After pretty much a drought of gigs last week I can tell you that this week is awash with live music and news.

Wrexham’s very own doom merchants Mother of Six are recording a session for Adam Walton’s Mystery Tour radio show on BBC Radio Wales. The session will be aired from 10pm on Sunday 20th July on 93-104FM, or you can listen online after the show.

Wrexham folker’s Gwildor have been featured on a new compilation album by Worcester based label, CatCutter Records. The compilation album, ‘A Sketch For Summer’ features their track ‘You Just Lost Your Way’ which appears alongside songs by bands such as Team Waterpolo, GoFaster >> and City Lights. It’s being stocked in various retail outlets across the country and is totally free! Visit www.catcutter.co.uk for details of how to get your copy, preview the tracks or download them.

Tonight, the Don’t Die Just Yet! boys are back in Central Station again for another show, this time with Birmingham based pop-noise band Johnny Foreigner (or JoFo for short if you’re an NME yielding sort). They are touring at the moment to promote their new album, ‘Waited up ‘til it was light’ which has been well received across the board. Playing along with them are Lion Club (Surrey based IDM/Pop outfit), The Snowball Effect (electro-pop duo from Chester) and Wrexham’s Trader. Tickets are £6 or £8 on the door and doors open at 8pm.

Panic Promotions are tonight hosting recent Battle of the Bands winners Stokoz to Moscow, Monte Cassino and Mainstream and the McLean’s club in Pentre. It’s £4 entry, 16+, no tracksuits or velour and opens at 8pm.

In Chester, the Frog and Nightingale have covers band The Moon Ray Riots playing tonight. It’s free entry and starts at 8pm. Travel down the canal a couple of miles and you’ll find Wrexham band Arnie playing at Telfords Warehouse. The word on the street is that Arnie have organised a mini tour around the North West and are to announce the dates soon. It’s free entry tonight and doors are 8pm.

Tomorrow night at Telford Warehouse Adam Walton & his Pet Sounds will be gracing the decks. Without a circumscription on the music that is played at his nights you can expect the unexpected to be played. There are no boundaries, no formulas and no bandwagons! Entry is free until 9pm and then £4 after.

Central Station in Wrexham has the second instalment of the new night ‘Mayaku’ hosting tomorrow night’s activities. DJs Cy Tukay, Mike Williams and Leon Roberts will be creating the sounds from their mix of electro, house and minimal tunage. Its £4 entry and doors are 10pm.

I’ve become privy to some information about the situation at The Old Swan in Wrexham. According to the brewery, Hyde’s, who own the venue, “Due to financial instabilities the site has had no alternative but to close. We are about to appoint a new couple to the site and are planning a subtle face-lift and the new tenants will be retaining the live music theme although with a broader spectrum. We will be re-launching the site with a mini beer festival and hope it will open by the beginning of August”. So, straight from the horses mouth, The Old Swan will return in August and will still have live music there, albeit a broader spectrum – please no Salsa themed covers bands. That would be terrible.

Wrexham band JKLMNO have won the Supajam Fast Track to Benicassim competition after competing against over 1,500 bands and beating the 4 other bands at the final in London on 1st July. They now get to play the famous Benicassim music festival in Spain on 20th July, along with Babyshambles, Sigur Ros, Morrissey and many more top acts. They will be playing on the FIBERFIB stage at 5:30pm, and sharing it with The National, Death Cab for Cutie and Justice who will be playing later on. Flying the flag for our music scene in Spain, who’d have thought it? Well done!

GOOD TIMES! Festival countdown reminder: 2 weeks to go – if you want to come, then I would get your tickets very soon! If there are any tickets left, you can purchase them on the gate for £20 each on Friday 25th July until 9pm. You won’t be able to purchase ticket/s after
this time. You can buy your tickets online at www.seetickets.com or in person at Yales Café Bar, Wrexham.

How to better your life this week: Never trust estate agents, or landlady’s for that matter.

If you’ve got any news that you want me to mention next week, email me at ben@wrexhammusic.co.uk. See you next time.