YOU must have been living on another planet if you missed the Military Wives conquering the musical world.

Massed voices of a community choir have never been more popular as Dorchester’s Harmonious Funk Choir are proving.

The pop, rock and soul ensemble began a couple of years ago under the musical direction of Ben and Hannah Trevorrow.

“With more than 80 adults and 30 children involved, the wall of sound we produce regularly sends tingles down my spine, even in rehearsals,” Ben tells me.

After several successful concerts, the choir are now clearing their collective throats for a charity event next Saturday, March 31, at St Mary’s Church in the county town.

“We’re singing in aid of the Dorset County Hospital’s Boost Digital Mammography Appeal,” adds Hannah.

“It’s fantastic to support a local cause which will have a real impact in the community and will probably end up helping people we know in the future,” she says.

Tickets for the concert, which starts at 7.30pm, are £7 for adults, £3.50 for under 18s and are available from Harmony Music in Dorchester or on the door on the night.

Talking of good causes, there’s a very worthwhile event taking place tonight, Friday March 23.

This September, Paul Harler, Martyn Harler and Nigel Rowell will be climbing Mount Kilimanjaro in Africa to raise money for Weldmar Hospicecare in Weymouth.

All three guys have had personal experience of the fantastic work Weldmar does and want to say a heartfelt thank you to this fabulous charity.

Top five-piece Shooter are playing at the Centenary Club in Weymouth in a fundraising party tonight and tickets are just £3. A great band and a great cause: what’s not to like?

Now then, the name Keith Butler may not mean much to you, unless you’re called Keith Butler, obviously.

But Mr Butler was recorded for posterity as the heckler who was allegedly the first to yell ‘Judas’ at Bob Dylan’s controversial ‘He’s gone electric’ concert at Manchester Free Trade Hall in 1965.

It was, and still is, a seminal moment in rock history and you are invited to part of another such iconic event next Tuesday, March 27.

Singer/songwriter and all-round top bloke Tom Caulfield will be recording a live album at The Boot in Weymouth and he’s keen to capture the sound, and, no doubt, smell of a throbbing live audience.

“I’ll be doing loads of my own material, some from my last EP, some from my next,” the talented troubadour tells me.

“I’ll also be dropping a few choice covers in too, from artists such as Tom Waits and Nick Cave.”

Clearly a man of great taste, Tom will be joined by omnipresent percussionist Barney Stevens on cajon and, hopefully, several of you lot.

“I’ll be making a list of those that show up to give them a name-check on the album credits,” Tom adds.

Right, that’s it for this week. I’m off to perfect my heckles and find a ridiculous pseudonym.