this is Brighton offers a critical view of what's hot for the coming week.

Tom Baxter Komedia, Brighton, Tuesday, October 11
- Widely-tipped, Baxter will be showcasing new material from the follow-up to his Feather And Stone album. A former painter and decorator, some feel that Baxter approaches his songwriting in the same workmanlike manner he would adopt when putting up a shelf. But for those who like this kind of thing, his pedigree is impeccable: A long and gruelling apprenticeship followed by word-of-mouth success, support slots with David Gray and appearances on Later with Jools Holland. Starts 8.30pm, tickets cost £10. Call 01273 647100.

Engineers, Komedia, Gardner Street, Brighton, Monday, October 10
- This Wigan four-piece deal in a slow-burning grandeur which has garnered them favourable comparisons to The Beta Band, Talk Talk and My Bloody Valentine. Each track on their eponymous debut album is an unhurried epic, though they occasionally come far enough down from the stratosphere to evoke the widescreen indie of the likes of Elbow. Fans of richly-layered, symphonic rock will not be disappointed. Starts 8pm, tickets cost £7.50. Call 01273 647100.

Manuka, Pavilion Tavern, Brighton, Saturday, October 8
- Even picking a fight with the most powerful man on earth can't stop the Rolling Stones from looking like a tired irrelevancy. So let Manuka take you back to their raucous peak. The local four-piece seek to evoke the sordid majesty of Exile and Sticky Fingers, while adding vocal harmonies and masterly keyboard solos which are all their own. The band will be appearing in Nokia's new global ad campaign so you may never see them in such intimate surroundings again. Starts 8pm, free admission. Call 01273 827641.

Seth Lakeman, Komedia, Brighton, Wednesday, October 12
- Lakeman's second album, Kitty Jay, was nominated for this year's Mercury award the £20,000 prize would have been a fine return on the £300 it cost to make. Recorded in his kitchen, the record with its frenzied fiddles and mournful reworkings of the myths of his native Devon was chosen as Time Out's best folk album of 2004. The Komedia audience won't hold any fears for the 28-year-old in the spirit of Jonny Cash, he launched the album with a gig at Dartmoor Prison. Starts 8pm. Tickets cost £8. Call 01273 647100.

12 Stone Toddler, Komedia, Brighton, Thursday, October 13
- This is a band who cram a surfeit of ideas and hooks into every song. Their music sounds like a soundtrack to unhinged nights at a rickety old fairground, with hints of Zappa, Tom Waits and Mike Patton's Mr Bungle project floating through the crazed atmosphere. Drummer Aaron McLenehan loves to wear bunny suits, athough only singer/bassist Chris Otero actually weighs 12 stone. Starts 8.30pm, tickets cost £7/£6. Call 01273 647100.

John Peel Tribute Day, Concorde 2, Brighton, Thursday, October 13
- The first aniversary of the great man's final radio show is to be celebrated as "Peel Day". New Order and, of course, The Fall are among those appearing at over 200 gigs taking place across the UK. The Brighton line-up was still unconfirmed at the time of going to press but the promoters were promising a big local headline act. For those who can't make it to the gig, Radio 1 are broadcasting a six-hour show to mark the event. Starts 8pm, ticket prices tbc. Call 01273 673311.