Now then, I’ve got lots to tell you this week so I’m going delve straight into it.

The Tiv in Buckley have a headline set from local heavy metal band Severenth tonight. They’ve been together since 2006 and have since built a dedicated following by extensively touring the UK as support acts for a number of ‘big names’; Ill Nino, 3 Inches of Blood, Panic Cell and Bring Me the Horizon to name a few.

This week they have released their debut album ‘The Age of Paranoia’ via the independent alternative label Ant Hill Records. It was recorded by ISOR’s Nick Hemingway in his personal recording studio in Henley-on-Thames during the winter of 2007. After a long wait it is now being finally released via some big distribution channels – play.com, HMV (and HMV Japan!), Amazon and Zavvi. Support comes from Hellacious, Hellbound and Monkeyfeist. Entry is £4 and over 14’s are welcome.

The Tiv have just announced a new ‘Battle of the Rock Bands’ competition. No start date has been set yet but they have said that there is a £5000 cash prize and there are 16 places available. Get your names down quick.

Slightly less credible (well, considerably less) is the Tiv’s announcement that X Factor’s Eoghan Quigg will be performing there on Saturday 18th July. You remember Eoghan, the cheeky blonde Irish cherub/hobbit child who has the most un-pronounceable name in the Little Book of Baby Names. You may remember that the Tiv had JLS perform there the other month, much to the excitement of every teenage single mum south of Warrington and I’ve no doubt angel face Eoghan will cause the same sense of ‘hysteria’. I’m not going to get into the X Factor/real music/reality show debate and I’m losing the will to live writing about him so I’m going to talk about something else.

On Saturday night Flintshire based band ‘Coyote Black’ will be playing the Llay Miner’s Welfare. They only formed last September but following a series of successful local gigs they have built up a dedicated following. Their guitarist Ian was in the band ‘Rise’ and lead guitarist Mike was in the early 80’s band ‘Tokyo’ Although I’m not to familiar with the local 80’s scene, I’m assured that they were well respected back in their day.

Next Wednesday it’s the debut night at Central Station for The Absurd. The Absurd is a spoken word and music event which runs monthly at Y Pentan Café Bar in Mold and on the 3rd June they have booked renowned and sometimes controversial Welsh poet, playwright and filmmaker Patrick Jones. His brother is none other than Nicky Wire from the Manic’s and his work is often in collaboration with him. The music comes courtesy of Heal the Last Stand, Camera’s Matt Nicholls and Rachel Lloyd. Tickets are £4 advance and doors are 7:30pm.

The Cardiff based Sŵn Festival is going on tour this week and tonight they are paying a visit to Central Station. Inspired by the likes of SXSW in Texas, In the City in Manchester, Sonar in Barcelona and Airwaves in Iceland, BBC Radio 1’s Huw Stephens came up with the idea of a music festival in a large number of music venues around Cardiff. Since the first one in 2007 it has grown to become a notable date in the music industry diary and has helped a number of Welsh bands gain greater national coverage.

This year is a bit different as the Sŵn Fest is going on tour to visit various venues across Wales as a warm up to the main event in October. Tonight at Central Station Sŵn presents The Joy Formidable, My Latest Novel and Gallops.

The Joy Formidable originate from Mold but moved to London to help gain them more exposure. It worked as last year they went on tour with White Lies, played numerous large festival and had one of their tracks on appear on the trailers for Channel 4’s ‘Skins’. Also on the bill are Scottish indie folk band My Latest Novel and opening the night will be our very own Gallops. If that isn’t enough for you, Radio 1’s Huw Stephens will be providing the tunage before the bands play. Tickets are £7 and doors are 7:30pm.

Tomorrow night the hardest working band in Chester, The Loose Kites, are playing Telfords Warehouse. Their hook driven rockabilly/skiffle sound has helped them gain a strong reputation and they are always in high demand across the country. Following their gig in Telfords tomorrow night they will be taking in Liverpool, Glossop, the Wickerman Festival in Scotland, Bury, Oswestry, Bristol and Shrewsbury. Now that’s some serious mileage in the transit.

I’m off to cut some grass. Email me at ben@wrexhammusic.co.uk with any of your news/views/reviews. Until next time, take care.