It’s St Patrick’s Day on Sunday and that’s always a decent enough excuse to head out to the various bars in the island this weekend to sample a pint of the black stuff and to catch some of our home grown talent in action.

First this week we head South to two venues in Castletown.

The Compton Vaults play host to The Ballaghs on Saturday night.

The folk punk boys that features Mike Wade on guitar and vocals, Lee Quaggin on bass, Ian Allen on bouzouki and Mike Stevens on drums pull out a setlist that mixes up influences from the likes of play a mix of The Levellers, The Pogues, Ferocious Dog, Flogging Molly and includes originals which have been written with a heavy leaning towards a trad Manx and Irish style.

Support comes from Matt Kelly

Across the way on Saturday night and the Tides will grace the stage at the Secret Pizza Company.

Formed back in 2015, the band features the duo and original members Danny Foulis on vocals and Kaysee Crain on guitars with Charlie Crowe on drums, Iain Roy on guitar and Fraser Rowe on bass joining alongside.

Among their influences the band cite the likes of Stevie Wonder, Sam Cooke, Marvin Gaye at one end, through to Van Morrisson, Tracey Chapman, Ed Sheeran, Oasis and Jake Bugg at the other end of the spectrum.

995 make a return to Jaks in Douglas this Friday night.

The band drops a setlist that features a variety of pieces ranging from modern offerings from the likes of One Republic and James Bay via Kings of Leon and Stereophonics to older classics from Jimi Hendrix, The Jam, Python Lee Jackson, The Cult and Steppenwolf amongst many others.

The band will hit the stage from around 10pm onwards.

Head to Peel and to The Creek on Saturday and you’ll find the welcome return of 9 Bar Gypsies to the Manx live scene.

Featuring a new line up of Jimmy Lee on vocals, Dave Atkins and Jason Cain on guitars, Ivan Jackson on bass and Mark Cain on drums, the band specialise predominantly in the music of Guns ’N’ Roses with a sideswipe at Metallica, Kiss and Steel Panther amongst others.

This event is well worth checking out. Get your bandanas, your denim and your leather on and go check it out! The 9 Bar Gypsies Facebook page can be found at Facebook.com/9BarGypsies

Finally this week we head to The Quids Inn in Douglas where they will be holding their inaugural Battle of the Bands, which also runs over the next five weekends.

First up this week and you can go and see Sunset Jet, Slow Decay and The Boneyard in action at this increasingly popular live venue.

Further information can be found at Facebook.com/TheOriginalQuidsInn