WATCHING Danny Baker’s excellent People’s History of Pop 1966-76 on the ol’ tellybox the other night, and it was striking just how utterly hirsute the early 1970s were.

Huge platform boots, enormous flared strides, shirt collars that could get a jumbo jet airborne, beards the size of Borneo and just so much hair.

It was also an era of high unemployment, presumably mostly barbers and hairdressers.

And it was into this time the band Blind Harvest were born, the result of a merger between two dissolving outfits: Highway from Dorchester and Parachute from Weymouth.

They took the local scene by storm, playing regularly locally and across the south, building up a huge following and covering the rock tracks of the day from such artists as The Who, Spooky Tooth, ELP, Argent, Nazareth and the like.

Not only some really heavy and brilliant classic rock, but also a considerable amount of hair involved too.

But bands, like marriages, evolve and change and after a few years, Blind Harvest split with members going their separate ways.

But, like all good stories, that wasn’t the end of it.

As singer Garry Collins tells me: “We played a few reunion gigs back in 2013 which were very well received. We had more dates planned but because of family issues we had to put it all on hold.

“But we were aware that a lot of our friends couldn’t make the 2013 shows so we’re back with some more,” he adds, and playing with the original Blind Harvest line-up of Tim Pavitt on drums, Steve Slade on bass, Simon Breakspeare on keys and Brian Hansford on guitar.

And the first of these gigs is coming up in a couple of weeks on Saturday, August 13 at Finns in Weymouth.

And that’s followed by Saturday, September 3 at the Golden Lion in Weymouth and again at the Wyke Smugglers on Saturday, November 12 Put them in your diary because it certainly promises to be a series of memorable evenings especially if you like your RAAAAAWK loud and proud as a sneak preview of the band’s set list includes top drawer rockers from the likes of Cream, Bad Company, Mott, Deep Purple and Free.

As Garry says: “The gigs will have a Seventies theme, so you’ll need to dig out your flares and platforms.

"Obviously, as you can see from the pictures we haven’t changed a bit, but if we don’t recognise you straight away, please do come up and say hello.

“And we’d like to dedicate these gigs to our dear friends and fellow musicians who are no longer with us,” he adds, poignantly.

Looking ahead to next weekend, it’s the return of Air 107.2FM’s Party in the Park at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth.

Once again, there’s a great line up of live acts, with Buster Shuffle, Lauren Bannon, Peacock Suit, Southern Sinners, Blazin’ Strings, Leggomen and Biproxy to entertain you.

It’s on from noon to 7pm and it’s absolutely nuffink to get in.

Right, I’m off into town to check out this new DIY shop Harry’s Tiles everyone seems to be getting rather excited about.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (29)

Captain’s Beard (Finns, Weymouth)

Phil Hammond (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

The Katz (The Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Brian Harris (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Blazing Strings (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Cherry Lee Mewis (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

JD Acoustic (Park, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Skinful (George, Dorchester)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Rockin’ Rich (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Pilot Boat, Lyme Regis)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Herself & Himself (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (30)

Coyote (Finns, Weymouth)

Alexander and the Keys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Katz (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Woodchuck (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Alice Olivia (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Lauren Bannon (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Bad Edukation (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Market House, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Rumshack, Weymouth)

Steve Francis (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Steve Williams (RBL Club, Portland)

Mike Walker (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Brass Monkeys (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Jilly Ann (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures (Crown, Bridport)

Peacock Suit (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

The Daddies (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (31)

Stevie M (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm.

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

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

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

Nina Garcia (New Vic, Weymouth)

Farrago (Globe, Weymouth) 4.30pm.

The Veterans (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (George, Portland) 3.30pm.

Roger’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth) 2-4.30pm.

MONDAY (1)

Blazing Strings (New Vic, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (2)

Du Kane (Boot, Weymouth)

Side Door Project (New Vic, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Tony England (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Open Mic (Park, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (3)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Stacie Lou (New Vic, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (4)

The Eskies (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (George, Dorchester) With Elijah Wolf

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

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

Tripod (New Vic, Weymouth)

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

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

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

Leanne (Black Dog, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (5)

Debbie Bond and the Trudat (Electric Palace, Bridport)

The Unpredictables (Finns, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Louise Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Karen (Park, Weymouth)