Where can you find more than 250 bands in 19 venues in the space of one week? Brighton Live is a kaleidoscope of sounds which will have music emanating from every corner of the city, from the weird and wonderful to the deep and dirty.

The event, in its third year, sees all the key Brighton promoters, labels and industry professionals join forces and the result is more than 75 free gigs in pubs, clubs, cafes, theatres, a church and a train station.

In addition to the freebies, established acts including The Pipettes, She Said, The Mutts, The Lovegods and Emiliana Torrini will headline high-profile shows.

Four new strands have been added this year: All-ages gigs, Live @ Lunch, Soundtrack To Film and Live At The Station. There will be seven shows for under-18s, so the walk of shame back past the queue if you don't get in will be a distant memory.

Live @ Lunch is a free concert series held in the tranquility of Brighton's historic Chapel Royal, North Street, featuring music from the city's cultural mosaic. Every lunchtime, rhythms including Brazilian, Middle Eastern and gospel will fill the hall.

Celebrating the coming together of musicians and filmmakers, Soundtrack To Film takes the partnership to a deeper level. A cello will accompany a film about witchcraft, a rock band provides the soundtrack to a fly-on-the-wall piece and a spooky seance movie will be made particularly atmospheric thanks to a cornet, flute, clarinet, organ and accordion.

Commuters at Brighton Station have not been forgotten and will encounter live music to brighten their journey every lunchtime.

Brighton Live was born in 2003, when Radio 1 decamped here for a week of music headlined by the likes of Jane's Addiction and Starsailor. Although media attention focused on big names, one of the most exciting aspects was One Live Alternative, a fringe-type series of free gigs by Brighton bands.

Such was its success, even though Radio 1 haven't been back, Brighton promoters Anna Moulson (Melting Vinyl) and Lisa Lout (Lout Promotions) have continued to develop the festival and it's become an important event in its own right.

Things are a bit different this year previously, organisers invited labels and promoters to host their own nights and choose their line-up. This year, they have asked everyone who is involved in live music to recommend their favourite artists.

The result is a programme which takes in most of the music spectrum, not just guitar bands there's electro from the likes of Waxed Apple (Sussex Arts Club, Thursday), a mini hip-hop festival (Concorde 2, Tuesday) and a Catskills showcase (Union, Friday, Oct 7) far too many gigs to mention here but something for all ears.

Carlo Sandblow, Joogleberry Playhouse, Brighton, Monday, October 3
- Sun-drenched reggae, ska and skiffle to warm your cockles. Winners of this year's Brighton's Most Wanted battle of the bands. Magic Bullet Band are also on the bill. 8pm, free.

Clearlake, Audio, Brighton, Monday, October 3
Celebrated band who have toured with Elliott Smith. Likened to The Smiths, their songs contain passion, pathos, humour, realism and patriotism. Deep, raw, powerful and, as they say, "kind of cosmic". With support from Celebricide and Frock. 7.30pm, free.

Early Morning Soundtrack, Audio, Tuesday, October 4
- They've supported Babyshambles, The Rakes, The Paddingtons, Eighties Matchbox B-line Disaster and The Cribs. Raw, electric mayhem, for those who like their riffs tight and their jeans tighter. Puscha and Daze One also appear. 7.30pm, free.

Jonny Quality and Nou, Audio, Brighton, Wednesday, October 5
- Thanks to their buddy Fatboy Slim, Jonny Quality's rockabilly surf-hop has received copious amounts of attention but they live up to the hype. Funky bunch Nou should be just as exciting, a fearless combo of electro, delta blues and hip-hop. Faker are also on the bill. 7.30pm, free.

Kovak, Trafalgar Street, Brighton, Saturday, October 7
- "Gathering fans like The Kings Of Leon do genital parasites," (according to NME), Kovak's synth-based, guitar-battering indie rock has also caught the ear of The Orb's Andy Hughes, who is producing their debut album. Leonard and Bubba's Delicious Goo Goo Cluster complete the bill. 8pm, free.