FOR those of you who are not folk music aficionados, the streets, pubs and restaurants around Weymouth harbourside will be strictly a hey-nonny-no-go area this weekend.

Yes, it’s the return of the Wessex Folk Festival today, tomorrow and Sunday, June 2, 3 and 4, and there’s a wide and varied line-up of live music, dance and workshops taking place in every conceivable place around the historic harbour and on the main stage in Hope Square.

Organisers have attracted some of the most popular and talented artists on the folk circuit, including folk-funkers The Lonesome Stampede, multi-award winning duo Ninebarrow, and the quite remarkable Wild Willy Barrett’s French Connection, who apparently make the kind of sound Robert Johnson would make if he backed Edith Piaf, or if Bob Marley was jammin’ with Stephan Grappelli.

As always with this type of festival, it does attract a fair few Morris dancers so be aware if you’re out and about. They can be quite tame providing you don’t try to feed them or get too close to their sticks or bells, okay?

All the venues and details are available in the festival programme, so pick one up for just £2 from the Weymouth Pavilion or Revolutions on Trinity Road.

It’s a non-profit making event so everything is ploughed back into next year’s bash, so don’t forget to chuck a few quid in one of the collection buckets.

Moving on, and long-term scrumpy and western band The Skimmity Hitchers have somehow been holding it all together on the festival circuit since 2010 and this weekend launch their new album with a party at the rather posh and prestigious Dorset County Museum in Dorchester on Sunday, June 4.

There will be scrumpagne and a finger buffet, which is great if you like eating fingers. Nom, nom, nom… Hitchers’ front man Tatty Smart put down his flagon of cider and vol au vent to tell me: “The journey of this band has been amazing so far.

“We feel really fortunate that people continue to get behind us and enjoy what we do, especially in Dorset, and we wanted to repay some of that loyalty and kindness with something a bit different from the norm. The Dorset County Museum is a very special venue in which to launch our album and we hope that everyone will enjoy the experience.”

The launch party starts at 12.45, after which the band will be performing the album live over the road at the compact and bijou Café Jagos from 3.30pm, where it’s bound to get a little messy, so wear an apron and wellies.

They’ll be a collection at both venues for meningitis charity Team George, so not only will it be a great afternoon, there’s a very good cause to support too.

And talking of good causes (this stuff writes itself, honestly) the summer version of Gimme Shelter is happening next Saturday, June 10, at the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth.

Last December’s bash helped raise a ton of money and awareness for the homelessness problem in the county and next Saturday’s shindig is sure to do the same.

There’s a great line-up, including the mighty Cuba Libre, James Weston and Jawbone, the Meat Sweats and many more.

And there’ll be a full preview in next week’s gig guide, okay?

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (2)

Wessex Folk Festival (various venues, Weymouth harbourside) See wessexfolkfestival.com for details

Cuba Libre (Finns, Weymouth)

Jim Hammond (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Dave Griff’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland)

Elvis Pete (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Tori Read and the Tail Travelling Troubadours (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (3)

Wessex Folk Festival (various venues, Weymouth harbourside)

See wessexfolkfestival.com for details

The Shakespearos (Finns, Weymouth)

Tripod (Market House, Weymouth)

Alexander Soul Man (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Park, Weymouth)

The Skones (George, Dorchester)

V8 Hearts (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Slipstream (The Rock, Weymouth)

Rob Ryan (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Restless (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Tom Clements and the Clementynes (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

BJ McCabe (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Silhouettes (RBL Club, Portland)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Windslide (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Fuzzettes (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (4)

Wessex Folk Festival (various venues, Weymouth harbourside)

See wessexfolkfestival.com for details

Skimmity Hitchers (Dorset County Museum, and Café Jagos, Dorchester) From 12.45pm.

Fuzzy and Barbara (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Rock, Weymouth) 4pm.

The Dolmen (Park, Weymouth) 4pm.

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

Weird and Gilly (Britannia, Portland) 4pm.

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm, and then 8pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 5pm.

Logan Carter (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.

Lo Numbers (Bulls Head, Fordington, Dorchester) 4pm.

Tripod (PGL, Osmington, Weymouth) 10pm.

Aaron Carter (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) Finn (Boot, Weymouth) 5pm.

MONDAY (5)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (6)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Rock, Weymouth)

Quay Stage 2 Folk Session (Pilgrim House, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 8pm. £1.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (7)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (8)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (George, Dorchester) With Elijah Wolf

Farrago (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth) 8pm.

FRIDAY (9)

Paisley (Finns, Weymouth)

Strings and Reeds (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth) 8pm.

Nick Sellars (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)