IF you want to see, and indeed hear, what the indie/alt-rock scene has to offer these days then the place to be tonight is The Victoria, as two of its rising bands take the stage.

Elasea and Getrz both offer a taste of what’s happening in the regional grassroots end of the spectrum, both blending solid indie chic with alt-rock adrenaline and both ones to watch for the future.

You know when old beardy-weirdies bore you with statements like “…and I remember seeing The Stone Roses play to three people and a cat at The Kebab And Calculator in Shoreditch on a Tuesday night, “ …well, go to this gig and that might be you one day.

If, however, you prefer something a bit more tried and tested, music you are already familiar with but are looking for an exciting solo live show into the bargain, then you should head down to the Groves Company Inn for Darren Hunt and the ultimate high energy, one man, rock show, complete with more lights than the closing scenes of Close Encounters Of The Third Kind.

There will be skanking dance moves aplenty at The Victoria on Friday as ska-pop supremos The Intercepteurs hit town. They are a heady and groovesome blend of the Two Tone sound as spearheaded by the likes of The Beat and The Specials, plenty of nods to the music which influenced them plus a little dash of ‘60s psych and you have the perfect party band.

Warming the crowd up in their own inimitable dance-pop meets dub reggae style will be local dance floor fillers SN Dubstation.

At The Beehive things take a rootsy turn with The Scott Gordon Band who blend acoustic folk with bluesy vibes and country deliveries to make emotive and original tunes which run from gentle whispers to stomping musical maelstroms.

The Metal Gods pay tribute to ‘80s rock and metal at The Rolleston, while The Queens Tap will be reverberating to the authentic retro rock as Rockabilly Rumble provide the sound track for you to bop and jive, swing, boogie and generally cut a rug of any shape you should happen to chose.

For something that covers a wide range of styles, genres and eras you have the option of either Danger Mouse at The Tawny Owl or Sound And The Sirens at The Groves Company Inn.

Saturday takes its usual turn towards the known rather than the new, with the exception of The Hamsters From Hell at The Groves Company Inn, whose ragged and riotous rhythm and booze night is more a turn towards the Why? And why not?

Rock fans will find much to their liking at The Swiss Chalet and The Tap And Barrel as Deja Vudou play tribute to fist in the air, sing-along, stadium rock anthems at the former and Audio Asylum play iconic rock and grunge at the latter.

And if you are attending either of those gigs, the perfect after party awaits you at Level III with their Doom club night where resident DJs will be spinning the best in rock, metal and punk from across the ages.

The Red Hot Trio will be proving that while delving into the sound of the past, rockabilly can also be fresh and modern, they offer retro sounds with a contemporary feel and are the perfect band to groove the night away to. Find them at The Victoria.

The Be Bops at The Queen’s Tap also take us back down the years with the songs of Lonnie Donegan...skiffletastic!

People Like Us take a slightly unorthodox approach to the usual cover band territory at The Ferndale, by stripping things back, folking it up, adding a cajon and layering up the harmonies.

The songs you may know but the delivery will surprise you.

And rounding off Saturday night, after much research and trawling the supermation info-highways, I can reveal that Fubar, who play at The Rolleston, are indeed a cover band!