WELL, I’ve spent the day in bed and I’ve stopped watching the news, as you recommended, Mr Morrissey, because it really does contrive to frighten me.

Whilst I agree with your general premise, Mozza, I’m sorry but I can’t agree with an earlier proposition of yours, about hating our friends when they become successful.

On the contrary, I’m rather pleased for them and want to share in their success.

Rather like blues and soul chanteuse Amy Mayes, who has had quite a remarkable year, including a sell-out gig at Ronnie Scott’s, prestige dates at the Cadogan Hall with Mr boogie-woogie Ben Waters and ex-Stones guitarist Mick Taylor up in that London, plus tours of the Scilly Isles and Germany.

And there’s a lot more to come in 2018 as Amy tells me.

“I’ve started writing my album which we’ll be recording next year, all original songs too,” she says.

“And I’ll be continuing to tour the UK with both my band and with Ben Waters, including some more dates at Ronnie Scott’s.”

“So basically, more of the same fab stuff and, fingers crossed, growing my audience,” she adds.

And there’s a chance to catch her live down this part of the world next Saturday, November 11, at the Old Town Hall in Weymouth where she’ll be performing with her top-notch band of Sammy Hurden on keys, Chris Taylor on guitar, Dan Fraser-Betts on bass and Michael Keane on drums.

Tickets for the show are £12 and available from amymayes.co.uk but hurry up, as numbers are limited so get your collective bottoms in gear.

Moving on, and it’s the end of an earache for Weymouth metalheads Silly Band who are calling it a day after a hugely successful few years.

As the band say: “It’s been a long road since Silly Band’s creation in 2009, we’ve done so many cool things and met some amazing people and bands!

“But unfortunately it’s time to put the band to rest, one last blow out! Get yourselves in gear because we’re gonna be going mental and you should too!”

Silly Band, who list Tenacious D and Space Hoppers as their prime inspiration, will be taking the stage one last time at Finn’s in Weymouth on Friday, November 17 and they’re promising to play every single song they’ve ever written.

There’s also a top supporting line-up of fellow riff crunchers, including Somerset’s Pretty Little Enemy and Southampton prog-metallers Living In Echoes, Napier, who hail from Bridgwater and local din merchants Kutna Hora, which apparently is an ancient Tibetan monastic chant and translates as: “TURN IT DOWN A BIT, MATE, FFS!”

Tickets are £3 from uprisingbookings.bigcartel.com And finally, here’s a quick heads-up for the return of the ever-popular Dub Pistols.

They’re heading back to Weymouth for a gig at Actors on Friday, December 8. Support so far confirmed are Cuba Libre, with more to follow.

Tickets are £10 from the club in Maiden Street but, once again, be quick as they’re not going to available for long.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (3)

Howie Casey’s Beatles with Wings (Digby Hall, Sherborne)

Tequila Mockingbird (Finns, Weymouth)

The Bog Dogs (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Just John and Son (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Tides Inn, Weymouth)

Dave Griff’s Open Mic Night (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Finnian (Park, Weymouth)

JD Acoustic (Britannia, Portland)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Skinful (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Owen Lister (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Darren H (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Fat Marrow Blues Band (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Sprex Mafia (Star, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (4)

Splinter (Finns, Weymouth)

Vinyl Monkeys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Sprex Mafia (Green Shutters, Portland)

Nite Lite (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Compass (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Regulation 9 (Dorchester Rugby Club)

The Relics (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

The New Beats (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Chill (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Café Jagos, Weymouth)

The Hurricanes (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Leggomen, Sean Clothier (Billy Winters, Ferrybridge, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Jamie Pinnow (Rock, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

The Surfin Birds (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bad Intention (Market House, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (5)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Finnian McGurk (Boot, Weymouth)

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

Martin Freed (Kings Arms, Weymouth) 3pm.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Lo Numbers (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

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

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

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland) 4pm.

Sunday Blues Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth) 3pm.

Karen Kay (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 5-8pm.

Stress (Three Compasses, Charminster)

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

Gut and Steel (George, Portland) From 3.30pm

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

MONDAY (6)

Cheese, Wine and Jam Open Mic (Boot, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (7)

Gut and Steel (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Pilgrim House, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 8pm, on a ghost and ghouls theme.

WEDNESDAY (8)

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

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (9)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

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

FRIDAY (10)

Jolly Boys Outing (Finns, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

John Ramon (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Hanni, Roye and Kipper (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Stacey Lou (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Barry Paul as Elvis (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Charlie Hodds (Park, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)