IF music be the food of love then gig and concert-goers are going to be falling head over heals about the choice on offer this week.

Even on a quiet Monday night music lovers are going to be spoilt for choice with the delightfully kooky punk outfit the Young Knives at Essex University, sublime folk group Rag Mama Rag at the Colchester Arts centre and some classical treats from Opera Box at the Princes Theatre in Clacton.

There's more classical music with Vent at Colchester Institute on Wednesday, the Coggeshall Baroque Trio at Christ Church in Braintree performing a lunctime recital on Thursday and the Academy of Ancient Music at the Civic Theatre in Chelmsford on Sunday.

For jazz lovers a nifty trip across the Suffolk border will offer up a night with Cleo Laine and hubby John Dankworth at the New Wolsey Theatre on Sunday while prog rockers will no doubt also be making their way to Ipswich, this time to the Regent for a night with Rick Wakeman and Jon Anderson from Yes.

And just for variety's sake why not go and see T-Rex's drummer Bill Legend play a gig on Saturday at Earls Colne Village Hall or brilliant rockers Cooper Temple Clause at Essex University on Thursday.

Then again you could always checkout Cuban guitarist Pedro Luis Ferrer at the Colchester Arts Centre on Sunday who has a totally unique take on the Changui musical style from the eastern mountains of Guantanamo. Eclectic or what!!!!

There's even music at the thetre this week with Annie at the Braintree Institute until Saturday and the super troupe of young musical actors that is CO2 performing Godspell at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester, also until Saturday.

What's more some of the cast will be on roller skates too - cool!!.