AFICIONADOS of the songwriter’s craft and four-part harmonies tight as a gnat’s chuffer and even closer than this are in for treat tonight.

Well, it’s more of a Dutch treat as foremost foursome Wilson, who are appearing at the Old Town Hall in Weymouth this evening, Friday, September 8, are arriving hot-foot and all clogged up from their short tour of Holland.

As mainman Steve Wilson tells me: “We were over there back in March and went down so well, we were asked back.

“We did a number of dates around the Tilburg area, including one at a culture farm, which hosted poetry, literature, drama and painting and the like. Although, to be honest, when we were on stage, it was just a farm, really.

“We also played at an event called the Knoflookfeest, which sounded like ‘Mark Knopfler Festival’ over the phone when we were invited.

“We all looked great in our towelling headbands and we were looking forward to the ‘money for nothing and the chicks for free’ bit. Turns out it was a festival celebrating the joys of garlic,” he added, somewhat disappointed.

So despite being a bit whiffy and having a notable absence of vampires, how did it go?

“They loved our songs and particularly our harmonies,” Steve adds.

Steve and the band of Simon Felton on bass, Chris Rickard on keys and transfer-deadline signing Marco Rossi on drums are all well versed in the ways of touring and life on the road, so were there any tales of rock’n’roll excess and rampant debauchery?

“No, not all”, says Steve. “We were all very well looked after by our hosts and we were all very well behaved. Although, things did get a bit testy when the Pinot Grigio Blush ran out.”

It’s £8 on the door tonight at the Old Town Hall from 7.30pm and support comes from Stevie Garden and Andy Taylor’s fretboard-worrying duo Trip.

Moving on, and it’s great to welcome back guitar prodigy Sunjay down to our patch.

He’s just finished a huge UK stage tour with Buddy Holly and the Cricketers in the lead role and his new album, which will be released later this year, features many of his own songs which could be described as Holly-esque.

Pop along to the Royal Portland Arms, conveniently situated in Fortuneswell, Portland, this Sunday, September 10, from 4pm, okay?

And finally, here’s a heads up for those of you funkateers, soul boys and soul girls planning to attend Soultember, a celebration of soul music at the Spice Ship in Weymouth next Saturday, September 16. There’s a top line up of artists including The Devotions, Scott Bench-Taylor, Drifters tribute Let’s Drift and many more.

You need to get your act together as tickets at £17.50 are flying out the door, so get yours quick.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (8)

Wilson (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Finns, Weymouth)

Owen Lister (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Charlie Hodds (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Lo Numbers (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Nick Sellars (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Britannia, Portland)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Howling at the Moon (Duchess of Cornwall, Poundbury, Dorchester)

The Remedy (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Groove Rush (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Average Wyke Band (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Britannia, Portland)

Operatic Sean (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Pronghorn (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (9)

Gut and Steel, The Secrets (Weldmar Summer Fete, Joseph Weld Hospice, Dorchester)

Splinter (Finns, Weymouth)

Slipstream (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Replay (Shillingstone village hall)

State of Undress (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Morgan Boytits Lily (Park, Weymouth)

Chicago 9 Blues Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Market House, Weymouth)

The Persuaders (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Dale Fender Band (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Compass (Kimberlin, Club, Portland)

Freak Circus (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

BJ McCabe (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Sprex Mafia (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Karen (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Jump the Shark (Boat that Rocks, Portland Marina)

Stacey Lou (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Neil Wale (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Toxic Fish (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SUNDAY (10)

Finnian McGurk (Boot, Weymouth)

The Dolmen Acoustic (Park, Weymouth) 4pm.

Grand Reunion (Greenhill Gardens, Weymouth) 2pm.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Stress (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Sunjay (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) 4pm.

Open Mic with Scots Dan (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 4pm.

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

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland)

Ann and Norman (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

MONDAY (11)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (12)

Tom Clements (Boot, Weymouth)

Open Mic with Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (13)

Karen Kay (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (14)

Du Kane (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (15)

Surfing Birds (Finns, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Park, Weymouth)

Dave Griff (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Colin Shore (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)