IT’S ALWAYS heart-warming to welcome musical guests from around the world to our little corner of the planet.

For example, recently we’ve had Hawaiian guitar whiz Colin John doing a few dates, and Canadian singer-songwriter Stephen fearing making a brief visit.

And the international theme continues next weekend with a one-off gig by Canadian chanteuse Camille Miller, who is currently on a short UK tour and pops in to the compact and bijou Royal Portland Arms on Portland next Sunday, March 5.

Camille released her seventh studio album Fight or Flight towards the end of last year and will no doubt feature tracks from it when she plays in landlady Jill’s front room in Fortuneswell.

The album was recorded in Brazil with Soa Paulo guitarist Caetano Malta and consequently has a very much Latin feel, which mixed with her Brit-Pop influenced songs, has been hailed as Braz-Pop by some listeners.

Others have compared her songs as the missing link between Hunky Dory-period Bowie and Blur, which is some comparison, I think you’ll agree.

Anyway, pop along next Sunday to hear for yourself.

Moving on, and we’ll be having a Brit ward winner entertaining us next month with Beverley Craven playing at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester on Saturday, March 11.

She’ll be forming all her classic hits, including Promise Me, Woman to Woman and Holding On plus material from her new album which was written after her recent recovery from breast cancer.

Tickets at £22.50 are available from the box office on 01305 266926.

Now then, singers such as Tom Waits, Rod Stewart and Bonnie Tyler always sounded like they need a good ol’ cough before they start singing and the same could be same for terrific blues-soul minx Elles Bailey.

She may sound as though she’s just had a bowl of gravel for her breakfast on top of a 60-a-day Capstan Full Strength habit, but it’s actually down to an illness she suffered as a child.

The Bristol-based growler has been touring constantly and has around 30 dates booked up ahead of her debut album release in April. Great things are expected of her so catch her and her red-hot band live at the Bridport Arts Centre next Friday, March 3, where it’s free admission for punters who bring along a bottle of Cavonia.

Tickets are £10 from the box office on 01308 424204 and I may have been a little post-truth with the Cavonia, okay?

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (24)
Vanilla Radio (Finns, Weymouth)
Rockin’ Richie (Belvedere, Weymouth)
Roy Charles (Weymouth Working Mens Club)
Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)
Broadband (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)
Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Lo Numbers (Gloucester, Weymouth)
Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)
Dana Immanuel and the Stolen Trio (Ropemakers, Bridport) Pictured above.
Dr Robert (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)
Zoe Schwarz Jazz trio (YCs, Brewery Square, Dorchester)
Skint Imperials (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)
Identikit (Rock, Weymouth)
Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)
Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)
SATURDAY (25)
Howling at the Moon (Finns, Weymouth)
The Shakespearos (Sailors Return, Weymouth)
Steve Allan (Conservative Club, Weymouth)
Under the Carousel (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)
Sticky Jam Band (Weymouth Working Mens Club)
Selective Hearing (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)
Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Dana Immanuel and the Stolen Trio (Belvedere, Weymouth)
The Crack (Gloucester, Weymouth)
Haze (Kimberlin Club, Portland)
Surfing Birds (Rock, Weymouth)
The Silhouettes (Centenary Club, Weymouth)
Total Madness (Black Dog, Weymouth) 3-5pm.
Andy Grant Trio (Tom Browns, Dorchester)
Steve Nicholas (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)
Mama Feelgood (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)
Johnny King (Victoria, Dorchester)
Stacey Lou (Market House, Weymouth)
Quinn’s Quinny (Ropemakers, Bridport)
Tripod (Knapp Inn, Beaminster)
Jolly Boys Outing (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)
SUNDAY (26)
Mr North (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.
Foo Foo (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)
Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2-5pm
Roger’s SIngalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)
Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) From 3pm.
Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 7pm.
Du Kane (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-6pm.
Identikit (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 5-7pm
Andy Grant and Simon Rushbrook (Crown, Bridport) 4pm.
JD Acoustic (Closet, Weymouth) 11pm.
MONDAY (27)
Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)
TUESDAY (28)
JD Acoustic (Boot, Weymouth
Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
WEDNESDAY (1)
Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)
Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)
Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)
Jam Night (Belvedere, Weymouth) All backine provided.
Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)
THURSDAY (2)
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)
Jo and Jim’s Room Temperature Freak Out (Belvedere, Weymouth)
FRIDAY (3)
Elles Bailey (Bridport Arts Centre)
Lo Numbers (Finns, Weymouth)
The Shakespearos (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)
Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)
Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth)
Kipper (Belvedere, Weymouth)
Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
The Remedy (Park, Weymouth)