THIS week begins with a wonderful slice of emerging indie talent as Modern Age Music bring Dirty Orange to The Castle.

This London-based trio play jolting, energetic and raw guitar anthems that sees them advancing the same sonic qualities that put Arctic Monkeys and The Strokes on the map. The night also sees a wealth of local talent lined up before them; GETRZ provide an array of euphoric, serrated-edged indie, The Harlers provide searing, blues-infused garage rock and Xadium bring an eclectic mesh of grunge, post-hardcore and funky-punk to the night.

If you are looking for something less testosterone driven and revelling more in the songs that you already know and love, then The Queen’s Tap is the place and the sonic shenanigans of Toxic Girls is the soundtrack for the evening.

Another big slice of local and very original music can also be found at The Victoria on Friday. Plummie Racket and his musical posse have risen from local tearaways to local legends over the years, honing their sound from wild, punked-out Brit-pop to a more singular modish, indie sound. Now with The Dicemen in tow, you can expect all the wild spectacle of those early days plus all the expertise and experience of songwriters and musicians who have definitely paid their dues.

Joining them for the night are The Martyrials, a band who encapsulate what punk may have sounded like if it had burst onto the scene after the advent of affordable synthesisers, or if System of A Down were caught jamming with The B52s. The night is kicked off by the wonderful Kid Calico and The Astral Ponies, a mercurial blend of folk, Americana, space rock, music hall, hats and biscuits.

And talking of Americana, Ragged Union, bring their Mason-Dixon Line meets M4 Corridor take on the genre, to The Queen’s Tap. A set of iconic numbers and their own exquisite songs so in touch with the Heartland Rock sound that you can’t tell were the classics end and the originals begin.

The Missing Persians can be found at The Beehive for a night of wit and wisdom, silliness and style, deft playing and well trimmed, clean limbed deliveries. Old school rock and roll, folk intricacies, a bluesy swagger, pop balladry and rootsy vibes are all on the cards. Fans of Nick Lowe and his musical ilk should not miss this.

Robbie Williams, or a close facsimile at least, will be gracing The Groves Company Inn, big tunes, big show, big ego all replicated deftly and deliciously by Marc Hopkins.

Saturday is one for the rock fans. Wishbone Ash, alongside Thin Lizzy, could make a good argument for inventing and pioneering the twin guitar sound in British Rock and you can get a taste of it at The Victoria as main man Martin Tuner brings his Vintage Years tour to town. Coinciding with a career retrospective box set, Turner and his band will be delving into the band’s back catalogue plus playing some newer music in the Wishbone Ash mould.

Fans of Rory Gallagher will find the Irish blues maestro’s music being reverently and expertly paid tribute to at The Queen’s Tap and Stat-X deliver salvos of rock and metal classics at The Waiting Room.

This week sees the start of The Swindon Fringe Festival, a celebration of independent theatre, comedy and creativity. As always the first day of this brilliant gathering of talent comes in the form of The Groovy Pig music all-dayer at The Victoria on Sunday. There will be deft and dexterous latin-jazz from Gilmore ’n’ Jazz (who can also be found earlier in the day in their lunch time residency at Bardolino), folk courtesy of The Bellflowers, Flamenco from Flames & Co and full band reggae onslaughts from Da Fuchaman and The Fire Blaze band.

At the other extreme Sex Jazz are bringing the strange crusty-punk-funk, Spunking Octochoke take punk to new, minimalist sonic pastures and Terra 45 blend new wave and Goth to great effect. Six hours of music, nine acts in all.