LADIES and gentlemen of the United Kingdom: We stand at the dawn of a new era.

An epoch where all the promises and pledges of the past few weeks will be kept and honoured, where we can all live together in peace and prosperity, full employment and good health, where our elderly, sick and unfortunates can be cared for compassionately, ware are childrun can be edumakated two hie standruds, and, hold on, can you give me a few minutes, just need to take my pet unicorn out to do his business….

So anyways, meanwhile back in the real world, you’ll probably be in need of some quality live music to recover from all the shenanigans of the election campaign, and if that’s what you’re looking for you’ve come to the right place.

First up next Saturday, May 16, it’s another blockbuster night at The Factory in Weymouth with a gig from The Freestylers.

“Shut UP. WHAT?” I hear you cry.

“Not the electro-beats drum’n’bass legends Matt Cantor and Aston Harvey with an epic 15-year career behind them, including headline gigs at Glastonbury and other mahoosive festivals across the planet, a global hit in Push Up and who had their tracks featured in the soundtrack to such films as Dude, Where’s My Car and Zoolander?

 

“And will they be playing tracks from their sixth album The Coming Storm as well as loads from their enormous back catalogue?” I hear you asking.

Be still your back-beating hearts and calm your tits, because thanks to the good folks at Rabbit Hole Promotions, the answer is an affirmative ‘Sho’nuff and YO!’ It’s a full band line-up too, with support from the pretty darn cool Cuba Libre and tickets at £10 are available from thefactoryweymouth.co.uk Now then, for those of you of a more sedate persuasion,when you’ve finished buttoning up your cardys cardies and putting your slippers on, you’ll be no doubt mildy thrilled to know Steve Wilson and his band, er, Wilson will be playing their new single Pretty Girl In a Small Town (clearly written about me, so thanks chaps) and a host of other top tunes in their acoustic set at the Old Town Hall in Weymouth next Friday, May 15.

 

Support comes from Stevie Garden and Andy Taylor’s jazz duo Trip and DJ mavericks Future Sound of Weymouth.

Tickets for this rather prestige bash are £5 from wilsontheband.com or £6 on the door.

And finally, if ever a gig was destined to be a comedy sketch it’s the appearance next Wednesday, May 13, by Dorset Wrecks at Weymouth Library

They’ll be performing a selection of sea shanties but I want to know who will be the first person to walk up to them as they start shivering their timbers and hiss: SSSSH!

The evening does include a fish and chip supper and tickets are available from 01305 750777 or the library itself. But just keep it down a bit, ok?

Right, that’s it for this week. I’m off to meet the new boss, same as the old boss.

Till next time…

 

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (8)

TBC (Finns, Weymouth) Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Unpredictables (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Travelling Moon (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Dave Griff’s Chaos Club (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Brian Donnelly (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Brian Harris (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Seabass without the Fellas (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (9)

The Dolmen (Finns, Weymouth) £2 on the door, with proceeds going to the Old Town Hall fund.

The Mighty Fine (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Chase (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Hustle, Seabass and the Fellas (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Dave Taylor (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

The Persuaders (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Left, Right and Centre (Eight Kings, Portland)

Nite Lite (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Brothers Grimm (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Paul Openshaw, Tree Fellahs, No Direction (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

Chloe and Tom (New Star Inn, Portland)

SUNDAY (10)

Danny Adams (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Lo Numbers (Park Hotel, Weymouth) 4pm.

Steve Leach (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm.

Whiskey Jukebox Man (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 9pm.

Gale Force 2 (Royal Exchange, Portland) 2pm.

Jillie and the Love Cats (Three Compasses, Charminster)

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.

Sunday Session (Sydney Arms, Dorchester)

The Curst Sons (Goldies, Dorchester) 4pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

MONDAY (11)

Matt Black, Dave P, Chris Payne (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (12)

Gut and Steel (Boot, Weymouth)

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (The Star, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (13)

Dorset Wrecks (Weymouth Library) An evening of sea shanties

Open Mic with Danx (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (14)

Hannah Robinson (The Stables, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

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 (15)

Rocket Dolls, Light Fire Down, Oceans, If It Bleeds, King Leviathan (Finns, Weymouth)

Wilson, Trip (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

Tripod (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Jack Ratts (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Broadband (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Howling at the Moon (Royal Exchange, Portland) Finn (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Tony England (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)