‘Wrexham is rock n roll’ apparently. Well, that’s what Billy, the singer from The Subways declared on Sunday night at Central Station. I’m thinking he says that at every town they play and I’m sure he tries to fit as many ‘F’ words into every sentence as he can as well. It worked though, I’ve not seen a crowd as crazy as that for a good while in Wrexham, especially when he climbed up onto the rafters and monkey swung himself back down to the crowd.

Let’s start tonight with the second semi-final of the Battle of the Bands competition at McLean’s in Pentre. Hoping this won’t be their last performance at the competition are Dirty Static, The Day Before Mortality, Slightly Generic and Mainstream. It’s £4 entry, 7:45pm is the official starting time, with the first band on at 8:20pm.

The Old Swan tonight have the Leeds post-rock experiMENTALIST’S ‘Vessels’ playing. Last year they were tagged with BBC Radio 1’s ‘Hottest unsigned bands in the country’ label and have played Leeds Festival amongst other gatherings. Keeping things post-rock (I’m not entirely sure why this genre is called this), Manchester outfit ‘Spokes’ will be supporting. They released their debut album ‘People Like People Like You’ earlier this year, which although it didn’t rewrite any rulebooks, you would probably find a hard studied dog-eared copy on the very top shelf, underneath the dried-up houseplant pot.

Tomorrow night Leaving Isaac’s Shop are playing their first gig in what seems to be ages at Telfords Warehouse in Chester. It’s free before 9pm and £4 after.

The other gig of note tonight is at the Centenary Club which attached to the Wrexham FC Racecourse football ground. The impressive line-up includes The Roseville Band, Heal the Last Stand, TFA, Mother of Six and Meilir. The DJ duties come courtesy of Team Lynne. Its £4 entry and starts at 8:15pm.

Saturday is a busy one for live music. The annual charity event ‘Dee Rocks’ returns to Llangollen Town Hall and this year’s event is raising funds for the Llangollen Silver Band. Head over to www.deerocks.co.uk for more information. The Frog and Nightingale in Chester have a rock covers act called ‘Insanity Beach’, that name is insane indeed. As per usual it’s free to get in and starts about 9pm.

Central Station are being paid a visit by them young scamps ‘One Night Only’. Proving that the band are very popular, the gig sold out extremely quickly. I’m a bit dubious about this band, dismissing that fact that they are not particularly my cup of leaf, they just seem too pop perfect – like they have been gelled together by some suited marketing team at their Vertigo/Universal record label. The lead singer, named George, looks like he’s told a stylist to make do him ‘a Kook’. Incidentally, George’s brother is the drummer in Joe Lean and the Jing Jang Jong. Digging deep into their biography though it seems first impressions shouldn’t always be relied upon! They formed in 2003 in North Yorkshire, got a record deal after a scramble of A&R interest following Steve Lamacq plugging their demo on the radio – all at an average age of 17! Adding to that their debut album was produced by Steve Lillywhite (The Pogues, The La’s, U2, Talking Heads). They are still rubbish though. Doors are 6.30pm for all who have tickets.

This Sunday we, wrexhammusic.co.uk, are having another Bank Holiday bilge-up at Central Station. Have the Saturday night off, wake up Sunday morning refreshed – watch the thousands of repeats of James Bond movies and then get yourself ready for a messy evening! Headlining the night will be The Maydays. They’ve recently started to gig outside of their hometown (which I think more bands should do) and possibly as a result of this they are sounding as tight as a ducks derriere. Parody, Craig Williams, The Company and Sebastian Green (their debut gig at Central Station) are the other acts providing the sounds. The after show DJ operations come courtesy of Neal Thompson aka Indie Rock n Roll and will carry on into the wee hours of Monday. Tickets are £5 and you can buy your tickets online at seetickets.com or in person at Yales Café Bar, Wrexham. Doors are 8pm.

Back in Chester on Monday, Alexander’s Jazz Bar are having ‘Crowded Scouse’ playing. 10 house points go to those who guess what band they will be covering. £6 will get you singing ‘Weather With You’ and ‘Don’t Dream It’s Over’ and all of their other early-mid nighties classics, right until the ‘Finn’ishing note.

Something to ponder this week: A new collaboration between two lead singers. Lance of Leaving Isaac’s Shop and Keeno from The Mayday’s have been locked away being all creative and that in the guise of ‘Spears of the Knight’. They’ve got homemade t-shirts and everything.

Have a great Bank Holiday weekend, email me at ben@wrexhammusic.co.uk with any news or goss.