LIFE, as profoundly summarised by that great contemporary philosopher Ronan Keating, is indeed a roller coaster.

You queue for ages and when it’s your turn to have a go, you’re left feeling sick, is what I think he’s trying to convey to us.

Take, for example, the England football team. Cruelly deceptive, leading us to think maybe this year would be our year, they came unstuck when it mattered and confirmed what we already knew deep down: Some players still can’t hit a cow’s arse with a banjo from 12 yards.

Mind you, one thing I didn’t know was that England striker Danny Welbeck’s father Stan is one of the army’s top bomb disposal experts. Yes, Stan Welbeck.

So now it’s up to the great healing powers of music to cheer us all up, and what a bumper bonanza week ahead there is in store.

It’s often said that if you can remember the 1960s, you couldn’t have been there.

So if your recollections are hazy at best and you want to know what all the fuss was about, you should get yourself down to Finn’s in Weymouth next Friday, July 6, for an appearance by Break On Through, without doubt the greatest Doors tribute band out there.

Hailing from New York, Break On Through are on a short European tour and have criss-crossed the world with their authentic tribute.

Their sound is uncanny which is not surprising as they use genuine vintage instruments – the Vox Continental organ and Fender Rhodes piano bass for example – as used by Ray Manzarek back in the day.

But it’s leather-clad singer Ed Coloracci who is the real deal as lizard king Jim Morrison.

But just don’t take my word for it. As Doors guitarist Robbie Krieger himself says: “He sounds just like Jim. A real strong voice.” Admission next Friday is £7.

Have a look for yourself on line at dorsetecho.co.uk/leisure/livemusic andclubs Okay, you can come back now….

Moving right along, it’s been an amazing year for Hourglass Promotions, who have more than succeeded in their mission to put Weymouth on the map for touring bands.

And next Friday, July 6, it’s another blockbuster at the Pavilion in Weymouth with an appearance by rising megastars Lower Than Atlantis.

The pop/metal outfit from Watford are taking no prisoners on their way to the top and you can catch ‘em while they’re scorching hot before their summer tour of festivals including Reading and Leeds.

Support for next Friday’s bash comes in the shape of Mallory Knox, Max Raptor and 8 Days Later. Tickets at £12 are available from the Pavilion box office on 01305 783225.

Now then, it’s great to see a local independent outfit doing well and Weymouth-based record label Art Is Hard are showcasing two of their up and coming bands tonight, Friday, June 29, at the Lazy Lizard in Weymouth.

Falmouth-based garage rockers Black Tambourines top the bill with support from label mates Best Friends, who hail from Sheffield.

The Black Tambourines have undertaken two mahoosive tours already this year, including a sell-out date in Barcelona, and have been recording with former Creation Records major domo Alan McGhee.

And, according to the NME, they are one of the bands to look out for this year.

Best Friends take their inspiration from 60s pop such as the Beach Boys and Phil Spector (Full marks for that, chaps) and released their charmingly-titled EP Throwing Up back in the spring.

It all kicks off from 10pm tonight and let’s hope there are more Art Is Hard nights in the future.

And finally, reaction to the Purbeck Isle tragedy has been quite incredible.

Tens of thousands of pounds have been raised for the families of Dave McFarlane, Rob Prowse and Jack Craig, the three fishermen who lost their lives when their crabber went down off Portland in May.

And this Sunday, July 1, it’s time for the music community to do its bit with an all-day bash at the Sailors Return in Weymouth.

Starting at midday with The Dinnerladies, the line-up is as follows: Vanilla Radio at 1pm, A Boy Named Ceri at 2pm, The Crack at 3pm, Tom Caulfield at 4pm, Speedway Snails at 5pm, Hustle at 6pm, followed by a flotilla going up the harbour.

Then it’s down to Reactor, who are fronted by Dave’s brother Steve, to finish it all off from 8pm.

Some great bands with some great music, with some fantastic prizes in the raffle with all money going to the Purbeck Isle Memorial Fund. Make an effort to be there, okay?

Right, that’s it for this week. I’m off to finish reading my book about the quality of Irish goalkeepers over the past few years. It’s called Fifty Grades of Shay. See you next time…