IF YOU haven’t managed to catch one of the many Green Day tribute acts which seem to be playing almost weekly around town and have a hankering for a bit of pop-punk then you should head up to the Victoria tonight for a trio of bands keeping that genre well and truly alive.

The bill is headed by As The Sun Sleeps, who play vibrant, groove driven, big chorus, riff filled celebratory songs, which seem a world away from the aforementioned American idiots. Thankfully. Joining them is Welsh three-piece Junior currently touring the country and who have a more subversive Blink 182 vibe plus local upstarts A Place to Call Home.

If a more traditional folk path is your thing then Splat The Rat at The Beehive will be more to your tastes, narrative lyrics and traditional tunes containing 500 years of violence, love, sex and death, wonderfully arranged into harmonious folk songs.

Friday will have the rock fraternity having to chose their gig carefully or at least do a bit of wandering between venues as three shows battle for their attention. All Ears Avow can be found at The Victoria as part of their mini-tour promoting their recent release, Reach, a wonderful blend of aggressive rock dynamic, intelligent song writing and accessible melodies. Joining them are Ten Tombs, a blend of howling grunge and more crafted musical landscapes and the stylish, indie informed rock of Yves.

At the Locomotive the flourishing bromance between Leader and A Way With Words shows little sign of abating as the two bands reunite for a show. The Witney contingent and their infectious pop-rock take the headline spot this time with local stalwarts A Way With Words and their more driven rock style opening up the night.

For a more retro sound then Voodoo Vegas at The Rolleston deliver a brand of street rock, eighties Sunset Strip vibes and more grooves than a corduroy warehouse. (See, I can write like an NME hack, I just chose not to.) If you are put off by the idea of a Gun’s ‘n’ Roses reunion this band are a much more genuine option.

Saturday brings a couple of tribute band options for those on a nostalgia kick with all the glamour and effortless cool of Absolute Blondie at The Victoria and at The Rolleston Wizards of Oz paying tribute to the myriad career of The Dark Lord Ozzy Osborne.

At The Locomotive you can find Matthew Edwards and The Unfortunates. With their roots in San Francisco but now based in Birmingham, this is a band who drip the sort of quintessentially English melancholy pop that has you reaching for your old 4AD records. Expect clever wordplay, wry wit, understated charm and moments of pure beauty. Not the sort of thing you expect to find entertaining the Fleet Street masses, so go and give them your support.

If last week's Skanxters reunion left you wanting more of the same, a small excursion out to Charrin’s Bar in Wootton Bassett will find you in the company of Troy Ellis and His Hail Jamaica Band. An authentic son of Trench Town in general and of the legendary Alton Ellis in particular this will be a top night of ska and reggae. Also on the bill is Random Reggae Man and music spun by DJ Andy V.

Although if you are just after an array of songs that you know and love then a couple of options are The Tin Shack Band at The Woodlands Edge and NMG at The Castle (on a personal note I saw these guys last week and there is lots to like both musically and especially if you like a bit of northern soul, power pop and retro).

And finally if you are a fan of blues, then Ian O’Regan at The Roaring Donkey on Wednesday will be mixing it up from a pallet pure blues, acoustic rock, folk classics and everything in between, always a great night out.