WHEN you’re hot, you’re hot, and at the moment you could probably fry an egg on Ben Waters.

Upwey’s foremost exponent of boogie woogie piano and good time whoop-ass rock’n’roll is currently tearing up the hit parade, as we oldsters still like to call it, with the tune Last Man Alive, a song he penned with bassist Richard Hymas and recorded by the legendary Shakin’ Stevens a few years back.

It’s on the Radio 2 playlist this week again and jolly good it is too.

Ben is gigging in Finland this weekend and has spent most of this year playing around the world, including dates in Germany with Jools Holland and Kiki Dee, and tours Down Under.

He’s got prestige gigs at the Cork Jazz Festival and London’s Cadogan Hall coming up, plus more international dates next year.

His travel company Rock’n’Roll Holidays organises trips around the globe including recent beanos to Uruguay and Argentina to see some old friends who still like to sing a few songs and do a bit of a turn now and then.

That’ll be the Rolling Stones.

You may have heard of them.

And somehow, he’s also found time to set up a music management company Waters Handles Music (see what he did there?) and one of his first signings is local chanteuse Amy Mayes.

But with all this galavanting and boogie-woogie-ing around the planet, it seems like ages since Ben played round this part of the world.

Fear not, funsters, as he’s tearing the roof off Evershot village hall next Saturday, October 1.

As his mum and part-time minder and sorter-outer Ann tells me: “Ben first played there when he was 16 at a gig organised by his auntie (and Polly PJ’s mum) Eva Harvey and he’s always loved it there.

“It’s got such a fabulous atmosphere and all the bands love gigging there.”

And Ben’s gigs are like buses. You wait for ages for one, then three come along at once.

He’s hosting a night at Upwey village hall on Saturday, October 8 with special guests Cousin Leonard, a duo he met while out in Australia.

And the following day, Sunday October 9, he’s playing at his own pub The Stumble Inn at his gaff in Owermoigne.

Tickets for the Evershot gig are £10 on the door or from 01305 854252 (Get in quick, as they are flying out the door faster than a chav on a stolen moped) and for details for the gigs the following weekend, contact enquiries@benwaters.com

Moving on and continuing our short tour of Dorset village halls, and it’s the turn of dynamic duo of Ken Watkins and Simon Swarbrick to light up the stage at Briantspuddle village hall tomorrow night, Saturday September 24.

Troubadour Ken first toured with Noah back in the pre-flood days and is a master of folk, blues and jazz.

His acclaimed versions of such material from Richard Thompson, James Taylor and the like has been known to stop shoppers in their tracks when he’s out busking outside Markys in St Mary Street, Weymouth.

Fiddler maestro Simon, the nephew of the late Dave Swarbrick out of Fairport Convention, is also an utter ace on mandolin, acoustic, electric and bass guitar.

Bringing some much needed glamour and sweet harmonies to the proceedings is the lovely and fragrant Lucy Watkins and, blend in some witty banter and repartee from Ken and Simon, and you have the recipe for a relaxed and enjoyable evening.

Seats must be reserved by calling 01305 837299 and tickets cost, well, actually they don’t.

The deal with Ken and Simon’s gigs is you pay what you think the evening was worth when you leave.

And finally, can I get a big hand and a woop, woop, woop for those charming people at The Boot boozeria in Weymouth who are hosting a Macmillan coffee morning tomorrow, Saturday, September 24.

Well, it’s not exactly in the morning and although they do serve coffee, the pledge of 10% of every pint sold going to the charity will be a big attraction.

They’ve also got some terrific live music lined up with JD Acoustic duo at 2.30pm and later on, the force of nature that is Danny Adams from 9pm.

Good cause, good beer, great music, and the very strong possibility of some cake. What’s not to like? Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (23)

Oakhaart, Anakim, Accursed Years, iconsburn, Skoll (Finns, Weymouth)

The Hot Sprockets (The Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Billy Boy Miskimmin and Mercy Lounge (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Average Wyke Band (Star, Weymouth)

The Crack (George, Dorchester)

Ashley Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Nina Garcia (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Paper Trains (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (24)

Watkins and Swarbrick Band (Briantspuddle village hall)

Big Gunz (Finns, Weymouth)

Lewis Clark and The Essentials (The Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

The Dolmen (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

The Crack (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Katz (RBL Club, Portland)

Hustle (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Neil Nelson (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Haywire (Wyke Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

JD Acoustic (The Boot, Weymouth) From 2-5pm and later…

Danny Adams (The Boot, Weymouth)

Brass Monkeys (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Pronghorn (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Hot Bacon (Market House, Weymouth)

Splinter (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

George Hall and Laura Carr (Belvedere, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (25)

Liam Howard (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

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

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

Farrago (Globe, Weymouth) 4.30pm.

Roger’s singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth) Gut and Steel (Crown, Bridport) 4pm.

MONDAY (26)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (27)

Open Mic (Park, Weymouth)

Du Kane (The Boot, Weymouth) Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (28)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (29)

Shooter (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (George, Dorchester)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (30)

Southern Sinners (Finns, Weymouth)

Broadband (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Sammie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Kathy (Park, Weymouth)

Danny Adams and Stacey Lou (Market House, Weymouth)