THOSE of you of a nervous disposition should look away now. But there are many people among us who have dug out their ageing flips-flops and crusty budgie smugglers this weekend for the mahoosive Forever Sun festival near Dorchester which runs from tonight, Friday, July 25, to Sunday, July 27.

I, for one, will be there, although the secrets of my outfit are known only to me and my stylist.

What I can tell you is that there is a pretty incredible line-up of top bands, including the Happy Mondays, Buzzcocks, Toploader, Glen Matlock, and a pretty amazing line-up of astounding acts including the bonkers Professor Elemental, the masked Mexcian wrestlers Lucha Britannia and many, many more.

With the weather forecast this weekend, never has a festival been more appropriately named.

And talking of appropriately named events, keep those flip- flips and hot pants out for next weekend’s Warm Festival in Dorchester’s Borough Gardens on Sunday, August 3.

It’s a fundraiser for the Steve Charles Help a Friend Help a Friend charity and it’s going to be even bigger this year with the addition of a second stage.

Already some of the region’s more popular bands have agreed to do a turn for the remarkable organisation, including the Million Dollar Bash, The Skones, Howling at the Moon, Vanilla Radio and The Dinnerladies.

Staying in the county town, look out for the rather lovely Lisbee Stainton, pictured above who brings her Word Games tour to Dorchester Arts Centre next Friday, August 1.

 

 

When she’s not doing her own thing, she tours as part of Seth Lakeman’s band and has worked with such luminaries as Joan Armatrading, Paul Carrack, Gretchen Peters and Elanor McAvoy.

She’ll be joined on stage at the Arts Centre next Friday by guitarist Simon Johnson and tickets at £12 are available from wegottickets.com.

Right, that’s it for this week. I’m off to the dry cleaners to pick up my budgie smugglers and I’ll see you monkeys at Forever Sun.

Till next time…

TONIGHT (25)

Dolmen, Vanilla Radio, Jimmy Hillbillies, Bit Of Rough (Forever Sun, Came Manor, Dorchester)

Slither (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Roy Charles (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Neon (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Fluke (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Stress (Greyhound, Sydling St Nicholas)

DuKane (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Alexis (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Micky Biggs Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Two Man Gentleman Band (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Simon Gee (Wyke Regis Social Club, Chamberlaine Rd, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (26)

Buzzcocks, Glen Matlock, Estimators and many more (Forever Sun, Came Manor, Dorchester)

Lo Numbers, Hustle, The Mighty Fine, Blue Rock, Kipper, Bi Proxy, The Skones (Royal Standard, Upwey, Weymouth) It’s JuJam from 2pm.

Biff Bang Pow (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Slipped Disc (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth)

Bob Mallet (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Dukane (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Bon Jovi Experience (Weymouth Pavilion)

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

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

Jimmy M (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Park, Weymouth)

Ed Bleach (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester)

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

Brothers Grimm (Red Lion Winfrith) 12-2pm.

Brothers Grimm (Tides Inn, King St, Weymouth)

Tempo (RBL Club, Fortuneswell, Portland)

The Hurricanes ( Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

Neon (Eight Kings, Southwell, Portland)

The Unpredictables (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Andy Grant and Alex Roberts (South St, Dorchester) 2pm.

Gigolo (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Nitelite (Wyke Regis Social Club, Chamberlaine Rd, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (27)

Happy Mondays, Toploader and many more (Forever Sun, Came Manor, Dorchester)

Diva Lea (Park, Weymouth) Jam tribute 6pm.

James Baker (Old Castle, Weymouth) 7pm.

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

Dr Robert (Dolphin, Park St, 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-5pm.

Jukebox Junkies (New Vic, Esplanade, Weymouth)

The Lanterns (Brewhouse, Dorchester) 3-5pm Brothers Grimm (Belvedere, Weymouth) 8pm.

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

Neon (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tom Alford Band (Borough Gardens, Dorchester) 2.30-4.30pm.

MONDAY

(28) Amy Mayes (New Vic, Esplanade, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (29)

Open Mic Night (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8pm.

Lauren Bannon (New Vic, Esplanade, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (30)

Stacey Lou (New Vic, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Jonathan Cotton (Duke of Cornwall, 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.

THURS (31) Lauren Bannon (Stables, Weymouth) 7.30pm.

The Leggomen (New Vic, Esplanade, 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 (1)

Lisbee Stainton (Dorchester Arts Centre)

TBC (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Freak Circus (Royal Exchange, Portland)

James Baker (Old Spa, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth) 6.30pm.

Leggomen (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Frankie Finn (The Star, Park St, Weymouth)