Check
www.inyourpocket.com in advance, or pick up a copy when you arrive (usually they retail for about the equivalent of $2-3 US. They will have a range of suggestions for accommodations - including some student dorms and the like - (the hard copy is much more comprehensive than the on line edition), as well as pubs and such that are popular with the expat community.
They'll also list pubs/bars that offer live music, so you could check those out for possible future gigs... The guides also have excellent maps, often including transit maps, which really helps when you're trying to find your way around outside the typical tourist areas (which would be a better place to go looking for cheap digs.)