THEY say all good things must come to an end and, sadly, in the case of Weymouth glam-punk-alt-shock-rock combo Freak Circus, that is very much the case.

Over the past 17 years they’ve been

a) delighting

b) confusing

c) disturbing

d) all of the above

punters with their heady hybrid of Stooges, Cramps, T Rex, Bowie, Roxy et al and are arguably one of the tightest bands on the circuit, and certainly the one with the tightest trousers.

They played in front of a crowd 10,000 at the Torchlight Festival, gigged at the Cavern in Liverpool and, like most bands, done a gig to one man and his dog in a pub in Sherborne. Apparently, the bloke fell asleep but the dog is now a firm fan, has all the CDs and comes to as many gigs as possible.

As frontman Marc Eyre tells me: “Freak Circus has been an absolute blast, but it’s time to try something new. We’ve been lucky to have great fans (our Freaks and Freakettes) that have often been as manic as we have!

“Myself, Tony Bygrave, Ady Payne, James Hope and Jim Eyre have decided to split up to explore new musical ventures, with our final show next Friday, December 1, at the Park Hotel in Weymouth.

“We have been lucky enough to have our music available all over the world, through our releases on Pink Hedgehog records, which is the type of thing you dream of when you are growing up.”

And drummer Ady adds: “You never knew what you’ll get with a Freaks gig. I remember Marc leaping over the monitors at The George in Dorchester and cracking his head open on a low beam. He continued the gig with blood pouring from a gaping wound but everyone thought it was stage blood and part of the show.”

And guitarist Tony comments: “The gig at the Park next Friday will be a bitter-sweet thing for me as I don’t relish endings. However, Marc and I, in our iconic togetherness, like Jagger/Richards, Buckingham/Nicks and Cheeky Girl/Other Cheeky Girl, are looking forward to a new musical project with gigs already being booked for 2018.”

Get there early next Friday at The Park, it’ll be rammed and very much a night to remember.

UPDATED GIG NEWS UPDATED GIG NEWS UPDATED GIG NEWS

Sadly the Boney M gig at Weymouth Pavilion scheduled for Saturday December 2 has been cancelled 'due to unforeseen circumstances'.

Those of you who have already purchased tickets will be refunded over the next few days.

For further information, contact the Pavilion box office on 01305 783225.

Thanks!

Till next time...

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (24)

Shooter (Market House, Weymouth)

Southern Sinners (Finns, Weymouth)

Emma C (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Pelle Van Smith (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

The Riffs (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

Rich Baxter (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Park, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Elijah Wolf Band (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Lance (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Monkey Jump (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (25)

The Roughcuts (Finns, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Boot, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Restless (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Toxic Fish (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

V8 Hearts (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Mad Hatters (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Nite Lite (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park, Weymouth)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Replay (Riviera, Bowleaze, Weymouth) In aid of the air ambulance.

Uncle Jack (Bull’s Head, Fordington, Dorchester)

Lo Numbers (Market House, Weymouth)

The Lonesome Stampede (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Sam Nolan (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Karen (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Psychedelic Fridge Project (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (26)

Minor Fret (Boot, Weymouth) 5pm.

Jamie Pinnow (Kings Arms, Weymouth) 3pm.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

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

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2pm.

James Hollingsworth (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

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

The Rat Pack (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Scots Dan’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

MONDAY (27)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (28)

Freaky Boys (Boot, Weymouth)

Replay (Weymouth Pavilion) Lions show.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

Folk Session (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

WEDNESDAY (29)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

THURSDAY (30)

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.

Open Mic (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

FRIDAY (1)

One Night of Elvis with Lee Memphis King (Weymouth Pavilion)

Legend: The Music of Bob Marley (Ocean Room, Weymouth Pavilion)

Lo Numbers (Finns, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Pelle van Smith (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Dave Griff’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Freak Circus (Park, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

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

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)