SOME things are just so mahoosive, you just can’t go and do them straight away.

Fr’instance, you wouldn’t attempt to run a marathon without having a jog round the park, or front room, in my case.

And so it is in the wunnerful whirled of rocknroll.

The Teddy Rocks festival at Blandford has been growing and growing over time and this year’s spectacle takes place over FOUR days from Friday April 20 to Monday May 2.

It really is a quite incredible achievement by Tom Newton and his team to have landed some big names, including Hoosiers, Don Broco, Gentlemen’s Dub Club and The King Blues, for this festival which raises money for Teddy20, a charity which helps children with cancer.

But if the end of April sounds a long way off for you mosh-heads, there’s a chance to sample some of the sounds and indeed atmosphere next Saturday, March 12, when the Teddy Rocks Warm-Up show hits Finns in Weymouth.

There’s a great line-up, as you might imagine, with chaotic hardcore foursome Artemis, who are named after the Greek god of gut-wrenching guitars and dirty bass lines, as any fule nose.

And they’re from Basingstoke, so there.

Also up are Weymouth’s very own rising starlets Summer Drive Home, and they’ll be joined by Southampton punks Nine Miles North of Nowhere, which funnily enough is quite near where I live.

It’s just a mere four squid on the door, with all money going to Teddy20. Good work, fellahs!

Now then, staying in next weekend, boogie woogie blues ivory tickler Dale Storr is coming back to Dorchester next Saturday, March 12, for the next DA Blues session at the Corn Exchange.

Sheffield-based Dale is steeped in the soul and sound of New Orleans blues and jazz, and his last appearance down this way a couple of years ago was a sell-out.

Dale’s repertoire is seemingly endless, as was discovered on his first visit to Dorchester.

Expect piano pyrotechnics by the bucket load, with a voice that oozes blues and more.

Tickets are £13 from the box office on 01305 266926. Or see the website dorchesterarts.org.uk/dablues/ to book tickets.

And finally, can I get a woop-woop to welcome back the drumming legend that is Dougie Cooper.

The titan of the traps has been a bit poorly lately but he’s back in the engine room and holding it down with his jazz night next Tuesday, March 8 at The Star in Weymouth. Not bad for a geezer of 87, eh?

He’ll be joined by another local jazz giant in sax ace Dave Bowen so it’s a must for all fans of swing and be-bop, I’d say. Show starts at 8pm.

Ok, that’s it for this week.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (4)

Blackwater County (Finns, Weymouth)

Shakespearos (Park, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Operation Mad Hatters (George, Dorchester)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Retro (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Theo Bard (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Katz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Lo Numbers (Market House, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Pilot Boat, Lyme Regis)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Eight Kings, Portland)

Martin Freed (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Total Madness (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

TOMORROW (5)

Cuba Libre, King Solomon, Popes of Chillitown (Actors Main Stage, The Factory, Weymouth)

Hot Pockets (Finns, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Slipstream (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Operation Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth) 4pm

The Remedy (Park Weymouth) 9pm

Stevie M (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

The Persuaders (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (New Star Inn, Portland)

Steve Francis (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

C Sharp Blues (George, Portland)

Million Dollar Bash (Star, Weymouth)

Loose Connections (Coach and Horses, Winterbourne Abbas)

Skinful (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Johnny King as Elvis (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Michael Jackson tribute show (RBL Club, Portland) £8 admission.

Justin Daish (Clifton, Portland)

BJ MCabe (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

The Relics (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Total Madness (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Seabass and The Lass (Aura, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (6)

Duke and the Broad (Star, Weymouth) 5pm.

Tommy Crawford (Park, Weymouth) 4pm Ann and Norman (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 3pm.

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

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Music from 8pm.

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

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

SeaBass and the Lass (George, Portland) 3pm.

Plinky Plonky Music Session (Dolphin, Weymouth) 4pm.

Lo Numbers (Three Compasses, Charminster)

MONDAY (7)

Songwriters night with George Hall (Boho, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (8)

Dougie Cooper’s Big Comeback (Star, Weymouth)

Singalong with Nigel (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (9)

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

Georgie Broad (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.

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

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

THURSDAY (10)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Steve’s Singalong (King’s Arms Weymouth)

Open Mic (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth) With Aaron Carter

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth) Music, poetry, comedy, whatever Hosted by DuKane.

FRI MAR 11

Southern Sinners (Finns, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (George, Dorchester)

Loose Connections (Waterloo, Weymouth)

Charlie (Park, Weymouth)

Ashley Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)