OKAY, lots to get through this week so sit up straight and pay attention; there is a test afterwards.

Tonight’s musical options come from opposing camps, both in terms of the performers’ age and the genre.

Firstly at The Beehive elder statesmen of the scene, Built For Comfort, offer up original takes on authentic Chicago Rhythm ‘n’ Blues classics in all their glory. Less a band more a time machine to a smoky, back street blues club somewhere up on the Second City’s Near North Side.

Back on home turf, further up the hill at The Victoria a younger element ply a trade of post-punk referencing modern indie. Sahara Heights and Misfires both dabble with shimmering, shoegazing references and melodic indie, whilst the middle slot is taken by The Diagonal People, a band who have clearly listened to too many Pixies albums (not to mention The Fall, Pavement and even the wonderful Swell Maps.) It wasn’t too long ago that teen bands just wanted to sound like Arctic Monkeys or The Libertines so this is a very welcome development.

The big one for Friday is man of the moment James Bay who plays The Oasis. Critical acclaim has been divided over this fast rising star. Underground fence-jumper with commercial credentials? Indie-folk saviour? James Blunt with a hat on? Best you go and check him out.

The Castle is the scene of Raze*Rebuild’s EP launch. Not heard of them? It’s the new name taken by punk-Americana crew Coasters (presumably to avoid people turning up at their gigs and asking them to play Yakety Yak,) support comes from modern blues 2-piece The Harlers.

But before you sort out your best plaid shirt and hi-top sneakers, go and check out latest video for Back to The Fall. Now! Go on….

Saints of Sin roll the hair metal experience into town with a show at Level 3. This is pure eighties Sunset Strip, big riffs, bigger choruses, even bigger hair in the style of L.A. Guns, Poison, Warrant and Enuff Z’nuff (I bet you’d all forgotten about that last one.) Timbers will be shivered, planks walked and sea shanties rocked up at The Locomotive courtesy of The Peerless Pirates with added helpings of spaghetti western grooves and punked up folk tunes. A night of dancing, booze and mayhem awaits.

Elsewhere you can catch 1000 Planets playing a set of Killing Joke songs at The Victoria, Midlife Crisis playing party style covers and originals at The Swiss Chalet and at The Rolleston, Phil Murrays Diamond Dogs recreate the glory days of Bowie’s early to mid seventies glam era.

Old school punk comes to The Locomotive on Saturday with a three-band bill featuring local acts 50 Shades of Punk and 2 Sick Monkeys plus grunge influenced Midlanders Angry Itch.

Anything but the usual guy with a guitar sound can be found at The Great Western Hotel with Jimmy Moore, dexterous playing and well-crafted songs with heartfelt messages at their core.

Penfold bring party covers to The Victoria whilst Broken Image and Outfall bring a bagful of rock and metal favourites to The Swiss Chalet and at The Rolleston The Imperial G-Men are all about jump, jive and r’n’b.

Having recently caught Peloton live I heartily recommend that you get down to The Beehive on Sunday for a great mix of mod and power pop classics, Northern soul, new-wave hits and even a dash of punk thrown in, the perfect way to have one final musical blow out before the working week looms large once more.

And finally at The Roaring Donkey on Wednesday two acoustic troubadours and stalwarts of the international touring circuit can be found in the guise of Joe McCorriston from up north and Hamburg’s very own John Allen.

Think Frank Turner, think Gaz Brookfield, think what you like really, just make sure you catch them for free whilst you can.