APOLOGIES, but sometimes there’s no other way round it. I’m going to use the C-word. I don’t like to and I know it can be upsetting for some people.

Christmas. There, said it. Honestly, who knew it was coming? I mean, there’s been nothing on the telly or in the papers, has there?

One minute you’re bumbling along and then the next it’s all Ho Ho Ho, arresting merry gentlemen and roasting your chestnuts on an open fire.

This year, it’s on December 25 for a change so there’s plenty of time to get your sprouts on and get into the festive spirit.

And you can start this Sunday, December 7 at Dorchester Arts Centre with the visit of acclaimed Aussie guitarist Craig Ogden.

I’m going to use two more C-words now: Classical, and Cultural. There, now you’re shocked, aren’t you?

 

Not only is Craig the principal lecturer in guitar at the Royal Northern College of Music, he’s also played all over the world with some of the most illustrious orchestras and he’ll be treating you to some tracks from his new Christmas Time album this Sunday, from 3pm. Tickets are available from the box office on 01305 262966.

Now then, I come from a musical family: The sewing machine was a Singer and even our computer’s Adele. But that pales in comparison to Tallulah Rendell whose father once brought a lion called Christian from Harrods and her mum ran The Black Sheep club where Jimi Hendrix had a two-week residency while Hey Joe was in the charts back in the day.

She grew up surrounded by the records played at the club and it’s certainly rubbed off on her and so far she’s released three ‘crowd-funded’ albums of her eerie, scary dark songs.

You can catch her tonight at the Beach and Barnicott in Bridport.

Now, if I were to form a tribute band, it probably wouldn’t be homage to The Wurzels. Still, someone has and you can drink up thy zider to the strains of the New Forest Yokels when they play at Wyke Workies next Friday, December 12.

It’s a fundraiser for the Dorset Friendship for the handicapped. It’s £3 for non-members and promises to be a very agricultural night. There, from culture to agriculture.

My work here is done.

Till next time...

TONIGHT (5)

Stereoironics (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Kopykatz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Garry Foley’s Elvis Christmas Show (The Rock, Weymouth)

In The Doghouse (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Stompin’ Dave and Sam Kelly (Evershot village hall)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Loop (Illchester Arms, Abbotsbury)

Mama Feelgood (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Shakespearos (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

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

Paul Anthony (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Andy Grant (No 10, Bridport)

Charlie (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Tallulah Rendall (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

JoJo (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Sheila Tackya (Cafe Jagos, Dorchester)

SATURDAY (6)

The Crack (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Xander and the Keys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Splinter (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Market House, Weymouth)

Replay (RBL Club, Portland)

Steel City Screamers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tom Caulfield (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Live Wired (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Diva Lea (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Tripod (Tides Inn, King St, Weymouth)

Rockaholicks (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Rat Salad (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Victoria, Dorchester)

Let Me Out (Woodman, Bridport)

Jeffers and John (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Charlie (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Wilma Fingerdoo (Cafe Jagos, Dorchester)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Shaftesbury Social Club)

No Fixed Abode (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

SUNDAY (7)

Craig Ogden (Dorchester Arts Centre) 3pm.

Jack Daniels and Benny Wain (King’s Arms, Portesham) 3 to 5pm.

Bob and John (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2.30pm.

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.

No Fixed Abode (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Sunday Session (Sydney Arms, Dorchester)

Mr North (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes (Brewhouse, Dorchester) 3pm

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

MONDAY (8)

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (The Star, Weymouth) On a Monday, for a change.

TUESDAY (9)

One Fat Santa (Boho, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (10)

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

Open Mic (Edinburgh House of Sounds, 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 (11)

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.

Folk Session (Park Hotel, Weymouth) Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland) Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) From 8pm.

FRIDAY (12)

Lo Numbers (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Sea Bass and the Fellas (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Freak Circus (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Left Right and Centre (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Elijah Wolfe (Illchester Arms, Abbotsbury)

The Dinnerladies (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth)

Replay (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Electric duo (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

New Forest Yokels, Jukebox Junkies (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Louise Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)