SOMETIMES a bit of a moan does some good. After pointing out a distinct lack of diversity and originality in last week's live music options, I’m pleased to report a complete turn around in the situation.

Still very rock and heavy metal heavy orientated but with plenty of options, a nice mix of genres and a high percentage of people playing their own songs. Just the sort of thing to keep an ageing music scribe happy. It could be that the music gods heard my frustrations, re-aligned planets and orchestrated a change. It could be that people read this column and heed my advice or it could be mere coincidence.

If this was the “ask the audience” part of the show I bet you all just hit option three – but I know you are just toying with me.

Fans of heavier music might want to consider camping out at The Victoria this week as they offer four shows that are going to appeal to that ilk, starting tonight with the first of two bills courtesy of Dredded Virus Promotions.

Live Rounds play a dense and tight blend of rock that can be best summed up with the acronym NWOBHM – and if you have to Google that then it probably isn’t for you. A more extreme and technical sound is offered by Kinasis and I heavily suggest (geddit?) that you get there early enough to catch Homeland, whose more drifting soundscapes are, for my money, the most interesting prospect of the three.

Retro fans have two options to juggle on Friday as The Runaway Boys bring their tribute to Stray Cats to the Rolleston. So break out the crepes and drapes and jive the night away.

But if instead of a tribute to US East Coast rock ‘n’ roll, you are looking for the real thing, then Boston’s Jittery Jack are back at Riffs Bar, authentic rockabilly and swinging grooves and with support from Josie and The Outlaw. Always a sell out, I would advise buying a ticket in advance.

Rock is again on the menu, firstly with band of the moment A Way With Words who bring their big riff-driven anthemic rock to The Victoria. Their shows are always great but the fact that they have the brilliant, dark, slow burning sounds of Scout Killers and the alt-rock goodness of Over To You makes this a very special gig indeed.

Other serving suggestions are Alter Chaos who play rock covers at The Castle and who throw in a few songs that you won’t be expecting and Useless Eaters at The Locomotive who deliver an explosive set of classic punk from both sides of the Atlantic.

And staying at The Locomotive, on Saturday Backdrop Promotions have their first show in the new venue in the shape of two young indie bands on the rise. If impulsive and energetic indie pop, shoe-gazing soundscapes and a fired-up live show is your sort of thing then Coco Esq and Westways have it all in spades.

Back at The Victoria’s week of rock and Cold Harbour and their emotive hardcore provide the headline for this line up with the brutally technical and technically brutal Belial. From Dusk Till Dawn (never pick a film title as a band name if you want to be found on social media easily), Heriot and Ursus are also on the bill.

Sloe Train play blues classics with a heavy dose of go to guy, Joe Bonamassa at The Rolleston. It’s acoustic covers at The Castle with Stripped and at The Beehive the Shocks of Mighty DJs will be spinning ska, rocksteady and reggae tunes. One final dip into the world of guitar shredding, posturing and schlock–shock is found at The Victoria on Tuesday with The Mammothfest warm-up show. After a few changes, it has settled on Hell Puppets, Annero and Antoinette.

And if after all of that you are looking for something a bit on the mellow side, on Wednesday, Jim Chorley at The Roaring Donkey offers something more along the lines of Ralph McTell or James Taylor, with songs about such things as romantic meetings on the cobbled streets of a midnight city and the magical, mystical, mysteries of love and nature.