Welcome to another week in the Manx music scene and another instalment of The Manx Sound Exchange.

First we head north to Ramsey and to the new Cooil Bar venue.

As part of the Mitre and having only opened its doors a matter of weeks ago, this new venue is a new beast on the live circuit and will hopefully thrive with live bands, club nights and acoustic events.

Indeed, tomorrow (Friday)sees the venue hosting its first open mic night.

Kicking off from 8pm, it’s open to all who wish to jump up and play a song or two.

Another venue that’s really pushed the weekly live music sessions over the last year, with both local covers and originals bands and UK acts is The Quids Inn in Douglas.

This Friday is no exception as The Barefoot Revolution hit the stage.

The band who count Phil Hatton and Ami Fargher on guitars, Steph Chambers on bass and vocals and Ste Carter on drums in their line-up specialise in covers by the likes of Blink 182 and The Offspring, amongst others.

For more information on the band, go to Facebook.com/TheBarefootRevolution

Next we head to Jaks in Douglas, where on Friday you’ll find Totally 80s in attendance.

The band that features Lauren Wasley on vocals, Dave Holland on keys and vocals, Jonny Peacock on drums, John Barlow on guitar and Johnny Galbraith on bass pull out a setlist from the likes of Duran Duran, Human League, UB40, The Specials and A Flock of Seagulls amongst many others.

If this sounds like your type of night, the band hits the stage just after 10pm.

Heading south, the Blue Stragglers will be bringing them all back home at Compton Vaults, in Castletown, from 9pm.

The Ballaghs will be making their first appearance at Quids Inn on Saturday night.

Featuring Mike Wade on guitar and vocals, Ian Allen on bouzouki, Lee Quaggin on bass and Michael Stevens on drums, the folk-punk stompers will be onstage from 9pm onwards, playing a mixed set of originals and covers, taken from the likes of Flogging Molly, The Levellers, Dropkick Murphys, The Pogues, Rev Hammer and more.

Finally this week and The Boneyard head west to the Creek on Saturday.

Exponents of all things classic rock, from Thin Lizzy onwards, the band has also recently been breaking in their brand-new drummer, Ed Saunders.

Back to where we started, almost, and Barefoot Revolution rounds Saturday off with a night at Compton Vaults.

Heading south, the Blue Stragglers will be bringing them all back home at Compton Vaults, in Castletown, from 9pm.