IT’S always good to have national radio DJ fighting your corner and playing your tunes and when said DJ is Radio 2’s Paul Jones, you’re on to a good thing.

The ex-Manfreds frontman is a huge fan of Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion and regularly airs the band’s top-notch blues and soul choones, most recently just two weeks ago.

Zoe’s Commotion have been knocking around the blues circuit since 2012, building up quite a reputation, and have played most of the flagship venues around the country.

And this year they’ve spread their wings with a 13-date tour of the Czech Republic and are about to record their fourth studio album, followed by a UK and European tour next year.

With all this going on, it’s amazing Zoe and the band have found time to play a fundraiser gig tomorrow, Saturday, September 23 at the Milborne St Andrew village hall, which is handily situated in the charming village near Dorchester.

Zoe will be joined by long-time collaborator Rob Koral on guitar, ex-Wonder Stuff Pete Whittaker on Hammond and drummer Paul Robinson, who has worked with Sir Rod Stewart and has campaign medals from lengthy tours of duty with both Nina Simone AND Van Morrison, which I think is the musical equivalent of a VC, a knighthood and a Nobel peace prize all rolled into one.

Tickets for tomorrow’s gig are £10 and available from Gray’s Stores or the Royal Oak pub in the village and proceeds will be split between the fund for a village defibrillator and the Milton Abbas Riding for the Disabled group, two very worthwhile causes I think you’ll agree.

Moving on, and those of you still weeping into your Weetabix after missing out on tickets for the Foo Fighters’ gig at the O2 in London this week have some consolation this weekend with one of the country’s top-rated Foo tributes.

The Foo Fakers (See what they did there?) are at Finns in Weymouth tomorrow night, Saturday. September 23 and promise a thoroughly authentic show in homage to the Grohlster and his noisy mates.

So not only should you expect the lead singer to launch himself off the stage in the opening number, spending the rest of the gig with a leg in plaster, don’t be too surprised if a Rick Astley tribute act joins the band for a rousing metal version of Never Gonna Give You Up.

There’s also the undoubted treat of hearing all the Foo’s biggies, from the early days right up to the current album Concrete and Gold.

Finally, if you’d like your gig included in the Echo gig guide listings, just send an email to gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk with all the relevant shizzle, okay?

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (22)

Drive By Jammin’ (Finns, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park, Weymouth)

Sammie (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Karen Kay (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Mercy Lounge (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

JD Acoustic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Brass Monkeys (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

James Weston (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Operatic Sean (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Lauren Bannon (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Gut and Steel (Anchor, Burton Bradstock)

Jolly Boys Outing (Punchbowl, Portland)

Milk and Two (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth) and later..

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (23)

Heaven 17 (The Exchange, Sturminster Newton)

Zoe Schwarz Blue Commotion (Village Hall, Milborne St Andrew)

Foo Fakers (Finns, Weymouth)

Xander and the Quays (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Haywire (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Stevie P (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Steve Allen (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Hardcore Troubadours (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Elvis Pete (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Black Dog, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (24)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2pm

JD Acoustic (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) From 5pm.

Rat Pack (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Finnian McGurk (Boot, Weymouth)

James Turner (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Lo Numbers (Bull’s Head, Fordington, Dorchester) 4pm.

Roger’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

Scots Dan’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) From 4pm.

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Rocking Rich (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

MONDAY (25)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (26)

Martin Freed’s Open Mic (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (27)

Farrago (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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)

THURSDAY (28)

Aaron and Karina (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 (29)

Stacey Lou (Park, Weymouth)

Emma Lou (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Psychedelic Fridge (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

The JK Duo (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

King Tuts Revenge (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Dolphin, Weymouth)