This week is definitely an example of quality over quantity. There may not be the same amount of options laid before you than there have been of late, but there are still some pretty big names to choose from in the week ahead, bands from as far a-field as London, San Francisco and even…Highworth.

Lavington Bound seem to be the epitome of the word ‘eclectic’. Their music is a world cruise of cultural folk references, from east European stomps to Appalachian scampers and from the songs of the Steppes to the leafy green of a quintessential England. Grab your passport, head up The Victoria tonight and you will also be able to catch The Haiku and Gaz Brookfield. Out at Riffs Bar, Not Rocket Science will be plying their chilled and chilling indie rock trade but make sure you are there early enough to catch the brooding alt-rock tones of Kieland Ridge as well.

The first of the big names kicks in at the 12 Bar tonight in the form of Fury UK. Although they are mining a seam of classic rock, they do so in a way that is fresh and invigorating, sidestepping the tired old clichés that lesser bands fall into. If you like your rock brash, raw and exciting then there is only one place to be.

Friday sees another two established touring bands go head to head. Riffs Bar sees The Supernovas mix up everything from Northern Soul and Motown styles with Caribbean and African vibes framed by new wave and old school punk to create fun, energized yet socially aware music. Local support comes from The Dirt Royal, The Street Orphans and The Break of Waves. Stiff competition comes from Oxford duo Little Fish who bring their dark and slightly unhinged brand of garage rock to the 12 Bar. Singer JuJu is often compared to Patti Smith at one extreme and Beth Orton at the other. Make of that what you will but I do highly recommend catching this band, plus The Dacoits will be taking the role of the perfect support.

If you want something less dark and angst-filled, then head to The Rolleston to catch the groove driven, acoustic lap guitar dexterity that is Hiproute. If none of that takes your fancy and you want to opt for something more familiar, The Victoria has a cracking AC/DC tribute, a band whose music never goes out of fashion, having never really been in fashion in the first place. No nonsense heavy rhythm and blues, with more hooks than a Peter Pan theme party. What’s not to like?

Saturday is all about old school punk at Riffs Bar. Steve Jones (not that one, the other one) leads his melodic punk gang, The Crack, through a set of anthemic, pogo fuelled, fist in the air classics. Support comes from The Control, a band that follows in the footsteps of the legendary Stiff Little Fingers, and our own local boys Charred Hearts also feature. Blues fans might want to head to the 12 Bar to sample the delights of Profoundly Blue, a band that mixes up the classics of the genre with a touch of soul and R’n’B as well.

It’s at this point in the week that The Beehive starts to muscle in on the act with Teabo filling the Sunday afternoon slot and promising to insight the mind, calm the soul and funk you up. Saucy!

And it is again at The Beehive on Wednesday that our final big guns are to be found. All the way from San Francisco, the literary referencing Or the Whale mix up high gloss folk pop with some rustic down home alt-country. The result is a gloriously infectious sound that bounces between Haight-Ashbury, Summer of Love vibes and Nashville’s rebel underbelly, a sound that has to be heard to be believed. No arguments, just do it!