A BIG weekend is on the horizon with Brookfest being staged at Blackbrook rugby club.

Nine bands will do their stuff on a outdoor stage with gates opening at noon and the first band kicking off at 1pm.

The Junction Inn, Rainford continues it's themed weekends and it's the turn of jazz and classic cars.

The Manor Farm in Rainhill is presenting the "Rainhill Rocks" festival, in aid of Willowbrook hospice and there’s plenty of local favourites appearing.

That starts at 9pm and finishes about 1am.

The Zoo Bar kicks off its "Sunday club live" season with Skinny Lizard at 6pm and The Amazing Kappa band at 8pm. For details on these gigs, and all the usual venues line ups

for this week check our gig guide.

Meanwhile, those wonderful supporters of live music, The Tank Bar, kicked off their Wednesday live Rock and Metal nights last week. Since I was on other business I sent our intrepid undercover reporter to Tank, who said: "Tank Bar's Wednesday rock/metal nights got off to a fantastic start with Canadian prog rockers Diatessaron.

"From the opening song it was obvious we were in for a musical treat making the obvious comparison to another Canadian prog band, Rush. However their influences obviously come from many directions and songs ranged from slow, emotive numbers, performed with real feeling and passion to faster, much heavier numbers, that instantly grab you and draw you in constantly throwing something new at you.

"There was talk of a 2016 UK tour so if you missed out this year they'll hopefully be back in 2016."

Here's our gig guide.

Thursday, August 20

The Lounge, Bridge Street, town centre – The Mad Hatter's open mic night 9pm

Tank, Westfield Street, town centre – Paul Kappa 9pm

Friday, August 21

The Sefton Arms, Baldwin Street, town centre – Tricast's (formerly The Swifty's) open mic night 9pm

The Junction Inn, News lane, Rainford – Open mic night with Tony Schofield 9pm

The Rendezvous, Church Street, town centre – Papa Legba 10pm

Thatto Heath Labour Club, Elephant Lane, Thatto Heath – Electro 80's 9pm

Ruskin Drive Pavilion, Ruskin Drive – The Central plus The Patriots 8.30pm

Saturday, August 22

Blackbrook Rugby Club, Boardmans Lane, Parr – Brookfest Outdoor music festival

First band on at 1pm: The Colour pit, The Mad Hatters, The Perfect Circus, The Central, King Monday, Ghengis Grimes, Stillia, Bigfoot, Guns or Roses.

Joseph O'Neils, Duke Street, town centre – The Pretty Pennys plus support 8pm

The Sefton Arms, Baldwin Street, town centre – The Marmorsets 9.30pm

The Junction Inn, News Lane, Rainford – Jazz and classic cars weekend

Gary Potter 7pm

Junction Saturday Rocks! Adrian Gautry & Brian Jones 9.30pm

The Raven Lodge, Chuch Street, town centre – Carpe Diem 9pm

The Red Lion, Robins Lane, Sutton – Retro Rockers 9.30pm

The Blue Lion, High street, Newton-le-Willows – Polkerdice 9.30pm

The Manor Farm, Mill Lane Rainhill – Rainhill rocks festival! 9pm until 1am

Salander, The Fireflytes, Blues Division,

Problem child, Wyld Kannon, Love Potion,

Roulette.

Sunday, August 23

The Zoo Bar, Westfield Street, town centre: The Zoo Bar presents Sunday Club live: Skinny Lizard 6pmThe Amazing Kappa 8pm

The Bull and Dog, Lea Green – The Patriots 5pm

The Junction Inn, News Lane, Rainford – Take 3 1.30pm, John Wheatcroft 3.30pm