IN the ever-evolving world of music, there are always new styles and genres emerging.

Some are original, such as house, garage, grunge, thrash, handbag, shoegazer, some are just a random words: Spanner, bookcase, parrot.

And some are a combination of two genres, handbag house, speed garage, death grunge, shoegazer spanner, etc. And some I’ve just completely invented. Right now...

One of the foremost exponents and arguably a pioneer of the hybrid genre known as folk’n’roll is Phil Beer, the Show of Hands mainstay who brings his treasure trove of traditional tunes and Americana country rock to Dorchester’s Corn Exchange next Thursday, May 25.

Phil’s band have been evolving since the 1990s, in between his Show of Hands commitments, and is now a fully paid-up folk’n’roll outfit with country overtones.

It’s also a damn good excuse for Phil to pick up an electric guitar and have a blast with some mates, which is no bad thing.

Although a splendid time is guaranteed for all next Thursday, the current tour, supporting the band’s new studio album, is dedicated to Nick Quarmby, a former band member who sadly lost his battle with cancer at the end of 2016. Tickets for the Corn Ex show are £20 from the box office on 013065 266926.

Moving on, and I was enjoying Songs of Praise last weekend (Don’t laugh, I watch it religiously every Sunday. Wearing a big hat.) I felt it was about time someone wrote some new hymns, particularly featuring feisty women, shipwrecks, lusty goings on behind closed doors and dastardly murders.

Which is more than a little serendipitous as fragrant folk lovely Amy Hopwood has just released her debut album, featuring many of the themes I previously mentioned.

“There are ten folk songs and two of my own compositions,” Amy tells me. “There are songs about lusty shepherd boys (Jason and Kylie’s Especially For Ewe, surely?), female pirates, songs from the sea, oh and a couple of nasty murders too,” she adds.

Amy is launching her album with a special showcase gig at the salubrious Royal Portland Arms boozeria, conveniently situated on Portland, on Sunday, May 28, from 4.30pm.

It’s been a busy time for Amy, as she is also involved in organising the Wessex Folk Festival which comes to Weymouth over the first weekend in June, and they’ll be more about that marvellous event nearer the time.

And finally, two of the region’s most popular vintage rock’n’roll bands are joining forces tomorrow night, Saturday, May 20, for what promises to be a memorable occasion.

Billed as ‘Saturday Nights Like They Used To Be’ (which in my case was two bottles of Woodpecker cider, a bag of chips on the way home, a bit of Parkinson and Match of the Day), The Silhouettes and The Katz are playing at the Centenary Club in Weymouth in a fundraiser for the Friendship Club of Weymouth.

It’s just a fiver on the door for non-members and it’s all going to very worthy cause.

Till next time

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (19)

Surfing Birds (Finns, Weymouth)

Aaron Carter (Park, Weymouth)

Mike Sidaway (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Emma Lou (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Mumbo Machine (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Identikit (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

Tom and the Clementynes (Ship, Dorchester)

Sip and Shout (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Weymouth College music students showcase.

Bitter and Twisted (Green Shutters, Portland)

Wilma Fingadoo (Café Jagos, Dorchester)

Finn (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Southern Sinners (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Punchbowl, Portland)

Stacey Lou (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (20)

Diz and the Doormen (Evershot Village Hall)

Foo Fakers (Finns, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Hustle (Market House, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes, The Katz (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Kathy Boorman (Park, Weymouth)

Steve Allen (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Hundred Faces (Bull’s Head, Fordington, Dorchester)

Red Crow (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Haywire (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Sticky Jam Band (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jimmy Hillbillies (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Fluke (George, Portland)

Johnny Mac (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Crown, Bridport)

Sheryl Lee (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Stevie P (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (21)

The Silhouettes (Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth) 2-4pm

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Rhys Morgan (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) From 3pm, followed by..

Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8.30pm.

Diane (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

The Fuzzettes (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Finn (Boot, Weymouth) 6pm.

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) From 4pm.

Identikit (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Du Kane (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 7pm.

Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

MONDAY (22)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (23)

Barney Newman (Boot, Weymouth)

Jazz Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Sip and Shout (Finns, Weymouth) Weymouth College music students showcase.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (24)

Jam Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Sip and Shout (Three Compasses, Charminster) Weymouth College music students showcase.

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Ricky Solo (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (25)

Phil Beer Band (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Jim and Joe’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)

Andy Grant (No 10, Bridport)

FRIDAY (26)

The Mighty Fine (Finns, Weymouth)

Johnny Mac (Park, Weymouth)

Just John and Son (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Toxic Fish (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Freezer (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Sip and Shout (George, West Bay, Bridport) Weymouth College music students showcase

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The JK Duo (Gloucester, Weymouth)