It comes to something when one of your band’s songs is voted one of the top 50 Indie Anthems of All Time by the NME, used as the backing music for Match of the Day’s Goal of the Month competition and – possibly the greatest honour the world can bestow – as the soundtrack to one of those all-too-rare DFS sales.

It doesn’t get any better than that, does it?

The song was also featured in news footage of Margaret Thatcher’s departure from No 10 in 1990 and – and in questionable taste in my humble opinion – her departure from the world last year.

I refer to, of course, There She Goes by The La’s which was written by Scouse maverick Lee Mavers and featured the inestimable talents of one John Power on bass.

Power, frustrated with the slow progress of the band’s Difficult Second Album, split with co-founder Mavers and went on to form Cast, one of the most under-rated bands of a Britpop era which included such luminaries as Blur, Suede, Pulp and their ilk.

The band had several Top 20 singles including Finetime, Alright and Walkaway, which I will always associate with Gareth Southgate’s crucial penalty miss against Germany in the Euro ’96 semi-final.

 

 

Fast forward through a couple of decades and John Power is touring the UK with a solo acoustic foray through his remarkable back catalogue and current material.

You can catch him at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange on Saturday, April 12 and £12.50 tickets, which are selling fast so get in quick, are available from wegottickets.com Support comes from Logan Carter and Tom Caulfield’s Let’s All Have an Indie Disco.

Moving on, next Saturday, March 29 is the third Bridport Lions Blues Extravaganza at The Freshwater Complex at Burton Bradstock. The event raises money for the Bridport EDP which helps those with drug and alcohol problems.

There’s a terrific line-up this year with Mr Boogie-Woogie-Oogie himself Ben Waters, The Fat Marrow Blues Band and C Sharp Blues all on the bill.

Tickets are £10 in advance from EDP’s Bridport office, the TIC in South Street on 01305 424901, Bridport Music on 01305 425707 or £12 on the door.

And finally is a hearty congratulations to Spice Ship landlady Wendy Buckingham who celebrates the 30th anniversary of her 20th birthday tonight, Friday, March 21, at her pub on Preston Road, Weymouth, with an evening of music and hi-jinks from the Lo Numbers, Shooter and The Stereoironics. It all, quite literally no doubt, kicks off at 8.30pm and a splendid time is guaranteed for all.

Right, that’s it for this week, I’m off to get a new sofa...

Till next time..

TONIGHT (21)

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

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

Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, 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)

Slipstream (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Ska night (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Big Al Whittle (Old Ship, Upwey)

Howling at the Moon (The Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Brothers Grimm (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

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

Peacock Suit (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Nina Garcia (Café Jagos, Dorchester)

Aidan Simpson (115 Club, Bridport)

Amy Mayes Trio (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

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

SATURDAY (22)

Papa George Band (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Stereoironics (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Skones (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

Cuba Libre (Dorothy, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Ninebarrow, Paul Openshaw (United Church, Dorchester) Tickets £5 from Harmony Music, in aid of Mercy Ships.

Splinter (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Park Hotel, Grange Rd, Weymouth)

Steve Whale (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

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

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth)

Howling at the Moon (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Cash Converted (Victoria, Dorchester) Neon (Belvedere, Weymouth)

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

Left, Right and Centre (RBL Club, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Bitter and Twisted (Punchbowl, Portland)

Elvis McGonagall, Luke Wright (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Peacock Suit (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

The Unpredictables (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Old Dogz New Trix (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (RBL Club, Marnhull)

SUNDAY (23)

TBC (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland) 4.30pm.

Julie Lewis and Ben Taylor (King’s Arms, Portesham) 3pm-5pm.

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 1pm.

Jack and Benny (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester) 7pm-9pm.

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

Chris Taylor and Mike Keane (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Park Hotel, Weymouth) 5pm.

Tom C (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth) 3pm.

Nick Barron (Il Porto, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

The Heartburns (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Dave Bowen Quartet (The Trooper, Stourton Caundle) 1pm-3pm.

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

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Music from 8pm.

MONDAY (24)

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

TUESDAY (25)

Ansell and Gretal (The Boot, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (26)

Stage Door (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth) Open mic night.

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 (27)

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 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 (28)

The Mighty Fine (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Decades (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Louise Day (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Grizzly and the Grasshoppers (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Johnny King (Edinburgh, House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Omega Project (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Weymouth)