GREETINGS from the sunny Arctic, where I have my timeshare holiday home in an icebox in a fridge buried beneath endless tundra littered with the frozen droppings of assorted polar bears.

I like to fly out here for a warm-up when it gets a bit nippy back in Blighty.

So, as you chip the icicles from your eyelids and huddle round a workman’s brassiere to keep warm, you can console your frosty selves with the prospect of some great gigs this month, including Show of Hands’ Phil Beer’s String Theory tour which twangs its way into Bridport Town Hall on Saturday, March 17.

He’s been on the road since the beginning of February with his show which features his unique recipe of rich vocals and flawless musicianship across a range of stringed instruments (slide, Spanish and tenor guitar, mandocello, viola, mandolin and South American cuatro, which as I’m sure you’re aware, is a small tennis racquet.

And as your man himself says: “There’s something about a solo tour which makes me feel really connected with the audience. I’m also planning the release of a very special eight-disc box set and am looking forward to sharing new material from that.”

Tickets for the Bridport show are available from Bridport TIC on 01308 424901.

Moving on, and a question often asked is how many roads must a man walk down before he is entitled to have his life story told, featuring all his classic hits throughout the decades.

The answer, my friend, is blowin’ in the wind but is quite a few apparently, as The Bob Dylan Story comes to the Shaftesbury Arts Centre next Saturday, March 10 and Weymouth Pavilion on Saturday, March 17.

The show recreates all the biggies from his Bobness, from The Times They Are A-Changin’, Blowin’ In The Wind and Mr Tambourine Man through to Like A Rolling Stone, Subterranean Homesick Blues, Lay Lady Lay, Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door and many more, while telling some of the fascinating tales behind them.

“We wanted to give Dylan’s many fans the opportunity to hear the songs as they remember them, all in one sitting” explains Bill Lennon, who plays the main man in the show.

So authentic is the show, there’s even a guy in the audience every night who shouts out ‘JUDAS! anytime anyone switches one of the amps on.

Tickets are available from the respective box offices.

And finally, I’ll be hosting the Hijacked show for Air FM 107.2 FM next Wednesday, March 7, from 8-10pm, so choon in for some tip-top choones.

  •  Seriously though, travelling is a bit a nightmare at the moment for everyone, including musicians and drummers, so check with the venue before you venture out over the next few days.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (2)

Some Guys Have All The Luck: The Rod Stewart Story (Weymouth Pavilion)

Toxic Fish (Finns, Weymouth)

Stompin’ Dave (Square and Compasses, Worth Matravers)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Paul Williams (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Tequila Mockingbird (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Du Kane (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Broadband (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Jo Carley and the Old Dry Skulls (Belvedere, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (3)

Dusty and the Shades of the Sixties (Weymouth Pavilion)

Elles Bailey (Dorchester Corn Exchange)

Morass of Molasses, Kutna Hora, Thuum, Tate (Finns, Weymouth)

Du Kane (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Hot Bacon (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Skones (Market House, Weymouth)

Steamer Ducks (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Highly Likely (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Icarus (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Park, Weymouth)

The Prairie Dogs (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Park, Weymouth)

V8 Hearts (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Chief Lazarus (Ayya, Weymouth)

Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Skinful (Crown, Bridport)

The Silhouettes (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Billy Boy Miskimmin (Star, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Strings and Reeds (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Graham Morris (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Vanilla Radio (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SUNDAY (4)

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

DnD (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

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

Sunday Blues Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

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

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8pm.

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) 7pm.

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

Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

Elmore Goes Electric (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) Jinder (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.

Sunday Salon with Paolo and TR (Revolution, Trinity Rd, Weymouth) 2-4pm.

MONDAY (5)

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

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (6)

Andy Grant (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Folk Session (Pilgrim House, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (7)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (8)

Roger’s SIngalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (9)

Jimmy Hillbillies (Finns, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Saun Marx (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Suited and Booted (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Elijah Wolf (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)