There’s no doubting the willingness of musicians in south and west Dorset to offer their not inconsiderable talents to help a worthy cause, often giving up their time and immense nift at the drop of a plectrum or drumstick.

And there are two events coming which back this up starting with Duckfest 19 which opens tonight, Friday August 9 and continues tomorrow, Saturday August 10 on Hintock Farm at Charminster, just outside Dorchester.

This family-friendly festival has been going for a number of years now and is raising money for the Ducks and Drakes Cancer Trust which was founded in 2012 to raise awareness of bowel cancer in young people in Dorset, support sufferers and their families and also fund specialist nurses at Dorset County Hospital.

A very impressive cause, I think you’ll agree, and there’s an equally impressive line-up live music this weekend, starting tonight with fiddle-fuelled fire of Blackwater County with support from Joy Division homagistes Komakino and rockers Biproxy.

Saturday’s headlines are Kings of Lyon, widely regarded as Europe’s number one tribute to Nashville’s hirsute Followill family, so much so that all the band actually grow beards during their set.

They’ll be performing all your favourites, from the debut album of Youth and Young Manhood up to the present day, and obviously smashing all the biggies including Use Somebody and Your Sex is On Fire. (Have you tried putting some yoghurt on it, madam?)

Also on the bill tomorrow are Tequila Mockingbird, Vanilla Radio, Shelby’s Elbows, Scoot, The Million Dollar Bash and The Leggomen.

There are still some tickets available so check eventbrite.co.uk for details.

Incidentally, sports fans, Hintock Farm nestles beneath the mighty Wolefdale golf course where I shot an all-time record of 317 over Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of this week. What a round that was…

Moving on and there’s another live music fundraiser on Sunday, August 18, which is well worth checking out.

The Gloucester pub on Weymouth seafront is hosting the all-day Festival for Christina, a seven-year-old girl who has a brain stem tumour and who needs specialist treatment in Germany at one of the few clinics in the world that can offer it.

Christina is the daughter of soul singer Kenny Thomas, who had smash hits back in the 90s with songs Outstanding and Thinking About Your Love.

Kenny, who has family in this part of the world, is a good friend of Gloucester guv’nor Mike Richards who offered to host the event.

And there’s a terrific line-up of live entertainment with local favourites Danny Adams, Alexis and The Stereoironics plus tributes to Michael Jackson, Pink and George Michael among others, plus a performance from the man himself, Kenny Thomas.

A great cause and well worth supporting. See you there.

Till next time…

TONIGHT 9

Blackwater County, Komakino, Biproxy (Duckfest, Hintock Farm, Charminster)

Jess Upton, Steve Wilson, Robbie McIntosh (Upwey village hall)

The Sound of Springsteen (Weymouth Pavilion)

Dead Man’s Clique (Finns, Weymouth)

Rob Davis (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Glass Spiders (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Danny Adams and Stacey Lou (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Something Borrowed (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

John Ramon (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Rachel Scott (Waterloo, Weymouth)

Pretty Lustful (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Aura, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Club Bambooza, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Mark Davis (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Fat Badger, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 10

Kings of Lyon, Leggomen, Million Dollar Bash, Tequila Mockingbird, Vanilla Radio, Tripod, Scoot (Duckfest, Hintock Farm, Charminster)

Oasiss, Chief Lazarus, Leggomen (Spafest, Famous Old Spa, Weymouth)

Bifrost (Finns, Weymouth)

Mojo (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Hustle (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Loose Connections (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) 12-30-2.30pm.

Glass Spiders (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Ashley Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Outrage (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Aaron and Karina (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 2pm

Skint Imperials (Tides Inn, Weymouth)

Loose Connections (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

The Shakespearos (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Fleur Lindsay (Little Ship, Portland)

Kathy (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Moondog (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 11

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

John Ramon (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Replay (Red Lion, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 2pm

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Steve Wilson and Simon Felton (Kings Arms, Portesham) 3-5pm.

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth)  From 3pm.

Folk, Country and Blues Evening (Old Town Hall, Weymouth) 7pm.

Du Kane (Park, Weymouth) 3-5pm.

Tania’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

Mark Davis (Spice Ship, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

MONDAY 12

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 13

Mike Robbins (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 14

Bows and Bunny Ears: Ariane Grande and Jojo Siwa tribute (Weymouth Pavilion)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return,  Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY 15

80s Mania (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return,  Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

Mark Davis (New Vic, Weymouth)

FRIDAY 16

Biproxy (Finns, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Long Dog (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tequila Mockingbird (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Carley Varley (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Jamie Adams (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Danny Adams (Waterloo, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Lily and the Rockets (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)