BRACE yourself ladies, it’s going to be quite a big’un.

There’s not many times I’ve had the opportunity to say that but in the case of the upcoming bank holiday weekend I certainly can.

Yep, there are just so many great live music events over the weekend so let’s start with the monster three-day bash at Maumbury Rings in Dorchester, which hasn’t seen as much all round entertainment since the Romans fed Christians to the lions.

It kicks off tomorrow, Saturday, August 27, with the Anonymous Festival which features up and coming young bands and artists including Kennedy, Fast Decline and The Incas.

And on Sunday, August 28, it’s the return of the Love Parade, with some great acts including Hustle, Southern Sinners, Nina Garcia, the Killer Heels Showgirls and, ta-daaaaa, Jordan Grey off the telly’s The Voice.

Then, after sweeping up the sequins and feather boas, it’s the turn of Grand Reunion, The Sessions, Stompin’ Dave and Till There Was Uke and many more to rock the stage on Monday, August 29.

Heading south over the Ridgeway to Weymouth, it’s the last Quayside Festival of the year at the Rendezvous, and it’s a double bubble with two days of shenanigans on the Sunday and Monday, August 28 and 29.

All your favourites are here again with Matt Black, Peacock Suit, Mighty Fine, Hustle, Leggomen, Triple Threat, Blazing Strings and Skimmity Hitchers on the Sunday and Lauren Bannon, Matt Taylor, Mr Bucket, Total Madness, Amy Mayes and Mad Hatters on the Monday.

And over the Town Bridge,The Boot is hosting another two-day spectacular to use the vernacular, with Loop, Boytits, Du Kane, Milk and Two, The Secrets and Tres Hombres on Saturday, August 27 and George and the Red Rangers, Nathan Jon, Seabass, Gut and Steel, Southern Sinners, Mad Hatters on Sunday, August 28.

Blimey, I think you’ll probably need a bit of a lie down after all that.

Looking ahead, it’s the return of the DA Blues sessions at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester on Saturday, September 3.

They’re getting their autumn season off to a flyer with blues and rockabilly outfit Hucklebuck.

Formed after a few refreshments and sandwiches at a jam night last year, they feature Ian Briggs, a former British harmonica champion (Now there’s a sport they could introduce to the Olympics), hot young fret-worrier Andy Knight and double bass maestro Ian Jennings, a former Big Time Playboy (that’s the band, not his lifestyle) who played with Sir Tom Jones and Jools Holland.

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

Have a great bank holiday weekend, don’t get lost or killed.

Till next time...

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (26)

The Katz (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Tony H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Tony Lowe, Paul Veyla, The Decadettes (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth) Fundraiser for Weymouth A FC and youth football.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

RSJ (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Prairie Dogs (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Drive By Jamming (Market House, Weymouth)

Freak Circus (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Banana High (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (27)

Declan Miller, Pop Club, Kennedy, Ten Zero One plus many more (Anonymous Festival, Maumbury Rings, Dorchester)

Splinter (Finns, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Loop, Boytits, Du Kane, Milk and Two, The Secrets, Tres Hombres (Boot, Weymouth) From 1pm.

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Bare Jams (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Nite Lite (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Sneakers (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Mr North (Park, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (George, Dorchester)

Tom and The Clementines (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Black Water County (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Howling at the Moon (Crown, Bridport)

Six Feet Over (George, Portland)

Beatles For Sale (RBL Club, Portland)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Black Dog, Broadmayne) 3.30-7.30pm.

Hardy and the Monuments (Moreton Hall, Moreton)

Bad Intention (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Bug Tree Swamp (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Vanilla Radio (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

SUNDAY (28)

Matt Black, Peacock Suit, Mighty Fine, Hustle, Leggomen, Triple Threat, Blazing Strings, Skimmity Hitchers (Quayside Music Festival, Rendezvous,Weymouth) From midday

Toby De Kretser, Under The Carousel, Blazing Strings (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

George and the Red Rangers, Nathan Jon, Seabass, Gut and Steel, Southern Sinners, Mad Hatters (Boot, Weymouth) From 1pm.

Tripod (Finns, Weymouth)

Nina Garcia, Hustle, Southern Sinners, Wilma Fingadoo, Tallulah Goodhead, Jordan Gray and many more (Love Parade, Maumbury Rings, Dorchester) From midday.

Martin Maton (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2pm.

Jack Daniels, Blazin Strings (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth)

Tim Somerfield and TKO (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

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.

Trip, Seabass and the Lass (George, Portland) From 3pm.

Stress, Tripod (Blue Vinny, Puddletown)

Drive By Jamming (The Nook, Weymouth) 10pm

JD Acoustic (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 6pm.

MONDAY (29)

Lauren Bannon, Matt Taylor, Mr Bucket, Blazing Strings, Total Madness, Amy Mayes, Mad Hatters (Quayside Music Festival, Rendezvous,Weymouth) From midday

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Grand Reunion, Till There Was Uke, Stompin’ Dave, The Sessions, Rodney Brannigan (Maumbury Rings, Dorchester) From midday.

Replay (Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth) 2pm.

Blazing Strings (New Vic, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Steamer Ducks (Star, Weymouth)

Wilson (Old Ship, Upwey) 2pm.

Rat Pack (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4pm

TUESDAY (30)

Tony H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Open Mic (Park, Weymouth)

John Stone (Boot, Weymouth)

Side Door Project (New Vic, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (31)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Stacie Lou (New Vic, Weymouth)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (1)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth) and later…

Leggomen (Rumshack, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (George, Dorchester)

Open Mic (Drift Bar, Weymouth)

Tripod (New Vic, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (2)

The Shakespearos (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Average Wyke Band (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Night of metal (Finns, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

State of Undress (George, Dorchester)

The Katz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Gloucester, Weymouth)