Gig guide

Stocky Lamaar (King's Arms, High East Street, Dorchester): A rare and wondrous reunion from Dorset's three favourite demented ne'er-do-wells. Will they reinstate the infamous Magic Box tonight, where the audience are invited to write down requests to be plucked at random and loosely 'performed'? You'll have to wait and see.

Howling at the Moon (Lulworth Hotel, Main Road, West Lulworth): Celtic-fuelled, fiddle-fired rock as howling commences.

Zo Schwarz & Julie Lewis (The Isobar, Trinity Road, Weymouth): Blues/jazz vocalist Zo is joined by pianist extraordinaire Julie.

West & Nelson (Anchor Inn, Seatown, Chideock, near Bridport): It's Independence Day in the You Ess of Ay, so the Anchor celebrates in traditional style with this guitar/banjo country & bluegrass duo.

Jam On It (Excise House, Hope Square, Brewer's Quay, Weymouth): Regulars at this hugely-popular jam session may be doing a double-take when they turn up tonight, he suggests mysteriously...

Acoustic Jam Session (George Inn, Refome, Portland): Billy and Mickey from Hokum Society host this come-one, come-all have-a-go occasion.

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): It's the regular and long-running informal, unamplified folk tune session.

Steve Dubya (Cork & Bottle, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Steve's in residence here through the season.

Gigolo (RAOB Club, Crescent Street, Weymouth): The return of Weymouth's family band.

B.J. McCabe (Fairhaven Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Pop classics from Beejer.

Andy Arnold (Red Barn, Bagwell Farm, Chickerell, Weymouth): Fifties rock'n'roll to 70s segues from Andy.

FRIDAY (5)

Atlantic Crossing/Slipstream (Bull Hotel, East Street, Bridport): Classy ceilidh music from Vermont's top concert and contradance band, supported by local a capella quartet Slipstream. Doors open at 7.30pm, tickets £5 (£4 concs), available on (01308) 897278.

Vending Machine Repairmen (Royal Breakwater Hotel, Castletown, Portland): In the gardens - a charity gig for Clean Connections, an after-care service for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts. Set includes covers of toons by Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morissette, Pink Floyd, Dandy Warhols, Doobie Brothers. The band is Emma (vox), Martyn (bass), Weety (guitar), Shaun (guitar) and Iain (drums).

Tia (Three Horseshoes, Mill Street, Burton Bradstock): Excellently-crafted original material from this band of first-rate musicians.

The Black Dogs (Black Dog, St Mary Street, Weymouth): Tom leaps from behind the bar and puts together a band that football pundits would describe as 'a blend of youth and experience'.

Channel Four (Finn M'Coul's, Westham Road, Weymouth): Melodic, 80s orientated rock covers from Zac, Andy (my brother-in-law's new neighbour), Kev and Steve.

Steve Black (Hope & Anchor, St Michael's Lane, Bridport): Steve is an excellent songwriter and performer, and the spinner of good yarns.

Echo Roots meets the Green Lion (Old George, Trinity Street, Dorchester): It sounds like a classic Lee 'Scratch' Perry track and it's not far off; dub reggae on the decks plus live percussion.

Howling at the Moon (Little Ship, Victoria Square, Portland).

First Men on the Sun (Ropemaker's, West Street, Dorset): Fancy a hearty rendition of All The Young Dudes? Spot of Eagles? Some David Grey for those less advanced in years? FMOTS are your band.

Pond Life (Excise House, Hope Square, Weymouth): Pond Life is comprised of some of the best players around, and their choice of covers is impeccable.

The Morphs (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): Britpop and beyond (Oasis, Blur, Travis) from this new young band.

The Untrustables (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): Pop covers with some very classy sax from Chris and Kim.

Ken Watkins (Elm Tree Inn, Langton Herring, near Weymouth): Kenny provides the ideal acoustic ambience for this idyllic boozer.

Jeffers'n'Jon (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth): Did you know that when Jon goes out solo he calls himself Jefferson Jon? Neat, huh?

Fahrenheit (White Hart, Cheap Street, Sherbome): Pop covers, cabaret-style, from this duo.

Paul Laming (Britannia Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland): Decades of pop.

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

Barry Hobson & Jumping Jimmy Thunder (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Jimmy returns from his trip of a lifetime in Gracelands. He sent Marco a postcard - see alongside, sob!

Bill Solo (Wellington Arms, St. Alban Street, Weymouth): Tons of pop and rock covers from Bill, wherein the audience gets a chance to have a good old sing.

SATURDAY (6)

Robbie McIntosh (Elm Tree Inn, Langton Herring): One not to be missed: A solo concert from the unfeasibly talented McIntosh, performing his own excellent compositions and material from Jerry Reed to Chopin.

Freak Circus (The George, Weymouth): The return of the fabulous furry Freaks. Copies of their new CD, Porcelain Girl, will be available.

Vending Machine Repairmen (Sisters of Mercy Convent, Wyke Road, Weymouth): More from the Vendors, from 2 to 4pm.

Driver (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): A plethora of rock covers from this trio, always up for a laugh.

Splinter (Excise House, Weymouth): Rock classics, performed by some excellent musicians.

Version 2:0 (Jolly Sailor, Portland): Garbage to Green Day, U2 to Undertones from Anjee and band.

First Offence (Finn M'CouI's, Weymouth): A dbut at Finn's for this Evesham-based band, playing rock and metal covers.

Insomnia (Ropemaker's, West Street, Bridport): Britpop to alt. rock from this increasingly-popular young band.

Watkins & Heron (Quay Inn, The Quay, Wareham): Kenny is joined by Angela tonight for some most harmonious offerings.

Piano Dentists (Sailor's Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth): And here's Kenny's wee girl Lucy, accompanied by Gothic Bishop Al.

Bill Solo (George Inn, Refome, Portland).

Tom Toomey (Anchor Inn, Seatown, Chideock, near Bridport): Tom is noted for his virtuoso guitar work and huge range of rock covers.

Rob Koral (No 10 Cafe Bar, East Street, Bridport): Expert solo jazz guitar from Rob.

Ann & Norman (Bridge Inn, Bridge Inn Lane, Preston, Weymouth): Pop covers, from the fifties to the noughties.

Jason B Walker (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth): Just up the road, its cabaret-style pop from Jason.

Bill Solo (George Inn, Refome, Portland).

Jim Derek (Lawrie's Jazz Bar, Edenhurst Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): The Godfather is in residence.

Paul Williams (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): More pop gems from Paul.

Word Get Out (RAOB Club, Weymouth): 50s to 90s covers from this sax/keyboards duo from Sherborne

SUNDAY (7)

Little Dixie (Jolly Sailor, Castletown, Portland): A 3pm start from Mutter Slater's funky soul, blues and new country outfit. More Slater originals are arriving on a weekly basis.

Bastardo Brothers (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): Rock on from 3pm.

World in a Jug (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth): These young jazzers return to their regular 1pm slot.

Mid-Life Crisis (Finn M'CouI's, Weymouth): Mellow rock and blues, from 7pm.

Rivers Run Deep (Clifton Hotel, Grove Road, Portland): Pop, soul and funky numbers from James and Sheryl.

Paul Garthwaite (John Gregory, Radipole Lane, Southill, Weymouth): The return of this jazz guitarist, with his truly remarkable 14-string guitar/fretless bass device.

Steve Dubya (The Sunday Club, Harbour Inn, Marine Parade, Lyme Regis): More from Steve, from 2 to 5pm.

Jam with Tia (Galley Bistro, Hope Square, Weymouth): Tia hosts this jam session, starting at 8pm.

The Phil A Show (Cork & Bottle, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Drew Peacock is your host at this session - which provides another chance for brave souls to take to the stage.

Stress and the Also-Rans (Three Compasses, Charminster): Great big rock in a great little boozer.

Frontline (King's Arms, Trinity Street, Weymouth): The brothers Huntingdon give you wondrous offerings, such as The Who, Simon & Garfunkel, Coldplay, the Bonzos (hurrah!), Small Faces and REM.

Mike van Driver (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth): MvD, a blast at last week's Victorian Street Fair, go inside to play a mix of pop, rock and country from 1 to 4pm.

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

Jim Derek (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth).

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

MONDAY (8)

Star Time 2002 (Chesham Suite, Hotel Rembrandt, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): The final of this talent show - details from Marco.

Paul Garthwaite (The Isobar, Trinity Road, Weymouth).

James Ross (Bar on the Corner, St Thomas Street, Weymouth): Mellow jazz sax from James.

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

TUESDAY (9)

Version 2:0 (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth).

Gut & Steel (Boot Inn, High Street, Weymouth): Louis Armstrong to America to Travis to Blink 182 from Andy and Mark.

Bruce & Co. (No 10 Cafe Bar, East Street, Bridport): We're in less-than-some information territory.

Tia and Smudge (The Isobar, Trinity Road, Weymouth): The guitar section of Tia's band strike out in duo mode.

Live Music Quiz Night (Cornwall Hotel, Alexandra Road, Dorchester): Want to turn your music knowledge into hard cash? There will be a £100 jackpot each week, available to the smart-*** who can correctly answer the most questions about songs played by the house band (Benny Wain et al).

Mark Allen (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Pop covers from Mark.

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

WEDNESDAY (10)

The Untrustables (The Isobar, Weymouth).

Emphasis (Three Compasses, Charminster).

Gut & Steel (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth).

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

Bill Solo (Waterloo, Grange Road, Weymouth).

CHRIS LONERGAN