GIG GUIDE: Barrel rolling, The Brightest Star and it's Me on the Quay in Weymouth

First up, it’s the Barrel Rolling Challenge on the harbourside between the Kings Arms and The Old Rooms tomorrow, Saturday, August 22.

It’s a revival of an aspect of Weymouth Carnival which was hugely popular back in the day and has been masterminded by all-round entertainer and force of nature Sheryl Lee and her hard-working team.

Yes, there’s some barrel rolling which is basically what it says on the tin, but there’s a great line-up of bands of singers to keep the punters happy throughout the day.

Look, they’ve got Matt Black and Chris Payne, Leanne Jackson, Dame Neil Coad, the mighty Speedway Snails, The Unpredictables, the rip, roarin’ ravin’ Riffs with Ms Lee bringing the day to a close inside the KA from 8.30pm.

There’s fancy dress and loads of fun and games, and here’s the important bit, it’s all raising money for two very worthwhile local charities: The Weymouth RNLI station and the Fortuneswell Ward at DCH.

It all kicks off at the ridiculously early time of 10am and is bound to be great day out for all the family.

Moving on, there can be no words to describe the shock and anguish felt at the tragic loss of five-year-old Weymouth girl Alexys Brown last week.

At times like this, it’s heart-breaking but also heart-lifting when people come together to do their bit to help.

A Just Giving page set up by Lazy Lizard supremo Ali Record – a close friend of the Brown family – raised more than £13,000 in a matter of hours thanks to the generosity of the community and, true to form, local musos will be doing what they do best at The Brightest Star event on Sunday, August 23, at the Lazy Lizard and The Nook bars on the seafront.

There’s a stellar line-up (but knowing this lot it’ll be more like a line up of Stellas) including Stereoironics, Southern Sinners, Hustle, Thomas and the Mock-Ups, Amy Mayes, Blazin’ Strings, Under the Carousel, and I’m sure many more will turn up on the day to help raise money for the Brown family so things are taken care of for them.

As well as some terrific live music, there will be a raffle and all sorts of fundraising shenanigans.

And as Gary Record of the Lizard tells me: “All the bands are giving their time and talent for free to help the Brown family.

“It makes me very proud of the town when you see how much support has been given and I just want to thank everyone so much.”

Hear, hear, mate.

The family day starts at midday and runs to 8pm, so just get there, okay?

And, finally, it’s hats off to singer/songwriter and general troubadour Edd Bleach.

Fed up with not getting a slot at the prestigious Quayside Festival coming up next weekend, the orange-suited Edd is hosting his one-man festival, rather cheekily entitled Me on the Quay, outside the Old Rooms on Sunday, August 30 and, at great expense, he’s hired a stylish and attractive beer crate for a stage.

“I’m not having a pop at the Quayside,” Edd tells me. “I just want to show I can pull a crowd and am worth booking.

“The headline act is on at 2.30pm and flags and banners are permitted at this event.”

Well, if you can’t join ‘em, beat ‘em! Good luck to you, sir.

Have a great weekend everyone and keep your gigs coming into me at gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk Till next time…

TONIGHT (21)

Punk On Your Hits, Eat The Rich, C Sharp Blues (Jurassic Rocks, Grove, Portland)

Punk On Your Hits, Edd Bleach, Light Fire Down(Finn's, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Piddle Inn, Piddletrenthide)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Alexis (Weymouth Working Men's Club, Weymouth)

Elvis 56 (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Wilson (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Lo Numbers (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Simon Gee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Peter James Milton (Tom Brown's, Dorchester)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (22)

Zoe Schwarz, Black Water Country, The Skones, Jack Rats, Rat Race, Jilly Ann, Light Fire Down, BiProxy and many more (Jurassic Rocks, Grove, Portland)

Matt Black, Danx Kennard, Matt Lock, Leanne Jackson, Speedway Snails, The Riffs, The Unpredictables, Sheryl Lee and many more (King's Arms, Old Rooms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth). It’s the barrel-rolling challenge.

The Vultures (Finn's, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Beat Cats (Wyke Regis Working Men's Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

The Katz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Charlie (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Market House, Weymouth)

Nick Sellars (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Mark Stacey (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

DuKane (White Hart, Weymouth)

Transitions (Victoria, Dorchester)

The Riffs (Ship Inn, Wool)

The Silhouettes (RBL, Wool)

Highly Likely (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Jonathan Cotton (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tom Toomey (Tom Brown's, Dorchester)

George (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (RBL, Portland)

Gut and Steel (Eight Kings, Portland)

Ukebox (HiVe Cafe, Park Street, Weymouth) 2-5pm

SUNDAY (23)

Power Thief, Chill, The Redcrow, The Leylines and many more (Jurassic Rocks, Grove, Portland)

Southern Sinners, Stereoironics, Lo Numbers, Amy Mayes, Hustle, Under The Carousel, Blazing Strings, Thomas and the Mock-Ups, Leggomen and many more (Lazy Lizard and The Nook, Weymouth) All-day fundraiser for The Brightest Star

Martin Maton (Weymouth Working Men's Club, Weymouth)

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

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

The Rat Pack (New Vic, Weymouth) 1pm.

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)

Juke Box Junkies (New Vic, Weymouth)

Jack Daniels (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Big Al’s Open Mic Night (Walled Garden, Moreton) 8pm

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

Remix (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth) 2.30-4.30pm.

Tripod (Three Compasses, Charminster)

MONDAY (24)

Powelly, Surfin’ Birds (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

Seabass (New Vic, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (25)

Open Mic (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Allen Howard (Weymouth Working Men's Club, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (New Vic, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (26)

Danx’s Open Mic Night (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Seabass (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailor's Return, St Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

The Leggomen (New Vic, Weymouth)

Paul Gibson (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (27)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (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.

Lauren Bannon (New Vic, Weymouth)

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailor's Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth). Strum on down From 8pm.

FRIDAY (28)

The Mighty Fine (Finns, Weymouth)

Paul Gibson (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Remix (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Converse (Weymouth Working Men's Club, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Weld Arms, Lulworth)

TBA (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Replay (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Royal Exchange, Portland)