IT’S a tough job making a go of a pub these days, and I should know, having spent an inordinate amount of time in one or another for as long as I’ve had amnesia.

Endless hours, cleaning, tidying up, serving, ordering, cooking, stocking up and then doing the whole thing again the next day.

It takes a special type of person to make it all work so hats off and three cheers for Jill at the Royal Portland Arms, conveniently situated on Portland, who this week marks her ninth anniversary as she-who-must-be-obeyed at this popular Fortuneswell boozeria and occasional cheese emporium.

Part of her success is down to her booking policy of encouraging new, original music from around the world and this weekend is no exception.

Tonight, Friday, July 17, is the return of Belfast blues behemoth Billy Boy Miskimmon and his Mercy Lounge.

Billy spent 20 years travelling the world playing the harmonica with the Yardbirds and Nine Below Zero before returning to his native Norn Iron to form Mercy Lounge.

Fans of harp-driven raucous blues are in for a treat tonight.

The great music continues on Sunday, July 19, with a visit from New Zealand folkie Tori Reed.

Now then, there are probably several other ways of spending a sunny Sunday afternoon than listening to the delightful tunes of this charming woman, but I can’t think of one right now.

Her unique style of finger-picking and jazz-influenced beats have taken her around the world, so it’s quite a coup for her to rock up at the RPA this Sunday.

 

Her debut album Long Nights, Flightless Birds and Coming Home was released at the end of of 2013 and she has since been has been touring the globe.

As she says on her blog: “My endeavour in life is to meet and experience as many people and cultures that I can to educate myself and to demonstrate to myself that we are all human.”

Good luck with that in the RPA on a Sunday afternoon, dear...

Moving on, Sunday’s the day for the return of Tea on the Quay at the Rendezvous in Weymouth.

There’s a crowd-pleasing line-up of bands and artists starting at midday with Morgan Lily, followed by at 1pm: Matt Black. 2pm: The Mighty Fine. 3pm: Mama Feelgood. 4pm: Southern Sinners. 5pm: Stereoironics. 6.45pm: Fever Dog. 8.30pm: Jack Rats, with Powelly taking the party indoors from 10pm.

Once again, it’s another great opportunity to show what a tip-top town Weymouth is when it comes to live music and great days out.

And finally, all you funkateers and fans of vintage soul and disco could do a lot worse than tune into Air 107.2 FM next Wednesday, July 22, from 8-10pm when I’ll be hosting the Hijacked show again.

I’ll be playing mountains of Motown, stacks of Stax, shedloads of ska and a ‘normous amount of Northern Soul.

Till next time, pop pickers…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (17)

Jolly Boys Outing (Finns, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Offbeat Offensive, Surfin’ Birds (Aura, Weymouth)

Compass, Weymouth Ukeleleans (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Billy Boy Miskimmin’s Mercy Lounge (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Brothers Grimm (Park, Weymouth) Total Madness (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Fluke (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Coyote (Lounge Bar, Weymouth)

The Riffs (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

Groove meister (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Simon Gee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Velvet Doonicans (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (18)

Big Gunz (Finns, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Dolmen (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes, Matt Lock (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Retro (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

New Era (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

George Stevenson (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Finn (Park, Weymouth) Replay (Weymouth town centre) All day, in aid of the Weymouth Lions.

The Katz (Eight Kings, Portland)

Smak Band (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Lugger, Chickerell)

Vitruvians (RBL Club, Portland)

One II One (Bridge Inn, Weymouth)

Paul Gibson (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Jack Ratts (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SUNDAY (19)

Morgan Lily, Matt Black, The Mighty Fine, Mama Feelgood, Southern Sinners, Stereoironics, Fever Dog, Jack Ratts, Powelly (Rendezvous, Weymouth) Midday.

Andy Matthews (Park, Weymouth) 3pm.

The Rat Pack, Mighty Fine, Wyke Ukeleleans (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

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

Tori Reed (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) 4.30pm.

Amy Mayes and The Change (Borough Gardens, Dorchester) 2-4pm.

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

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

Sunday Session (Sydney Arms, Dorchester)

Juke Box Junkies (New Vic, Weymouth) Skint Imperials (Royal Exchange, Portland) 2.30pm.

Ed Bleach (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8pm.

Bitter and Twisted (Durnovaria, Dorchester) 3pm.

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) Gut and Steel (Crown, Bridport) 4pm.

MONDAY (20)

Seabass (New Vic, Weymouth)

Sunset Cafe Stompers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

TUESDAY (21)

Stacey Lou (New Vic, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (22)

Amy Mayes and Andy Grant (The George, Chideock)

Danx Open Mic (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

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

The Leggomen (New Vic, Weymouth)

Jonathan Cotton (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (23)

The Blockheads (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Hedley Kay, Damien Clark (Sunray Folk Club, village hall, Broadmayne)

Ann and Norm (Ferrybridge, Weymouth)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester)

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Lauren Bannon (New Vic, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (24)

Neo-Punk Night (Finns, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters(Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Lewis Craven (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Skatmandu (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Jimmy M (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Bob Mallett (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park, Weymouth) Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Skinful (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Average Wyke Band (Little Ship, Portland)

The Black Rats (Ropemakers, Bridport)