GIG GUIDE: Fairport Convention, Creeper, Stereoironics in south Dorset gigs

The story of Fairport Convention would make a fantastic film but the trouble is, no one would believe it, such is the high level of drama, tragedy, success and failure.

Since forming back in the black and white days of 1967, they have had more line-up changes, farewell tours and comeback tours than any band ever but are still turning out great folk-rock and have a huge following amongst real ale-quaffing beardies, male and female, across the globe.

The band have won the prestigious BBC Lifetime Achievement Award (also known as the Not Quite Dead Yet prize), the album Liege and Lief was voted the most influential folk album of all time by the renowned Arran Sweater Wearer magazine and the BBC4 documentary of the band’s story is almost Shakespearean, such is the breadth of human triumphs and disasters involved.

(I may have made up the Arran Sweaters magazine bit.)

This week’s line-up of Simon Nicoll on guitar and vocals, Dave Pegg on bass, Chris Leslie on fiddle, mandolin and vocals, Ric Sanders on violin and Gerry Conway on drums are currently touring their 2015 album Myths and Heroes and the show rolls into West Dorset next Friday.

They’re at the Electric Palace in Bridport next Friday, February 26 and tickets at £22 are available from the box office on 01305 428354.

Moving on, and it’s a lubbly-jubbly double-bubble tonight, Friday, February 19, with two of South Dorset’s most popular bands joining forces for what promises to be a rather hot and sweaty evening.

The Stereoironics, the country’s favourite tribute band to, er, I’ll have to get back to you on that one, and local institution Shooter are uniting at the Spice Ship in Preston, Weymouth, for a party in honour of the pub’s hard-working and loyal staff, past and present.

It’s bound to be quite an occasion, so get there early, ok?

And tomorrow night, Saturday, February 20, it’s the turn of punk-metal-horror Southampton six-piece Creeper to shake the foundations of Finns in Weymouth.

The band release their latest EP The Stranger today and they’re off round the country and Europe promoting it, starting in Weymouth tomorrow.

They’ve been busy boys and girl lately, supporting the likes of Funeral For A Friend, Moose Blood and The Misfits and they’ll be supported tomorrow night at Finns by Aberdeen’s hardcore nut-jobs Grader.

Tickets are £7 but hurry up as there are only a few left.

Right, that’s it for this week. Don’t stay in and watch the flipping telly, you can watch Ant and flipping Dec and Match of the flipping Day in the flipping morning, so get out this weekend, support your local pub and support your local musicians. You KNOW it makes sense.

TONIGHT (19)

Stereoironics, Shooter (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Suckerpunch (Finns, Weymouth)

Seabass and the Lass (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Remix (Park, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (George, Dorchester)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Kathy Boorman (Drift, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Mighty Fine (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Diamond Dogz (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Rocking Robin (King's Arms, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (20)

Creeper, Grazer plus support (Finns, Weymouth)

Hot Bacon (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Chubby Faced Angels (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

CJ (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Skatmandu (Park, Weymouth)

Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (George, Dorchester)

Amy Mayes and The Change (New Star Inn, Portland)

Andy Grant Trio (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Highly Likely (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Milk and Two (Market House, Weymouth)

Tommy Crawford (Tides Inn, Weymouth)

The Dolmen (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Slipstream (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Bemis (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Finnian McGurk (King's Arms, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (21)

Leanne’s Lady GaGa Tribute (Park, Weymouth) 4pm.

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

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) 8pm.

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

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

Gut and Steel (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 3pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm.

Duke and The Broad (Star, Weymouth) 5pm

MONDAY (22)

Songwriters night with George Hall (Boho, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY(23)

Open Mic (Park, Weymouth)

Singalong with Nigel (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (24)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dave P’s Open Mic Night (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (25)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, Dorchester)

Steve’s Singalong (King’s Arms Weymouth)

Open Mic (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (26)

Fairport Convention (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Fissure of Riddles, Codex, Alimenatrius, Kill All The Gentlemen (Finns, Weymouth)

Darren H (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Finn (Park, Weymouth)

Phil Denton (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jim Hammond Duo (George, Dorchester)

Martin Freed (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Sway (Weymouth Pavilion)