Music is full of potential; the potential to push boundaries, to boldly go and all that (pardon the split infinitive,) to move forward with and even ahead of current imagination, to challenge and make you think. It is indeed a wondrous thing.

Sometimes, however, all you want is something familiar and a bit lowbrow, something that connects with the heart and the foot rather than the head and that is just what Songs of Praise has on offer for you tonight.

Forget following the fickle fashions of music that come and go faster than Kerry Katona’s boyfriends. Tonight at The Victoria it is all about old school rock, albeit dressed in some nice, cliché-free contemporary attitude.

You may remember White Knuckle Bride from their support slot to Thin Lizzy when they graced The MECA stage last year; a wholesome blend of rock aggression and glam sleaze. Up from Portsmouth are Kodiak Jack, who sound just like Nickleback think they do, and Frome’s Indie-Punkers, Haters.

New kids on the block, Imperial Promotions have their first outing at The 12 Bar, featuring the funked out vibes of Sasquatch Walk, another outing for those dark and poetic garage rockers The Dacoits, plus the alt-pop sounds of Lionstate. Add to that acoustic sets from Callum Martin (who was awesome a few weeks ago opening up for Tripwires), Bianca Politzi and Days On Juno and you have the potential for a brilliant night.

The Rolleston is playing host to a band that I really haven’t seen enough of in the last few years. Coach mix up world music grooves, classical sass, laidback vibes and soulful folky pop melodies. Just add a warm evening and a chilled drink and you have everything you could want.

And blues aficionados must not miss the chance to catch Kent DuChaine at The Beehive, the real deal in Delta Blues all the way from the Deep South.

Something a bit different at The Victoria on Friday. Dead at 27 is a tribute to all those iconic musicians who were determined not to see 28 (but then you know rock musicians and how they feel about the septemvigesimal positional numeral system?) Anyway, the great and good of Swindon will be paying tribute to the likes of Brian Jones, Kurt Cobain, Amy Winehouse and more besides.

If you prefer something a bit more heart warming, then Prita at The Beehive might be your preferred option, neatly blending layers of looped harmonies, percussion and acoustic guitar into wonderful washes not a million miles away from Norah Jones or a laid back K T Tunstall.

Saturday is all about The Furnace. System Of A Clown recreate everyone’s favourite Armenian technical metal-heads and, believe me, if you think it would be difficult to do justice to such complex music then you obviously weren’t at their debut outing last year when they nearly destroyed the 12 Bar. A must see.

Loads to do on Sunday, which obviously might interfere with your church commitments, but then God is a big music fan. Joshua had his own jazz band and people are still talking about his gig in Jericho – brought the roof down, apparently.

The Beehive afternoon session is a mix of folk and jazz-tinged blues, with Sara Coffield and ex-Dr Feelgood front man, Pete Gage.

The 12 Bar plays host to an all-dayer with a host of great acoustic acts before it relocates to the main stage for the full-on show.

There will be punk from The Useless Eaters, Indie from The Fixed. Alice Offley’s piano driven dream pop will be adding a touch of elegance to the proceedings and SkyBurnsRed will be dishing out wonderful swathes of Gipsy Metal. The whole night is rounded off with the beautiful cacophony that is The Racket. And that’s not even the half of it.

The Furnace has a night of rock and hardcore headed up by The Amsterdam Red Light District and The Rolleston has those local rhythm and booze icons, The Hamsters From Hell.

Culture vultures are spoilt for choice mid-week between jazz with The Theo Jackson Trio at Baker Street on Tuesday and folk darling Maddy Prior at The Arts Centre on Wednesday.

Also on Wednesday, acoustic entertainment comes courtesy of Drew Bryant and Rich Maya at The Running Horse.