WHILE watching the Wimbledon tennis final last Sunday I was struck by one of those eureka moments. When the rain started to fall and the roof was moved into position, I thought: Why not build a roof over south and west Dorset, and then we could enjoy our outdoor events without getting soaked.

Let’s hope for sunshine this Sunday, July 15, for the Tea On the Quay event in Weymouth.

This is the Quayside Festival’s younger and smaller cousin and features some great bands on the stage by the Town Bridge, outside the Rendevzous.

Starting at noon with Amy Brown, the line-up goes thus: 1pm: Phil Coombes. 2pm: Bag Of Rats. 3pm: Surfin’ Birds. 4pm: Amy Mayes Band. 5pm: Smokin’ Benny’s Blues Band. 6pm: Mockingbirds. 7pm: Mama Feelgood. 8pm: My Necessary Evil. 9pm: The Replacements.

So take that lot and stick it in your pipe and smoke it. And why not, you’ll be outside.

Now then, by all accounts last Friday’s gig at Finn’s in Weymouth by Doors tribute band Break On Through was pretty sensational. Several punters have told me it was almost like the real thing (No, not The Real Thing), so authentic was the sound and appearance of the band.

Well, Finn’s are only bringing down another top tribute act, this time in the rather frightening shape of Gallus Cooper, tomorrow night, Saturday, July 14.

As the more alert of you might have guessed, the clue is in the name and this time it’s ol’ black eyes himself, Alice Cooper, who is being tributed. The Scottish-based band’s show features all the usual trappings of your average Alice gig: Electric chairs, beheadings, strait jackets and nurses in stockings and suspenders (always a winner, that).

But apparently one part of their elaborate stage show which sparked shock, outrage, mass panic and disgust at a recent Glasgow gig was when they threw items of fresh fruit into the tartan-clad audience.

Admission at Finn’s tomorrow is £5.

Right that’s it for this week. I was just looking forward to eating that giant Cornetto but some sod’s just set fire to it and run away towards Portland.

‘Til next time…

For all this week's gigs, click here GIG GUIDE.pdf