THE unsung stars of the local music scene will hit stages across the town this weekend for the sixth Swindon Shuffle.

The feast of music will include more than 50 unsigned bands, local promoters and rehearsal spaces and venues.

Acts from all over Swindon will take part, including some former local musicians returning home for rare shows.

The event is considered by organisers to be the largest of its kind in the south west.

The climax of the three-day festival, which starts tomorrow, will be the Sheer Music stage on Sunday at The 12 Bar in Westcott Place.

Sheer, an independent live music promoter, promises to showcase the most unique, original and exciting prospects that Swindon has to offer, such as the arty wall-of-noise from Adam Crosland and his band Mr Hello and his Honesty Club and the down-to-earth punk rock of 2 Sick Monkeys.

Russian Blue, described by Sheer as the best unsigned technical indie outfit in the UK, will also perform. The band has a style which has been termed as a more competent and complex approach to guitar playing than the trend for indie-punk which has dominated the charts.

The bill is topped off by parody ‘chav-hop’ rapper Chip Daddy, who will sing songs about crumpets, boy racers and ‘swagger’.

With more than a million YouTube hits, he will give a much-anticipated live performance.

A spokesman for the festival said: “The Shuffle has come to be thought of as a kind of annual work’s party for the Swindon music scene, where promoters, venue staff, bloggers and journalists can get together and see what the scene has to offer and check out the best of the local talent. But most importantly it’s a vital outlet for our best unsigned bands and musicians to be heard by live music fans and have their chance to shine.”

Other venues include The Furnace, The Rolleston, The Beehive, Riffs Bar and Piri Piri.

Entry is free to all events.

For more information visit www.swindonshuffle.com The event takes place from tomorrow until Sunday and this year’s official Shuffle venues are:

  • The Beehive (7pm until 11pm, tomorrow and Saturday)
  • The Rolleston (midday unti 7pm, Saturday and Sunday)
  • The Furnace (6pm until 11pm, Saturday and Sunday)
  • The 12 Bar (7pm until 11pm, tomorrow and Saturday and 8pm until 11pm on Sunday)
  • Piri Piri (8pm until 11pm, tomorrow)
  • Riffs Bar (7pm until 11pm tomorrow)