Songs of Praise will be raising the roof of a Swindon night spot showcasing local bands.

On Saturday, April 16, Swindon's own alternative rock outfit, A Way With Words, headlines at Level 3, Commercial Road, from 8.30pm, with support from Raze Rebuild, As the Sun Sleeps and Break Glass To Open.

Local promoters Dave Franklin and Ed Dyer run Songs of Praise, and are delighted to be back at Level 3 with such a strong line-up.

A Way With Words got together in Swindon in 2013. The following year they were invited to play at Wychwood Festival's 10th anniversary, opening the main stage for bands such as: The Boomtown Rats, Newton Faulkner, The Stranglers and The Levellers.

The band are Antony Willis, lead guitar and lead singer, Doug Smith, guitar and second lead vocals, James Rowland, bass guitar and Matt Morris on drums.

Dave said: "They were the band to watch last year as their brand of accessible alt-rock, incendiary riffs and killer tunes took them from local concerns to regional front runners, while As The Sun Sleeps bring a hefty slice of pop punk to the night with infectious rhythms, killer grooves and more energy than is good for them. Damn these pesky youngsters!''

Songs of Praise now put on events at various venues across the town including The Castle, The Locomotive, The Roaring Donkey, The Beehive and Baila Coffee and Vinyl, as well as attracting known names to their gigs including Attila the Stockbroker and Sonic Boom Six.

Ed said: "The Level 3 line-up is intended to be a precursor to current efforts to bring the cream of the national circuit back to Swindon regularly.''

On a rock retrospective note, Level Three will also be hosting a tribute to Iron Maiden on Saturday, April 30 with Hi-on Maiden heading to Swindon with their Somewhere On Tour show.

The band have been performing for 15 years and have been officially endorsed by Iron Maiden themselves for their renditions of Number of the Beast, Run to the Hills, Iron Maiden, as well as songs from the new Book of Souls album.

Steve Lazarus, Iron Maiden Fan Club Manager, said: “This is the closest you will get to an Iron Maiden show, and I should know, I work for Iron Maiden.”

More rock with bite comes to the Swindon club on Friday, April 22, in the shape of Diamond Head, an original rock band who have inspired the likes of Metallica and Megadeth.

For details of the new music look at Level 3 visit https://www.ents24.com/swindon-events/level-3 or call 01793 534328 - Flicky Harrison