WHEN Forrest Gump opined: “Life is like a box of chocolates,” he was clearly thinking about the wide variety of tempting treats on offer in the giant metaphorical tin of Quality Street, Celebrations and Heroes that is live music round these parts.

And that there are quite a few that have nuts involved.

First up, for example how about the hard exterior and soft centre of Bare Knuckle Parade, who will be unwrapping their chewy delights at The Boat That Rocks at Portland Marina tomorrow night, Saturday, May 14.

If you’re a fan of sweat drenched and beer soaked pandemonium, (and there’s no reason to think otherwise, is there?) and you enjoy drinking songs until you feel like your jaw is broken, then this unruly five-piece are the chocolate toffee finger of your dreams, madam.

Formed in a pub after a hard day’s busking on the tough, mean streets of, er, Bath, the quintet of Jamie Beale, Tom Cory, Callum Moloney, Ben Lythe and Huey Smith deliver their brand of hairy indie folk rock with wild abandon and no safety net.

Support tomorrow night comes from the lovely and fragrant Amy Mayes and her fab band of strawberry delights.

However, if you prefer your hazelnut surprise with exploding metal nuts and bolts in, point your musical satnav in the direction of Finns in Weymouth tomorrow night, Saturday May 14.

There’s another night of metal mayhem brought to you by Uprising Promotions, with South Wales’s grindcore enthusiasts Breathe the Silence headlining.

Support comes from fellow taff moshers Dream State and two rising bands from round these parts, End of Daze and Accursed Years.

Tickets are a mere £3 or £4 on the night and doors open at 7.30pm.

Moving on and heading north, it’s another DA Blues session at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester tomorrow night, Saturday May 14 and this time is the raw blues power of Rebecca Downes and her red-hot band.

Very much the real deal, Rebecca has been feted by R2’s Paul Jones and Vive le Rock and Blues magazines so expect an evening of top drawer funk, rock, soul and jazz. Tickets are £13 from the box office on 01305 266926.

Look at that: Three fantastic gigs tomorrow night in Weymouth, Dorchester and Portland. Or you could just stay in and moan about pubs closing and watch the Eurovision Song Contest instead. Get out there, support your local live music, okay?

And finally, let’s have a big woop. woop, woop for The Leggomen. After what seems like years of countless gigs, their hard work is beginning to pay off with a headline date at the prestigious Islington 02 in that London on Friday, May 27.

Tickets for the gig are £9 from ticketweb.co.uk and Olly Coe from the band tells me that if there is sufficient local interest, they’re hoping to organise a bus up from Weymouth to the big city for what promises to be a memorable night If you’re up for it, and you jolly well should be, contact the band via their Facebook page sharpish.

n I’m away next week on a yodelling course but keep sending your dates in to gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk where a crack team of circus midgets will put them together for next week’s gig guide. Till next time…

TONIGHT (13)

Bookends; Simon and Garfunkel tribute (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Lo Numbers (Finns, Weymouth)

Under the Carousel, Blazing Strings (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Katz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Morgan Lily (Park, Weymouth)

Emma Jane (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Paul Gibson (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Black Orchid (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Lewis and the Sound of the Suburbs (Bull’s Head, Fordington, Dorchester)

Shelby’s Elbows (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (14)

Rebecca Downes Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Breathe In The Silence, End of Daze, Accursed Years, Dream State (Finns, Weymouth)

Bare Knuckle Parade, Amy Mayes Band (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Hustle (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

The Crack (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park, Weymouth)

Million Dollar Bash (The Star, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Phoenix (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Dale Fender Band (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Splinter (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Howling at the Moon (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Seabass (New Star Inn, Portland)

Gut and Steel (Old Ship, Upwey, Weymouth)

The Small Victories (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Andy Matt (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Tides Inn, Weymouth)

Restless (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) Noon-2pm.

Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SUNDAY (15)

Drive By Jamming (Black Dog, Weymouth)3-6pm

AlterEgo (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)1pm.

The Secrets (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) 4pm

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

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

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

Gut and Steel (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 5pm.

JD Duo (The Closet, Weymouth)

MONDAY (16)

Songwriters night (Boho, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (17)

Singalong with Nigel (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (18)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

THURSDAY (19)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Open Mic (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

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

FRIDAY (20)

The Mighty Fine (Finns, Weymouth)

Live Wired (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Finn (Park, Weymouth)

Paul Williams (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Broadband (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)