AS I roll around in a swimming pool of mud and human waste, especially flown in and dumped in my back garden, hoping to catch a glimpse of some bearded and tattooed oaf twanging a guitar about four miles away and also hoping to catch a glimpse of my possessions recently liberated from my collapsed tent, I think to myself: Do I really have to go to so much effort to recreate the festival experience?

I could just as well head to the lovely hamlet of Langton Herring near Weymouth for the third Chesil Rocks event next Saturday, July 5, for a fantastic family-friendly festival with some top bands AND raising money for a very worthwhile cause.

Set over three stages, the impressive line-up includes Ian Sedwell, Duncan Honeybourne, Sarah De Warren, Coppertongue, The WTF Band (WTF does WTF stand for, I’d like to know?), Victorian Barbers, The Casterbridge Male Voice Choir, The Crack and rounding off with the unmissable Great Gig in the Sky Pink Floyd tribute. Pretty impressive, huh?

Tickets are a mere £5 and all money raised goes to the Samaritans of Dorset. Last year, they managed to bring in £5,400 so fingers crossed the organisers beat that this time around.

I understand there are only a handful of tickets left so don’t miss out and get yours from chesilrocks.com sharpish, ok?

Moving on, if you have an interest in pirates and faeries you’re either Peter Pan or you’ll be heading to the Old Town Hall in Weymouth tonight, Friday June 27, for what promises to be magical evening of music and storytelling.

Music comes from The Boarding Crew, Love Street, Pixiephonic , the fabulously-named Vendettas of Oma and Wynter Prior, and the Witches of the Dolmen Grove will be performing the wedding of Oberon and Titania.

Oooh, I love a good wedding, don’t you? Any excuse to buy a new hat and handbag, eh?

There’s a buffet and tickets are £10, but I imagine you’ll be able to get in on the door tonight from 7pm.

And finally a couple of thank yous. First, from the organisers of last Friday’s fundraiser at Wyke Workies, featuring Jumpin’ Jimmy Thunder, The Dinnerladies, Stacey Lou and Phoenix. The event raised £600 for the Weymouth Friendship Club for people with learning disabilities.

And Wendy from the Spice Ship has asked me to pass her thanks to all those who helped make last weekend’s Ska Fest II such a rip-roaring success and here’s to next year’s Ska fest III.

Job done.

Right, that’s it for this week. I’m glad FIFA have thrown the book at that Luis Suarez; A cookery book, full of tasty alternatives to defenders’ shoulders. ‘Till next time…

 

TONIGHT (27)

Boarding Crew, Pixiephonic, Wynter Prior, Louise Glanville, Love Street (Old Town Hall, High St, Weymouth) It’s a Dolmen Grove production. £10.

Fluke (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Paul Williams (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

One II One (Park, Grange Rd, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Moby Dick’s, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Greyhound, Sydling St Nicholas)

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

The Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth) It’s the welcome home gig.

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth) Hosted by Georgie Broad.

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes (King’s Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)

Peter James Milsom (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester)

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

Seabass (Boho, Weymouth) It’s the launch of the Shirt Off My Back tour.

Boy Le Monti (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Open Mic Night (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (28)

Splinter (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

Voodoo Goats (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Leggomen (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth) and later...

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Andy Grant and Amy Mayes (Brewhouse, Dorchester)

Dr Robert (Wellworthy’s, Dumbarton Rd, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Park, Weymouth) The Dolmen (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Tom Caulfield (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Blue Rock (Black Dog, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Victoria, Dorchester)

Tom Toomey (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester)

The Mighty Fine (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Brothers Grim (New Inn, Littlemoor, Weymouth)

BJ McCabe (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Replay (RBL Club, Fortuneswell, Portland)

The Silhouettes (Eight Kings, Southwell, Portland)

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

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

Vanilla Radio (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Weird and Gilly (Old Ship, Dorchester)

Simon Gee (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

The Diamonds (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

Ralph and Chrissie (Bridge Inn, Preston Rd, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (29)

Under The Carousel plus guests (Rogershill Raceway, Bere Regis)

Part of the Big Reach Mountain Bike Enduro event. See mudsweatandgears.co.uk for more details

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

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

Replay (Red Lion, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 2pm.

Skint Imperials (Park, Grange Rd, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Sutton Poyntz Village Fair)

Seabass (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth) 1.30pm Nathan Jon (Belvedere, Weymouth) 2pm to 5pm.

Craic On (Belvedere, Weymouth) 8pm.

Velvet Overtones (Boho, Weymouth) 4pm.

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

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

Martin Freed (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm to 5pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth) The Lanterns (Tides Inn, King St, Weymouth 4pm.

Gemma (King’s Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth) 5pm.

MONDAY (30)

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

Boytits (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (1)

TBC (The Boot, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (2)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

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

Dave P’s Open Mic Night (Rendezvous, Weymouth) From 8pm.

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 (3)

Victorian Barbers (Stables, Weymouth) 7.30pm.

David Powell (Yates, Weymouth) Martin Freed (Edinburgh

House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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 (4)

Hustle (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Ska Night (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Veterans (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Boytits (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

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

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

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Laurence (The Rock, Abottsbury Rd, Weymouth) Bowie tribute

The FB Pocket Orchestra (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)