THOSE of you of a certain vintage will remember the golden era of punk rock, from the summer of 1976 to the end of 1977, when the raging fury and noise of a nation’s disaffected youth swept the country like a tidal wave of anger and acne.

Hear The Damned, here’s three chords, form a band and you’re up and running, and one of the things I remember about the whole era was the DIY element.

Can’t play an instrument?

Learn how by Doing It Yourself. Don’t want to cover a band’s song? Have a think and Do It Yourself.

Couldn’t get gigs? Hire a venue and Do It Yourself.

Couldn’t get a record deal? Do It Yourself by recording, pressing and distributing your own seven-inch 45s. And after a few rehearsals, not only were you a half-decent band, you could probably put up a few shelves too.

So it’s good to know the spirit of punk is alive and spitting almost 40 years on.

Take next Friday, March 21, for example, at Finn’s in Weymouth, where no fewer than eight bands and artists are getting together to make a right racket and pogo till they puke.

 

 

Have a look at this lot of talent: Rising stars Nathan Detroit, making their return to the seaside after eight months, Weymouth’s own Light Fire Down, former Asbestos vocalist Bobby Funk, emo garage duo Cycle Schmeichel (What IS an emo garage, by the way?), Welsh emo-screamos Pipedream, fellow Taffs Deadlines, local legend Edd Bleach and, flushed with their recent success, I give you, ladies and gentlemen: The Urinals, for all afficianados of swearing and loud, fast music.

Quite an impressive line-up, I think you’ll agree.

It all kicks off at 7pm and admission is the princely sum of.... Naff all. It’s free!

Moving on, it’s high time for another DA Blues session at Dorchester Arts Centre and next Saturday, March 22, it’s the turn of Papa George and his band to tear the roof off the place.

George is recognised as one of the finest guitarists and vocalists on the circuit and has recently been inducted into the Blues hall of fame.

Joining him next Saturday will be veteran drummer Tom Compton and Pete Stroud on bass. Tickets are £13 from the box office on 01305 266926.

And finally, local folk hero and all-round good guy Paul Openshaw is staging a concert at the United Church in Dorchester next Saturday, March 22, to raise money for the Mercy Ships.

This remarkable organisation helps some of the poorest people in the world with free surgery and health care.

Joining Paul on the bill next Saturday are folk duo Ninebarrow, who were crowned winners of the Larmer Tree Festival’s breakthrough act last summer.

Tickets are just £5 and are available from the church in Dorchester’s South Street or from Harmony Music.

Right, that’s it for this week – I’m off to dig out my safety pins and Rupert the Bear bondage trews…

TONIGHT (14)

Mama Feelgood (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Shooter (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Martin Maton (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Skint Imperials (Park Hotel, Grange Rd, Weymouth) Chill (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Kent Duchaine (Beach and Barnicott Bridport)

The Mighty Fine (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Ansell and Gretal, Duveaux, Roninmusicuk (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth) and later…

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (15)

The Dinnerladies (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth)

Tripod (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Fluke (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

The Roosters (Dorothy, Esplanade, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Victoria, Dorchester)

Hustle (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

The Mighty FIne (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Suzi Mac (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

The Sneakers (Wyke Regis Working Men’s Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth)

Latemouth Blake (The Woodman, Bridport)

The Dolmen (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Tom Alford Band (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Left and Right Centre (Chalk and Cheese, Maiden Newton)

Under The Carousel (The George, Reforne, Portland)

Tom Caulfield (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Double Shot (Belvedere, High West St, Weymouth)

Paul Sinclair (Wyke Regis Soocial Club, Chamberlain Rd, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Punchbowl, Portland)

Johnny Mac (The Star, Park St, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (King’s Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)

Icarus (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

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

SUNDAY (16)

The Dinnerladies (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Peacock Suit (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland) 4.30pm.

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 1pm.

Amy Mayes Trio (King’s Arms, Portesham) 3pm-5pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Swingalonga Dave (Belvedere, High West St, Weymouth)

The Crack (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) From 3pm for a pre-St Patrick’s Day knees-up.

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

MONDAY (17)

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

Ansell and Gretal (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth) St Patrick’s night celebration.

TUESDAY (18)

Leggomen (The Boot, Weymouth)

Jilly Ann (Sydney Arms, Dorchester)

WEDNESDAY (19)

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 (20)

The Dolmen (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth) Acoustic set.

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 (21)

Light Fire Down, Cycle Schmeichel, Nathan Detriot (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Shooter, Lo Numbers, Stereoironics (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Helena Mace (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

The Rock Band (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Skint Imperials (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Ska night (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Big Al Whittle (Old Ship, Upwey)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Weymouth)