There are some great gigs happening this week, so let’s get on with them…

Women – grungey types from Calgary – return for their first headlining show in Manchester, at Night & Day Cafe on Monday night. We reckon they sound like a throwback to the early nineties… in a good way. More info here.

On Tuesday, you’ve got a choice between Jagjaguar-signed Parts & Labor at the Star & Garter, Wild Beasts and Napoleon IIIrd at the Deaf Institute (a Bring on the Dancing Horses/Up the Racket co-promotion) and Canadians Wintersleep at the Roadhouse. We’d opt for a weeknight at the S&G, but don’t let that sway you.

Wednesday and it’s a Now Wave show at the Deaf Institute, featuring Black Lips and Crystal Stilts. This one’s already sold out so don’t get your hopes up.

On Thursday Manchester/London/Belfast indie-posters Help Stamp Out Loneliness are joined by the Empty Set (formerly of this parish), again at the Deaf Institute. It’s HSOL’s single launch and, as it’s also their Manchester debut, they’re promising a ‘VERY special guest’. More info here.

Then you can have a few days off! In fact, there isn’t much else going on until next week – so why not hop down to London for Owl Parliament on Saturday? It takes place and Union Chapel and features Jeffrey Lewis, Herman Dune, Laura Marling and Planet Earth. If you’re interested you’ll have to chance it on ebay.

Yup, it seems that one successful Trof isn’t enough for Fallowfield.

As you may have seen on a recent jaunt down the Wilmslow Road, plans are afoot for a new venue right in the centre of studentville. The builders are currently hard at work making this dream a reality. Already lined up for the new place are ludicrously cheap drinks, an amply sized soundsystem and DJ sets, live performance and art installations from some of the most talented performers in Manchester.

So this may mean that Fallowfield finally has a decent place to put on gigs. At the moment, the original Trof on Landcross Road and the fairly recently opened Ram and Shackle are two of a surprisingly small number of potential music venues, in an area that should have a glut of them. And the popularity of the Deaf Institute’s Dance Hall has no doubt persuaded the parent company to expand this side of things.

There’s a £50 Trof bar voucher for whoever comes up with the best name for this new place – send your suggestions to info@trof.co.uk with ‘Venue name’ in the subject line.

UPDATE: And as one venue appears, we learn that another closes: the Green Windmill in Stretford lasted little over six months. We didn’t have a chance to make it out there, but the highlight looks to have been an appearance by Shack’s John Head.

Here’s a selection of shows happening in Manchester over the next few days:

On Tuesday neo-shoegazers Asobi Seksu play at the Roadhouse to promote new album Hush. It’s not exactly our cup of tea but they could appeal to fans of Ride, Slowdive and Cocteau Twins. Or not. Tickets.

Back to the Roadhouse on Wednesday, as the venue’s staffers Loveless present Leeds’ blues-rocking duo The Old Romantic Killer Band plus Sycamore and Serpentine Pad. Loveless will also be joined on the decks by Stop Making Sense and Revolver DJs.  More info.

Salford’s very own beat/performance/punk poet and recent sexagenarian John Cooper Clarke appears at the Dancehouse Theatre opposite the BBC on Friday. He’s also there on Saturday – Valentine’s Day, lest we forget! – but tickets (at a fairly reasonable £15) have already sold out. Get Friday’s here before they’re all gone too.

Also on Friday, the frustratingly titled Tim and Sam’s Tim and the Sam Band with Tim and Sam play an Akoustik Anarkhy night at the Deaf Institute, supported by the Yellow Moon Band. Put Your Slippers On, their debut seven-track EP, is now available for £5. Tickets.

Then on Saturday there’s a good chance you’ll be at one Academy or another (if you don’t have prior Valentine obligations). Locals I Am Kloot will be playing bitter-sweet songs up in Academy 3 – though, again, this is sold out so Sunday 15 is your best chance. Meanwhile, in the basement, Late of the Pier will be entertaining while Magazine and Ipso Facto will be playing to a sold-out Academy 1 next door.

Phew! Also, newly confirmed – or spotted – this week (mostly by Hey! Manchester):

A Place to Bury Strangers at the Ruby Lounge on 2 April

Casiotone for the Painfully Alone at the Deaf Institute on 20 April

Great Lake Swimmers and Last Harbour at Dulcimer in Chorlton on 19 May

Phosphorescent at the Deaf Institute on 30 May