MY MATE Nobby thinks he’s a window sill: He’s a total ledge. Former Labour leader Michael Foot? He was a leg end.

Drummer Sam Kelly? Now, he’s a proper legend.

He’s been voted into the Blues in Britain Gallery of the Greats, five times winner of the UK Drummer of the Year (my nomination must be lost in the Christmas post, clearly) and has been putting the funk in your collective faces for nearly half a century since holding down the grove in his first band Cymande.

It might be easier to list the names Sam HASN’T worked with but if you’ve got Robert Plant, Michelle Shocked, Dr John, Chaka Khan, Billy Ocean, Eddie Floyd and so many more on your CV, you must be the real deal.

 

Sam seems to be permanently on the road and he’s bringing his crack blues/funk/soul/roots Station House band to the shire tomorrow, Saturday December 12, for the final DA Blues session of the year at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester.

Tickets are £13 from the box office on 01305 266926.

Moving on, last Sunday’s Till There Was Us fundraising bash at Ayya in Weymouth in aid of the British Red Cross was an absolute stonker.

They’re still counting all the donations, and no doubt still collecting all the empty shot glasses, but organisers Stacey Rae Hobday and Lucy Broddle tell me they have so far netted more than £1,300 for the BRC’s Cross European Refugee Appeal.

“We’re still recovering from such an amazing day,” Stacey tells me.

“We’d just like to say a huge thank you to all those who played and all those who showed up.

“The support was really quite overwhelming and there’s still time to donate of you haven’t ready.

“Just go to our www.tilltherewasuke.co.uk page and you can do your bit there,” she adds. Top work, ladies.

And finally, the more observant of you may have noticed that Christmas is on its jingle jangle jolly way and this year the big day falls on December 25, for a change.

That’s a Friday and your Echo won’t be publishing that day so that means next Friday, December 18 there will be a bumper blockbuster double-bubble lubbly jubbly Christmas and New Year gig guide, packed with all your going out OUT for live music needs.

So if you want your gig included send all the shizzle to me at gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk by Thursday, December 17, okay? No need to wrap it up. Till next time…

TONIGHT (11)

Shooter (Finns, Weymouth)

Cuba Libre, Napkings, Under The Carousel, Victor Vector (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (George, Dorchester)

Chris Payn (Drift, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Paul Williams (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Slipstream (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Tom Twomey (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

The Tatsmiths (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Crack (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Pete Robson (Harbour Lights, Portland Marina)

Hardy and the Monuments (Owemoigne village hall)

Andy Grant (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (12)

Sam Kelly’s Station House (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Big Gunz (Finns, Weymouth)

The Crack (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

The Usual Suspects (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Bard Stards (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Jilly Ann (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dr Stomp and Professor Oz (Evershot village Hall)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) 12-2.30pm.

Johnny Mac (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Sway (Bridge Inn, Weymouth)

C Sharp Acoustic (George, Portland)

Simon Gee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

The Transitions (Victoria, Dorchester)

Mark Stacey (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Elvis 56 (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Mother Ukers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SUNDAY (13)

Freezer (Park, Weymouth) 4pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm.

Georgie Broad (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

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

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 4pm.

Danny Adams (Boho, Weymouth) 7pm.

Blazing Strings (Ayya, Weymouth) 10pm.

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland) 4pm.

The Skones (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Royal Oak, Drimpton) 2.30pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm.

MONDAY (14)

Songwriters night with George Hall (Boho, Weymouth)

Powelly, Chase Me (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (15)

Open Mic (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Jazz Guitar Nights (Boho, Weymouth)

Open Mic with Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (16)

Jam Night (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth) Hosted by Blazing Strings

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

An Evening with… (Boho, Weymouth) Originals night.

THURSDAY (17)

Sunray Folk Club (Broadmayne village hall) A Christmas special.

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (18)

TBC (Finns, Weymouth)

Upton, McIntosh and Wilson (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

Morgan Lily, Powelly, Leggomen, Peacock Suit (Rendezvous, Weymouth) From 2pm.

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) and later…

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Retro (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (George, Dorchester)

The Mighty Fine (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Tom Clements (Harbour Lights, Portland Marina)

Total Madness (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Skimmity Hitchers (Ropemakers, Bridport)