GIG GUIDE: Getting ready for Teddy Rocks 2017 at Blandford

It’s certainly the case with Teddy Rocks, the three-day monster festival which takes place next weekend, April 28-30, just up the road at Blandford.

What started as a gig in the restaurant of the Greyhound pub back in 2011, raising £400, has over the past six years, grown into a huge event which last year raised an amazing £42,000 for children’s cancer charity Teddy 20.

The charity was formed by the remarkable Tom Newton after the death of his 10-tear-old brother Ted from the rare cancer strain Ewing’s Sarcoma.

Since then the festival has grown and grown: Raising £2,500 in 2012, £6,500 in 2013, £15,000 in 2014, and £24,000 in 2015.

As Tom himself says: “It’s amazing what we managed to achieve in just a few years. And it’s all thanks to our generous and loyal supporters. Thanks to them we’ve made a huge difference to hundreds of children’s lives. Because of their support, we’re able to keep fighting children’s cancer.”

This year, Teddy Rocks is moving to an even more mahoosiver site at Charisworth Farm near Blandford to accommodate parking and camping over the three days with four stages.

And, blimey, what a line up they have for you this year.

Starting next Friday, April 28, Twin Atlantic, The Excerts, WSTER and many more will be on the Ted Newton Stage, Weymouth’s Summer Drive Home and As Flames Rise will be joining Tigresss, Autumn Ruin and shedloads more on the Vocalzone stage, tribute bands Oas-is and Blurd will be just two of scores on the Origin stage while Matt Black and Edd Bleach are just two of the stacks of performers in the Badger Sett.

The menu on Saturday, April 29, includes Modestep, The Bottom Line, The One Hundred, Weatherstate on the main stage, Our Hollow Our Home, Griever and Wars on the Vocalize stage, Foo Forgers, Jack Grace and Feverdog at the Origin, and Tom Clements and The Quiet Donkeys among others in the Badger Sett.

Scouting For Girls are the headliners on Sunday, April 30, with Vant, Fort Hope, The Bowie Experience, Punk On Your Hits, The Wonkey Donkeys (What? More donkeys??), and The Decatonics all doing a turn on one stage or another.

More than impressive, eh?

There’s a huge range of ticket options (Camping, one-day, two day, weekend etc) for adults, children, families and, presumably, donkeys etc so check out teddyrocks.co.uk for all your shizzle, ok?

Moving on, and it’s National Record Store day tomorrow, Saturday, April 22, with record shops across the country a’woopin’ and a’hollerin’ as one with the revival of vinyl as a THE way to enjoy your fave choons.

One such shop is the compact and bijou Revolution in Trinity Road on Weymouth’s harbourside who will hosting the Teddy Rocks-bound singer-songwriter Jack Grace for a live session tomorrow from 2pm.

Bournemouth’s Jack has been causing a bit of a hoo-haa recently with his Nick Drake and Jeff Buckley inspired material so he’s well worth checking out, along with a slice of coffee and a cup of cake.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (21)

Stereoironics (Finns, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Park, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Restless (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dirtbox (The Rock, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Rich Baxter (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Gut and Steel (Anchor, Burton Bradstock)

The Rat Pack (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Retro (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Brass Monkeys (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (22)

Absolute Bowie (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room)

Regulation 9 (Finns, Weymouth)

Hustle (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Rob Ryan (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Park, Weymouth)

Fuzzettes (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Tracks Band (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Chill (The Rock, Weymouth)

The Decatonics (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Sean Clothier (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Ocean Drive (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Freezer (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Jack Grace (Revolution, Trinity Road, Weymouth) 2pm, as part of National Record Store Day.

Steve Nicholas (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Mojo (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Rat Pack (The Ship, Weymouth) 8pm.

SUNDAY (23)

Katrina Blisset and Aaron Carter (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Finn (Boot, Weymouth) 5.30pm.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Kathy (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester) 4pm.

Dorset Wrecks (Rock, Weymouth) 3pm.

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

Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 7pm.

Gut and Steel (Britannia, Portland) 4pm.

Smooth Sounds (Market House, Bridport) 6pm

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth) 3.30-630pm.

The Rat Pack (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 7pm.

JD Acoustic (Crown, Bridport) 4-6pm

MONDAY (24)

Gurt, Brume, Fissure of Riddles, TensionHead (Finns, Weymouth)

Acoustic Jammin’ (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (25)

Milk and Two (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (26)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (27)

Joe and James’s Room Temperature Freak Out (Belvedere, Weymouth)

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) 8pm.

FRIDAY (28)

Teddy Rocks 2017 (Charisworth Farm, Blandford)

Captain’s Beard (Finns, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)

Moonshine HIllbillies (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (King Arms, Weymouth)

Broadband (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Dakota (Rock, Weymouth)