards...blunt, to the point music without the need for gimmicks or frills. After that Saturday night becomes its usual, pre-loved soundtrack to party vibes, dancing and nostalgia…and why not?

Those who want to experience all the sounds of Cool Britannia will be heading to The Victoria for a bit of Oasis, Blur, Elastica and the like with The Brit Pop Boys whilst The Money Shot revisit more post-punk and new wave territory at The Groves Company Inn.

At The Rolleston System D bring their wealth of experience and levels of professionalism garnered on the function band circuit for a night of the best pop and rock hits of recent times and Mid Life Crisis offer a rawer, more drunken but no less brilliant take on the same at The Woodlands Edge.

The first of two chances to see Danger Mouse and their genre-hopping, time travelling musical menu presents itself at The Moonrakers, the second being at The Duke of Edinburgh on Sunday.

And also on Sunday at The Groves Company Inn, you will find the textured and progressive musical blends of Lake Acacia, a band who look towards bands such as Muse, Dream Theater and The Mars Volta for inspiration, which has to be worth checking out surely?