AFTER the rampant eclecticism and intriguing nature of some of the gigs on offer last week, it seems in keeping that we kick off this week with a wonderfully unique band tonight at The Beehive, a venue known for putting something a little bit out of the ordinary on the musical menu.

Garanace et Les Mitochondries are a rag tag ensemble led by French accordionist Garanace Louis who mix such diverse styles as dirty tango, progressive gypsy and tramp jazz, though good luck finding those categories in your local HMV. The result is a dynamic and unexpected blend of styles, which evoke Parisian Left Bank café culture.

At The Victoria, Songs of Praise offers something equally as eclectic as The Backhand Jags rock into town genre-splicing punk, metal, pop and rock and channelling the same heady mixes of wit and aggression, melody and brutality that made the Wildhearts into national treasures. Joining them is our favourite punk two-piece, Ghost of The Avalanche, masters of delivering blistering songs at breakneck speed and opening the night is a wonderful mix of grunge and rock from Rival Pilots.

If your idea of blues is one of melancholic solo players who woke up this morning to find that women done them wrong and playing a three string guitar or worse, a rocked-up electric band who are essentially an ex-classic rock outfit trying to do passing impressions of Gary Moore, then you need to be at The Locomotive on Friday.

Swampgrass play a hard grooving, soulful and often funky take on the genre designed to allow you to get your boogie on, strut your stuff – and other such shenanigans.

Yet more blues can be found at The Rolleston with The Mike Hoddinott Blues Allstars, a collective of some of the finest session players from across the national circuit, playing a mix of iconic standards and less well-known choice cuts.

At The Castle you will find Peloton, a band that keep the spirit and sound of Northern Soul alive plus throw in some other classic songs from the mod, soul, punk and new wave canons.

The Victoria has a Brit-pop double package with the return of Oasish and Stereotonics, and if you can’t work out what those bands are a tribute to then best you stay in and watch Celebrity Shoe Size with Kerry Katona or what ever TV gem is on offer.

Saturday takes a more tried and tested road, as is the norm, and delivers one of the best classic rock and metal cover bands in the area, Shepherd Pie, who can be found at The Victoria. A truly powerful experience and songs delivered so close to the originals that you could easily forget that you are not some impressionable teen in a patched denim jacket witnessing this all first time around.

The Rolleston also has a slice of classic hard rock with Wizards of Oz revisiting the glory days of Ozzy Osborne’s post-Sabbath solo era and Hyperbolics will be playing rock, indie and punk at The Castle.

The Locomotive is playing host to Modern Vintage, originals and covers from across the decades and being that they come with a bumper sticker saying “my other band is a Beatles Tribute” there will probably be a few of that back catalogue on offer.

Something a bit special can be found at The Beehive on Sunday as Songs of Praise have managed to bag a show with bona fide Nashville singer-songwriter Don Gallardo, a man who effortlessly weaves disparate generic threads into Americana sounds which channel influences such as Uncle Tupelo, The Band and Wilco. Joining him will be Whybirds member and “ordained dudeist priest” Luke Tushscherer and The Incredible Disappearing Boy main man Sam Bates.

Finally, at The Roaring Donkey on Wednesday, you will find Daniel Eagle and Scott Freeman, a brace of energetic singer-songwriters currently on a national tour.