So, here we are. After seven years of incredible planning, tremendous teamwork, gut-wrenching effort, oceans of perspiration, inspiration and emotion, the greatest show on earth is coming to our green and pleasant land.


The triumphs and tragedies that are the Olympic Games arrive on these shores next Friday, July 27. And Great Britain’s best chances for golden glory will be right here in Weymouth and Portland with our fantastic sailing team.


The global spectacle that brought you such legends as Sir Steve Redgrave, Ben Ainslie, Daley Thompson, Carl Lewis, Mark Spitz, Olga Korbut and Jessie Owens, such dramas as Ben Johnson, Zola Budd and Eric the Eel is with us.


With such an auspicious occasion, it’s great that live music has a big place in the celebrations with the Bayside Festival in Weymouth.


The 17-day event kicks off next Friday July 27, with scores of bands, solo singers and tribute acts from across the world appearing on two stages at the arena behind the Weymouth Pavilion with The One and Only Chesney Hawkes as one of the highlights of the opening weekend, on Sunday, July 29.


There are just too many artists involved to name here, so check out the website at weymouthbaysidefestival.co.uk for all the details and ticket prices, okay?


Now then, there are a couple of very worthy fundraising gigs this weekend in Dorchester.


On Saturday, July 21, The Sound Contenders, Jack Rats and Memories of the Future plus many more will be raising money for Cancer Research in the Borough Gardens, from 11am.


And on Sunday, July 22, at the Cornwall, The Dinnerladies, Speedway Snails and The Amy Mayes Band will be joining forces to raise money for the DCH stroke unit and Dorchester Boxing Club, from midday onwards.


And finally, many of you would have been sad to hear of the death of Trevor Lawrence, the hugely talented artist, actor and musician who passed away at his Weymouth home last week at the age of 67.


I met Trevor many times, usually at Gothic Chicken or Speed Handbag gigs a few years back, and found him to be great company, always entertaining and I always remember urging him to: “Do your Marlon Brando!”


Trevor’s funeral is today, Friday, July 20, at Weymouth Crematorium at 1.45pm with drinks afterwards at the Marquis of Granby.  And there will be a jam session in his honour at The Star in Park Street from 5pm tonight. He will leave a huge hole in the live music scene and the world is a sadder place without him.


Right, that’s it for this week. I’m off for a random dope test and, as a random dope, I’m pretty confident I’ll pass.
‘Till next time…