THE big news this week in the world of local music is the looming threat of closure hanging over the Loaded Dog in Leytonstone.

Long a key venue in the local area for jam nights, tribute acts and unsigned band shows, the future of regular gig nights at the pub looks bleak after the brewery that owns it (Punch Taverns) put it up for sale.

As a result, all scheduled events appear to be off at the venue, and its music listening website has disappeared from the interweb.

Apparently Punch Taverns are negotiating with a possible buyer, but in the meantime regular visitors to the venue will have to head elsewhere if they want their ears pleasured by lovely tunes.

But there is a glimmer of good news - the Loaded Dog’s popular jam night Little Bread, Big Jam, has already relocated to the Plough Inn down in Wood Street, Walthamstow.

Their first night is on Wednesday June 24, and is well worth checking out. Everyone is invited to bring along their instruments, voices and family and friends, so it promises to be a raucous evening.

Entry is £3 and doors open at 8pm.

Meanwhile across our corner of the world, there are a number of delightful shows coming up in the next few days.

At the Plough, Walthamstow Folk presents Dick Gaughan on Sunday (June 7), who’s been described as “a cross between a one man heavy metal band and a musical Panzer tank.” Wow. Entry is £8, or £7 for concessions, with a start time pencilled in for 7.30pm.

On Monday (June 8) it’s the usual and superb free Monday night blues jam.

While Wednesday (June 10) the evening sees the spectacular Improvizone, an electronic jam evening using a mixture of technology and old fashioned instruments.

Doors open at 8pm and it’s free to get in.

And over at the Standard in Walthamstow, things are looking good. The venue looks set to be open for a good while longer yet, and gigs have been booked there right up until December, so worries about it shutting down can be shelved for now.

This Saturday (June 6) tribute act The Secret Police play at around 8.30pm for just £9.

At the Rose and Crown, on Hoe Street, E17, the Jerry Spangles Bluegrass Band play on Friday (June 5) from about 9pm in the main bar.