A WEEK of local gigs kicks off in style at Le Pub tomorrow with a free show.

Featuring the rather beautiful, not to mention rather ace, US songstress Mia Riddle, new wave post-hardcore punkers An Emergency, the outstanding quirky folk pop of Gethin Pearson and The Scenery, and Exeter's disco-punk aggro-poppers Skiptracer, this could quite possibly be the best way to start a Saturday night, ever.

Led Zep tribute act Led Balloon feature on the same night over in TJ's, offering a good strong dose of classic rock riffage from Communication Breakdown through to Stairway.

Tickets are available at £6 and doors open at 7.30pm.

Monday sees the launch of a brand new monthly electronica event at Meze Lounge. Machines In Our Souls is the brainchild of resident DJ Dan Downie, and will feature live acts and DJs spinning the likes of Vitalic, Massive Attack, Leftfield, LCD Soundsystem and more obscure selections from the electronic spectrum on the third Monday of every month.

This week's launch party features live sets from Evils, who featured at number 12 in Huw Stephens' Radio One Festive Fifty last year, and Newport's highly entertaining improv mash-up team Eyes Knows Reality.

Entry is free.

Tuesday's Planet Red show at Meze features Sadako, The Murder Obsession, My Favourite Pornstar, My Final Demand and It Wore Him Down, with the last of these bands having the best name. Entry is a single gold nugget.

A ska treat, then, on Wednesday as Skaville UK skank their way to TJ's.

Featuring members of Selector and Bad Manners, this should be the real deal. Tickets £6 and doors 7.30pm.

Also on Wednesday, the weekly Breeding Ground meeting at the Riverside Tavern, brings you heavy rockers Audio Impact and The Unknown Superstar. Free entry as always.

Also worthy of mention, if anyone fancies a short trip to Cardiff, are Saddle Creek's folk-punk tag-team Two Gallants, at the Barfly on Tuesday.

Coming on like The White Stripes covering bluegrass standards with a pinch of The Pogues, this is drinking music, if ever such a thing existed.

Lone Pine and local singer-songwriter Matthew Hitt support.

Tickets available from www.barflyclub.com