TONIGHT

VeXt/Platon/No Substance/Headstand (Scout Hut, Dorchester): Coruscating neo punk from Weymouth-based trio VeXt, plus young Dorchester alternative rock band Platon, Southampton's top hardcore punk band No Substance and Headstand, a Southampton punk outfit.

Chill (Cornwall Hotel, Alexandra Road, Dorchester).

Jam On It (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth).

Acoustic Jam Session (George Inn, Refome, Portland).

Catherine & Bobby Burke (New Inn, Littlemoor Road, Weymouth): The Burkes are stars of the contemporary British folk scene.

John Stone (Bar on the Corner, St Thomas Street, Weymouth): Chart smashes and dance floor faves, produced by one man and his guitar.

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland).

H20 (Hotel Prince Regent, Weymouth): Pop to opera from Eddie Hintze and Hayley Owen, here most Thursday nights through the summer season.

Gigolo (RAOB Club, Crescent Street, Weymouth).

Rachel Scott (Spa Hotel, Dorchester Road, Weymouth).

B J McCabe (Fairhaven Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth).

FRIDAY

Gothic Chicken (Red Lion, Beaminster): Lounge-adelica-a-go-go way out west.

Shavali/The Kotel Ensemble (Thornford Village Hall): The Devon-based Eastern European music outfit Shavali play host to the Kotel Ensemble, three virtuoso performers from Bulgaria. Tickets are £7 (£4 children, £18 family ticket), available on 01935 873762.

Rorke's Drift (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): Contemporary rock and pop covers.

Konar T (Finn M'Coul's, Westham Road, Weymouth): Original material that's attracting record company interest, plus covers from Black Sabbath, Blink 182, Pink Floyd and Guns'n'Roses.

Bayou Seco (Hope & Anchor, St Michael's Lane, Bridport): Val's musical boozer is transformed into a Louisiana juke joint for the night.

Vinyl Monkeys (Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland): The simians' original material is mixed with works from Feeder, Ash, Wheatus and the like.

Insomnia (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): Iggy Pop and The Clash to The Hives and Blur from this excellent young band.

Off The Rails (Red Lion, The Square, Beaminster): Twin guitar fronted blues-rock from this quartet.

Doctor Blues (Excise House, Hope Square, Weymouth): The Doctors are recording their first live CD tonight and you're invited to go and join them. Shout loud enough and you can claim a credit on the album sleeve.

Steve Wilson & Chas Dickie (The Galley, Hope Street, Weymouth): A wonderful acoustic treat, featuring Steve's excellent compositions and Chas's deft 'cello work.

Ian Sedwell (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): Jackson Browne to John Martyn from Ian.

Mike Walker (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth): Pop covers galore.

Sarah J (White Hart, Cheap Street, Sherbome): Cabaret-style pop.

Nicola Young (Spa Hotel, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): A debut here for Nicola.

Andy Arnold (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Authentic rock'n'roll and 70s classics from Andy.

Bill Solo (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth): Audience-participation-friendly pop and rock'n'roll.

Barry Hobson (RAOB Club, Weymouth): 50s to 90s pop covers from Barry.

Frank E Finn (Somerset Hotel, Weymouth)

SATURDAY

The Basement Band (Three Horseshoes, Mill Street, Burton Bradstock): World-class blues featuring Blues Band guitarist Steve Patterson. A must-see for blues lovers.

X Goliath (Old George, Trinity Street, Dorchester): This looks like a goody. Free, Spencer Davis and Cream to contemporary rock from Devon-based ex-pro musicians.

Channel 4 (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): Zac and the boys are recording a live CD tonight, and you can be a part of it.

Konar T (Hope & Anchor, Bridport).

The Searchers/Linda Gail Lewis/The Four Pennies (Pavilion Theatre, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Marco has the details of this cracking triple bill. Tickets are £13.50 (£12 senior citizens, £8 children), available on 01305 783225.

Van Halen Tribute with Unchained (Finn M'Coul's, Weymouth): A brand-new Van Halen tribute band formed by Chris Watson of Alike Cooper, making their debut Weymouth appearance. More info on the band is available online at www.vh-unchained.com

Motel 6 (The Tickled Hippy, The Esplanade, Weymouth): It's the opening night of the upstairs part of The Tickled Hippy, Weymouth's newest beach bar. 9pm start.

Hexagon (Wyke Regis Working Men's Club): Had to mention Hexagon's last-ever gig! Free for members and their guests, £1 for visitors.

Splinter (Excise House, Weymouth): Rumour has it that one of Hexagon's members will be joining Splinter soon. Watch this space...

Speed Handbag (Jolly Sailor, Portland). Disco delights and cheesy pop tarts from the cheesy pop tarts themselves. From 11pm.

Retro (Weymouth Working Men's Club): Eddie Cochran to Elvis, Chris Rea to REM from these experienced players.

Freak Circus (George Inn, Weymouth): Post-punk gothic influenced original material of the highest order.

First Men on the Sun (Royal Oak, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): Chris Rea and David Gray to Chillis and U2 from Tim and company.

Time Out (Britannia Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland): Blues to Floyd plus original material.

Bill Solo (George Inn, Refome, Portland).

Gut & Steel (Hine Bar, Beaminster): 60s to contemporary pop and rock covers from Andy and Mark.

Ian Sedwell (Sailor's Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth).

Piano Dentists (Anchor Inn, Seatown, Chideock, near Bridport): Carefully-chosen pop gems from Lucy and Al.

Gigolo (Bridge Inn, Bridge Inn Lane, Preston, Weymouth): Pop covers from Weymouth's family band.

Johnny Mac (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth): Johnny pays tribute to Rod Stewart.

Carlos (RAOB Club, Crescent Street, Weymouth): The return of the erstwhile Los Bravos hombre.

Frank E Finn (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Celtic airs to rock'n'roll from Frank.

Jim Derek (Basement Bar, Edenhurst Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Songs from the shows to more contemporary pop from the one they call The Godfather.

SUNDAY

Bitter Little Cider Apples (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): If you're a fan of quirky, intricately structured pop rock, look no further.

Armitage Shanks (Three Compasses, Charminster): Here's the next generation of Portland's excellent crop of bands.

Basement Band and friends (Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock): The basement boys invite some musical mates to join them for the afternoon.

Shavali/The Kotel Ensemble (Bradford Peverell village hall): Part two of the sticks tour. Tickets for tonight are £6, £4 for children or £17 for a family ticket, available on 01305 268156.

Jim Reynolds (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): Blues-orientated original material from this highly-rated artiste. Music from 6pm.

Outsider (Finn M'CouI's, Weymouth): Party-time pop and rock from this Bristol band.

The Two Dicks (George Inn, Portland): Dick Wardell and Richie Robertson are expert exponents of delta-style blues. Music from 4.30pm.

Jam with Tia (Galley Bistro, Hope Square, Weymouth): Tia hosts this regular acoustic jam session.

Watkins & Heron (Poet Laureate, Pummery Square, Poundbury, Dorchester): Traditional folk to contemporary material, all performed with harmonic splendour by Ken and Angela.

Gut & Steel (King's Arms, Trinity Street, Weymouth).

Julie Dunn (Bottle Inn, Marshwood, Bridport): Julie hosts this jazz caf session, from 2pm.

Ann & Norman (Black Bear, Wool): Decades of pop from the Stagles.

Barry Hobson (Britannia Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland): Jimmy Thunder's musical mentor goes solo, from 3.30pm to 6.30pm.

Andy Arnold (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Lunchtime gig.

B J McCabe (Ranch House, Osmington Mills, Weymouth).

Jim Derek (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth).

MONDAY

Speed Handbag (Weymouth Esplanade, opp. Alexandra Gardens): Weymouth's foremost light entertainers kick off the Great Days of Summer series, followed by a spectacular fireworks display over the bay. Music from 7.30.

Eddie Hintze (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Pop to opera from Eddie and his keyboard.

TUESDAY

Dave Rickard (No 10 Cafe Bar, East Street, Bridport): Jazz to blues to folk from half of String Whistle.

Gut & Steel (King's Arms, Weymouth).

B J McCabe (Ranch House, Osmington Mills, Weymouth).

Mark Allen (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Keyboards, guitar and vocals from Mark.

WEDNESDAY

Speed Handbag (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth): The Handbags clinch the hardest working band in showbusiness title this week.

Tom and the Teachers (Three Compasses, Charminster): Tutors of the forthcoming Blues Summer School at Thomas Hardye School in Dorchester gather for a jam.

Gut & Steel (The Isobar, Weymouth).

B J McCabe (Richmoor Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth).