THE thought occurred to me as I shared a pot of Earl Grey and cucumber sandwiches with Animal out of The Muppets the other day: You can always tell the calibre of a musician by the company he keeps.

Take singer-songwriter Gaz Brookfield, fr’instance.

The Bristol-based troubadour has worked or toured with artists ranging from Frank Turner to Newton Faulkner, from The Levellers to I Am Kloot, from Miles Hunt to Dodgy.

A wide and quality spectrum, I think you’ll agree.

After winning Acoustic Magazine’s singer-songwriter award back in 2010, Gaz has performed all over Europe, toured the UK’s O2 Academies with The Levellers and is a regular on the festival circuit.

So it’s good to know there are two chances to see this remarkable entertainer down these parts this week.

First, he’s at the compact and bijou Boot in Weymouth on Tuesday, February 11 and, the following night, Wednesday February 12, he’ll be at the rather salubrious Casterbridge Suite at the King’s Arms in Dorchester.

 

 

He’ll be joined at the KA by fiddler-supreme Benny Wain and support comes from local folk hero Paul Openshaw. And it’s a mere £3 on the door.

Now then, many metalhead faces were wet with tears I’m sure when I Am I, featuring former Dragonforce singer KP, cancelled their gig at Finn’s in Weymouth which was scheduled for tomorrow night.

But there were whoops of delight when Bournemouth metal monsters Griever were announced as the new headliners, with an impressive line-up of support bands, including Sanguine, As Flames Rise, Dendera and Gymer.

It’s going to be another night of relentless moshing at Finn’s and it’s just £1 on the door from 7pm. And if you bought a ticket for I Am I, they’re still valid and will admit you and a mate.

Talking of things loud and metal-based, it’s very sad to hear about Tripod and former Entity drummer Grant Holford.

Grant, 26, has been diagnosed with lymphoblastic leukaemia with a rare strain of something dreadful called Philadelphia Chromosome Disorder which means he will have to have a transplant.

And true to form, the local music community is rallying round to give Grant all the support they can with an amazing fundraising and awareness-raising event on Monday, February 17, at the Air 107.2FM studios in Weymouth.

The plan is to get as many drummers as possible to take part in an epic version of Cozy Powell’s Dance with the Devil with the ensuing racket going out live on Air 107.2FM during Danny Adams’s Monday night rock show.

Already many of the local tub-thumpers, including this enthusiastic amateur, have signed up to play so if you’re a drummer or a friend of Grant’s and want to take part contact Danny via his email on airguitardan@yahoo.com

Finally, talking of Air FM, the good people there have decided, against their better judgment and despite little public acclaim, to let me host the Hijacked show again next Wednesday, February 12, from 8pm-10pm.

I’ll be playing the usual mix of Northern Soul, funk and disco and hopefully you’ll be able to tune in.

Right, that’s it for this week.

I’m off to polish up my mime skills, balloon bending and card tricks ahead of my radio show.

TONIGHT (7)

Phoenix, Silhouettes (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth) It’s a fundraiser for Weldmar. Free entry for members, £3 on door for non-members.

Big Al Whittle, Paul Openshaw, The Heavens, Bob Kirkpatrick (Moreton village hall) Tickets £8 from 01929 463221.

Omega Project (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Chill (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Dutch Solo Mouses (Royal Exchange, Weston Rd, Portland)

Amy Mayes Trio (Café Jagos, High East St, Dorchester)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell)

Rockin’ Rich (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth)

Jo Jo (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Guns of Navarone (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Jack Harrison (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Billy Solo (Wellington Arms, St Alban St, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (8)

Griever, Dendera, Sanguine, As Flames Rise (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Spikedrivers (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Speedway Snails (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Dorothy, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Lauren Bannon (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Hot Bacon (Moby Dick’s, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Finn (Park Hotel, Weymouth) Mama Feelgood (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) Lunchtime gig, from 12.30-2.30pm.

The Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

The GTI (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Déjà Vu (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

Stress (Chalk and Cheese, Maiden Newton)

Johnny Mac (The Star, Park St, Weymouth)

Brian Donne (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Blue Room Baboons (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Ratpack Dave (Belvedere, High West St, Weymouth)

Jonathan Cotton (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth)

Victorian Barbers (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (9)

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 1pm.

Six String Steve (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) From 3pm.

Velvet Overtones (King’s Arms, Portesham) From 3pm.

Lisa Makk (Spitfire Club, Crossways) 3pm.

North and South (Belvedere, High West St, Weymouth) 8pm.

The Pick Ups (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey and friends host this regular Sunday acoustic jam session. Music from 8pm.

MONDAY (10)

Lucy’s Ukulele Night (King’s Arms, Portesham) 8pm.

TUESDAY (11)

Gaz Brookfield (The Boot, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (12)

Gaz Brookfield, Benny Wain, Paul Openshaw (King’s Arms, Dorchester) £3 on door.

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 7pm.

Jam with Mark (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey hosts this regular acoustic jam session.

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

THURSDAY (13)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester) All backline provided, come on down and have a play.

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth) Steve hosts this session, with guests joining in.

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland) Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

FRIDAY (14)

The Dolmen, Soar Patrol (No 6, King St, Weymouth) Part of the Crabchurch Conspiracy weekend celebrations.

TBC (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Dakota (Dorothy, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes (Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion) and later...

Amy Mayes Trio (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth)

The Debonairs (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Robbie McIntosh and Andy Grant (Chalk and Cheese, Maiden Newton)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Weymouth)