GIG GUIDE: Can-do culture in Weymouth (From Dorset Echo)

Can-do culture in Weymouth

11:50am Friday 11th January 2013 in News By Nick Horton

YOU don’t need a doofus like me to tell you how tough things are at the moment.

Like a contortionist with a bad back, we’re all struggling to make ends meet.

The price of everything seems to be going up and up and there just doesn’t seem to be enough in your purse, wallet and pocket at the end of the month, does there?

As you’ve no doubt read in your Dorset Echo, more people than ever are turning to local food banks for help with essentials and this is where you can help with a novel fund-raising idea.

Well, not so much fundraising but food raising… The rather lovely Royal Standard pub on Dorchester Road, Upwey, Weymouth, is hosting a Canned Music night next Saturday, January 19, and, instead of putting your loose change in a bucket or hat as it’s passed around, you’re invited to bring a can of something: Soup, hot dogs, beans, meatballs, lobster thermidore, whatever, as long as it’s still in-date.

As Standard guv’nor Phil Anderson tells me: “It’s all down to one of our locals who suggested it to me and the response has been very good so far.

“Another one of our regulars will be away on holiday for that night but has kindly donated a load of canned food to help the Weymouth Food Bank.”

Popular duo Acoustic Us will be topping the bill with more acts expected.

Now, in these straitened times, it’s good to hear of a pub that was once closed making a go of things again, thanks to hosting live music.

Step forward Christian and Beatrice Neagu at the John Gregory in Southill, Weymouth.

They’ve been booking top local bands for a while now and tomorrow, Saturday, January 12, it’s the turn of The Setzervillains.

As any fule nose, The Setzervillians are a totally authentic tribute to the rockin’ goodtime choones of Brian Setzer and the Stray Cats.

As singer Phil Walker tells me: “We’ve been a gigging around the Bournemouth area lately and we’re hoping to get on the festival circuit this summer so it’s nice to play a local venue.

“It’s quite handy really, as I play in the Gregory’s pool team and heard that someone was asking if they had any rock’n’roll or rockabilly bands coming up. We’re looking forward to it and it’s so good to see a pub doing well with live music,” he adds.

Well, there you have it: Support your local pub and they’ll support you. Fact.

And finally, as Bob Marley once told me when I asked him how he liked his doughnuts: “With jam in, with jam in, hope you like jammin’ too.”

And it’s clear from the sudden outbreak of jamming nights, you certainly do.

For example: tonight, Dorchester’s Mr Entertainment Jack Daniels hosts an open mic night Jack’s Jam at the compact and bijou Café Jagos in the county town and on Thursdays, Jack and his fiddling friend Benny Wain are hosting another have-go-night at Aura on the Esplanade in Weymouth.

Look at the listings and you’ll see plenty of open mic nights, from the well-established ones at the Sailors Return in Weymouth on a Sunday and Jamie’s Pinnow’s Open Mic Surgery Thursday nights at Tom Brown’s in Dorchester where last week an opera singer brought the house down, to the newer ones, for example, Big Al Whittle’s folk night at The Cornwall in Dorchester.

So if you fancy having a go, either on your own or with some mates, there’s no shortage of opportunites.

Right, that’s it for this week. Anyone heard from David Bowie recently? Till next time…

To visit the The Setzervillians website click here

To get in contact with Jamie Pinnow visit his Open Mic Surgery Facebook Page

 

GIG GUIDE

Today - Friday Jan 11

Omega Project (Finns, Westham Road, Weymouth)
Lewis Craven Band (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)
Karen and Pete (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)
Sarah Gee (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)
The Shakespearos (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)
Sheryl Lee (Kings Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)
Life of Brian (Britannia, Fortuneswell, Portland)
Jack’s Jam Night (Cafe Jagos, High East St, Dorchester)
Mark Stacey (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)
Billy Solo (Wellington, Arms, Weymouth) Mr Tambourine Man plays a song for you.
Jam Session (The Lounge, School St, Weymouth) Come and have a go from 9pm.

Saturday (12)

The Dinnerladies (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)
The SetzerVillains (John Gregory, Southill, Weymouth)
Flybone Yellow (Main Road, St Mary’s Passage, Weymouth)
Ansell and Gretal (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)
Mama Feelgood (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)
Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)
The Sneakers (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)
The Silhouettes (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)
Sheryl Lee and Jon Storey (Sun Inn, King St, Weymouth)
ACBBs (Park Hotel, Grange Rd, Weymouth)
Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)
Jack and Benny (King’s Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)
Jim Martin (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)
Stress (Crown, Bridport)
Cash Converted (Ropemakers, Bridport)
Finn (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Sunday (13)
Logan Carter (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)
Andy Kennett (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth) 4pm.
Jilly Ann (Swanage RBL) 3pm.
Jack and Benny (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth) 3pm.
Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)
Finniane (Kings Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)
Garfield and Friends (The Globe, East St, Weymouth) Simon Felton entertains, from 5pm.
Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) The Crack frontman, on his own, from 3pm, followed by...
Ricky Solo (T-Bar, St Edmund St, Weymouth) 8pm.
Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey and friends host this regular Sunday acoustic jam session. Music from 8pm.
Open Mic Night (Lakeside Superbowl, Weymouth ) Zack and John host.

Monday (14)
Mr Bucket (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth )
Singer songwriter Night (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Tuesday (15)
Acoustically Acclaimed (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth) The weekly unplugged jam session.

Wednesday (16)
Caravan (Electric Palace, Bridport) The 1970s prog legends, touring to mark the 40th anniversary of their album Girls Who Grow Plump in The Night.
Jam with Mark (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey hosts this regular acoustic jam session.
Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

Thursday (17)
Eclectic Hippy (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth) Acoustic jam night, hosted by Dukane.
Jack and Benny’s Open Mic Night (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth)
Open Mic Night (The Cornwall, Dorchester) Big Al Whittle hosts.
Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester) All backline provided, come on down and have a play.
Open Mic Night (Victoria, Dorchester) Zack and John host.
Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth) Steve hosts this session, with guests joining in.
Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

Friday (18)
Kinasis, Saint The Sinner, Falling For Vanity, Parasythe, End of Daze (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth) An Hourglass promotions night. £1 admission.
Enticed (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)
Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)
Sheryl Lee and Jon Storey (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)
Blind Dead McJones (Ropemakers, Bridport)
Billy Solo (Wellington, Arms, Weymouth) Mr Tambourine Man plays a song for you.
Jam Session (The Lounge, School St, Weymouth) Come and have a go from 9pm.