IF anyone tells you they’re staying in this weekend to watch Britain’s Got Talent or just tidy their sock drawer or file their toenail clippings because there’s nothing else going on, you have my permission to grab the nearest frying pan and wrap it firmly, Vic and Bob style, around their stupid head.

Take tonight at Finn’s in Weymouth, fr’instance, where there’s not one, not two, but a jaw-dropping SIX quality bands on for your entertainment and edification.

Following the success of the punk night there back in March, there’s another night of musical mayhem and how about this for a line-up…

You’ve got London-based cheeky chappies Rivalries with their bouncy anthemic punk, local heroes Light Fire Down with their latest EP Lighthouse, Watford trio Janowski making their debut in Weymouth, the reformed (as in got back together again, not what criminals do when they go straight) If9were5, Bristol band Weatherstate featuring former members of local favourites 8 Days Later and new Dorchester punk band Fireside.

And breathe…

All that lovely noise for the princely sum of, oh, naff all. Yep, it’s free admission, doors open at 7pm so get there early as it’s going to be rammed in that there mosh pit.

If a night of punk doesn’t float your boat or even get your goat, how about Republica in Dorchester?

Yes, Saffron and her red-hot band are launching the new Room 38 club nights at the county town’s Trinity Club tomorrow night.

Tickets are £20 and available from mmmnicemusic.com and support tomorrow night comes from Summer Drive Home and Kipper, the self-styled Welsh Woody Guthrie.

 

 

A splendid night in store indeed, and the first of many from those hard-working people at mmmnicemusic.com who have several other great nights lined up, both in Dorchester and Bridport.

Feast your eyes and lugholes on this lot; There’s Mike McGear McCartney at Dorchester Arts Centre on Friday June 13, Bruce Foxton and Russell Hastings From The Jam at Room 38 on Friday, June 27, and Yes guitarist Steve Howe at Bridport’s Electric Palace on September 27 – and a whole lot more to come.

Nothing going on? Pass me that frying pan, will you? QUICK!

Anyone who’s ever played in a band will know the joys of travelling in the back of a van, hurtling up the M-ways, A-roads and B-roads from gig to gig in a clapped-out Transit, being bashed about by bits of drum kit and broken guitars.

Probably the best fun ever, in my view.

Anyways, it must be similar to the joy felt by those taking part in the Windy 500 rally which leaves Weymouth on June 13.

For those who may not know, the Windy 500 is a rally across Europe in vehicles costing no more than £500.

The intrepid drivers and their teams will be raising money for Julia’s House, the only hospice in Dorset which cares for children with life-limiting illnesses.

And there’s a huge fundraising and launch bash this Sunday, June 1 at the Lazy Lizard in Weymouth with great day of live music.

Starting at 1pm with Lauren Bannon, the day pans out as follows: 2.15pm: Boytits, 3.30pm Peacock Suit, 4.45pm Hustle, 6pm Leggomen, 7.10pm Southern Sinner, 8pm Mr Bucket, 9pm The Mighty Fine, 10pm Stereoironics.

Wow, a great line-up, a great cause and a pretty incredible event. What’s not to like?

Right, that’s it for this week, I’m staying in to polish my frying pan. Want some?

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (30)

Rivalries, Light Fire Down, Weatherstate, If9were5, Fireside, Janowski (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Festival (Various venues around the harbourside, Weymouth) See wessexfolk.co.uk for details.

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Alan Roberts (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Chill (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Bug Tree Swamp (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Boytits (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Owen Lister (King’s Arms, Dorchester) Dukane (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

The Decades (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

The Skones (Britannia Inn, Portland)

Surfing Birds (Moby Dick’s, Weymouth)

Tripod (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Alex Wood (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Bemis (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (31)

Republica (Room 38, Trinity St, Dorchester)

Wessex Folk Festival (Various venues around the harbourside, Weymouth) See wessexfolk.co.uk for details.

Jolly Boys Outing (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Crack (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Dolmen (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Live It Up (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth)

Just John (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Karen and Elvis Pete (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

In The Doghouse (Dorothy, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Gigolo (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Blues Club, Portland)

Million Dollar Bash (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester)

Let Me Out (Bradpole Social Club, Bridport)

Leggomen (Market House, Weymouth)

Richard Young (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

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

Under The Carousel (Eight Kings, Southwell, Portland)

Will Johns Band (Crown, Bridport)

Left Right and Centre (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Yan Yates (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Terry Keyworth (Wyke Regis Social Club, Chamberlaine Rd, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Bob Mallet (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (1)

Lauren Bannon, Boytits, Peacock Suit, Hustle, Leggomen, Southern Sinners, Mr Bucket, The Mighty Fine, Stereoironics, (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth) From 1pm.

Wessex Folk Festival (Various venues around the harbourside, Weymouth) See wessexfolk.co.uk for details.

Alex Roberts and Richard Young (Park Hotel, Weymouth) 6pm.

Dorset Wrecks (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth) 2.30pm

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

Replay (Greenhilll, Weymouth)

Geno Washington (Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis)

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

Jilly Ann (Spitfire Club, Crossways) 1pm.

Gut and Steel (Old Ship, Upwey, Weymouth) 2.30pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Juke Box Junkies (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Nathan Jon (Belvedere, Weymouth) 2.30pm to 5pm

Tripod (Belvedere, Weymouth) 7.30pm

Leggomen, Boytits, Lauren Bannon (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth) From midday.

Karen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth) 3pm.

Bill (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

MONDAY (2)

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

TUESDAY (3)

Big Al Whittle (The Boot, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (4)

Stage Door (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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 (5)

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 (6)

Courtney Pine (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Mama Feelgood (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Thomas Ford (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Grovemeister (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

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

Skatmandu (The Star, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

All About GaGa (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Skimmity Hitchers (Ropemakers, Bridport)