IF your idea of good time is being with family and friends, standing in a field with a pint of cider and a burger, listening to some top tunes on a sunny afternoon and/or evening, you’re very much in luck.

Dorset does have a lot of fields, after all.

And this weekend, it’s the fourth Jurassic Fields family-friendly festival down at Askers Meadow in Bridport, which opens tonight, Friday, July 14 and continues tomorrow, Saturday, July 15.

Not only is there the Main Stage, there’s the Big Top, the comedy bar, and the Bandstand area, featuring music, comedy, poetry and just about everything else.

It’s a not-for-profit event which aims to benefit the local community by supporting young musicians, create studio and rehearsal facilities in Bridport and make sure everyone has a great time.

They’re certainly going the right way about it with a wide range of bands and artists for your entertainment, starting tonight with Weymouth’s very own Stereoironics, Shelby’s Elbows and chap-hop rapper Mr B, The Gentleman Rhymer .

Topping the bill on the Main Stage on Saturday is former Specials and Fun Boy 3 legend Neville Staple and his red-hot ska band.

The Original Rude Boy has been tearing up dance floors, and fields, obviously, for more than 35 years since riding the crest of the Two Tone wave back in the late ‘70s and early ‘80s with The Specials, smashing the charts with such classics as Gangsters, Ghost Town, A Message to You Rudy and many others.

Incidentally, did I tell you about the time I ordered from the Specials board in a Chinese restaurant and had Too Much Foo Yung? I did? Oh right...

Headlining in the Big Top tent tomorrow are Bristol’s urban reggae heavyweights Laid Blak who have support slots with Ed Sheeran, The Wailers, Desmond Dekker and Horace Andy on their extensive CV.

There are a few tickets left so you can check all the shizzle at jurassicfields.com. Go there now!

Ok, come back now. Thanks.

Now then, talking of days out with the family (This stuff writes itself, honestly), there’s a terrific day out in prospect tomorrow, Saturday, July 15 with Scotty’s Family Fun Day at Redlands in Weymouth.

Organised again by Shelley Robertson, the event raises money for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, an organisation which looks after the children of servicemen and women who have lost their lives in combat.

Shelly was expecting when her partner James Wright was killed while serving as a Royal Marine in Afghanistan in 2011.

Last year’s event raised more than £4,500 for this remarkable charity and this year’s bash is hoping to top that.

There’s certainly a stellar line-up of live music with local favourites The Stereoironics, The Mighty Fine, Peacock Suit, Tequila Mockingbird, Sea Bass and the Fellas and Blazin’ Strings all down to do a turn.

The event is being hosted by the good folk at Air FM 107.2, it all kicks from midday and promises to fun day out for everyone, and all for a very good cause indeed.

And finally, news of a new regular jam night starting up in Weymouth at the Golden Lion on Thursday, July 20.

All backline (that’s guitars, amps, PA and drums, you numpty) will be there so if you fancy a go, head on down from 9pm.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (14)

Stereoironics, Shelby’s Elbow, Mr B the Gentleman Rhymer, Victor Vector (Jurassic Fields, Asker Meadow, Bridport)

As Flames Rise, Invisions, Icons, Deference (Finns, Weymouth)

Stu Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Sacred Shapes (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

The Mighty Fine (Ship, Dorchester)

Freezer (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland)

Dave Griff (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Remedy (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Drive By Jammin’ (New Vic, Weymouth)

Danx (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Crimson Toad (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Surfin’ Birds (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Echo Town (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Jolly Boys Outing (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (15)

Neville Staple Band, Tankus the Henge, Leggomen, Cuba Libre, Willie and the Bandits and many more (Jurassic Fields, Asker Meadow, Bridport)

Peacock Suit, Sea Bass and the Fellas, Tequila Mockingbird, The Mighty Fine, Blazin’ Strings, Stereoironics (Scotty’s Family Fun Day, Redlands, Weymouth) 12-6pm, in aid of Scotty’s Little Soldiers

Moody Will and The Roll (Finns, Weymouth)

Vinyl Monkeys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

60s Revisited (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Johnny Mac (Park, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

The Katz (Centenary Club, Weymouth) Replay (RBL Club, Portland)

The All Night Workers Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Collyde, Offbeat Offensive (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (George Inn, Chideock)

Matt Black (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Leanne (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Moonstone (Market House, Weymouth)

Tripod (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (16)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 9pm.

Elvis Pete (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Market House Jazz (Market House, Bridport) 6pm.

Replay (Red Lion, Weymouth) 2pm.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

Rat Pack (New Vic, Weymouth) From 2pm, followed by…

Nina Garcia (New Vic, Weymouth)

Folk, Country and Blues Unplugged (Old Town Hall, Weymouth) 7pm.

Gut and Steel (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou, Strings and Reeds, Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth) RBL fundraiser, from 4-9pm.

Silhouettes (Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth) 2-4.30pm, in aid of Weldmar Hospice.

MONDAY (17)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Blazing Strings (New Vic, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (18)

No Fixed Abode (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (New Vic, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (19)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Stacey Lou (New Vic, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (20)

Saint’s Sexxii Show (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (Hardy’s, Dorchester) With Elijah Wolf

JD Acoustic (New Vic, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

Jam Night (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (21)

The Skones (Finns, Weymouth)

Sammi (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Charlie (Park, Weymouth)

Liam Holland and The Truthseekers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Drive By Jammin’ (New Vic, Weymouth)

The Alibi, Land of the Giants (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)