IT was World Mental health Day this week and it’s good to know there’s support and help at hand for those living in the Slough of Despond.

If you’re unfortunate enough to live in Slough, that’s even tougher.

But mental health, and particularly that of men, is a serious business and an event week aims to raise awareness and highlight some of to help available.

Dorchester Arts and Dorset Volunteer Centre have joined forces to host Brave Face, an evening of live music at Dorchester Corn Exchange on Wednesday, October 16, which will raise vital funds for the work of Dorset Mind.

The event celebrates the life of Andy Jacobs, a dedicated volunteer with both organisations, and the title comes from their shared belief in the importance of providing support and information so that men struggling with their mental health can open up and seek help, rather than just putting on a ‘brave face’.

Brave Face features appearances from tip-top hip-hop pioneers Cuba Libre, guitar ace Andy Grant and singer-songwriter Nick Tatham.

And as Cuba Libre’s Lewis Chambers tells me, it’s a cause very close to the band’s heart.

“Two of us work in the mental health sphere and the band has done a lot of work with the Dub Pistols for the Tonic Music for Mental Health charity.

“We feel very strongly about this and the subject is very much on our radar.”

These sentiments are echoed by Andy Grant, who tells me: “I’m only too happy to be part of this.

“Dorset Mind is a hugely important charity and the more we can open up and talk about mens’ mental health and help remove the stigma the better.

And Louise Regan of Dorset Mind adds: “We need to break down the stigma and normalise the subject.

“We are happy to talk about our physical health yet many of us still struggle to open up about our mental health. Dorset Mind offers several support groups in the area and most don’t require a referral.

“We believe everyone should be able to access support”

As well as a brilliant night of music, Seventh Seal will be on hand with a pop-up barber shop should you feel the need for a tuppenny whizz-round and something for the weekend during the gig and Dorset Mind will be there with information about the local support on offer.

Tickers at £7 are available from the box office on 01305 266926.

Moving on, and there’s a triple header coming up next Friday, October 18 at the Lazy Lizard in Weymouth.

Hometown heroes Toxic Fish will be headlining with their ska/punk/reggae mash-up with support from Melksham’s metal dubsters Hell Death Fury and Bristol-based trio Three Dead. Also on the bill is DJ Mr Kiplin who will no doubt be dropping some exceedingly good breaks.

If you’d like your live music event featured in the Echo Gig Guide, ping your shizzle to echogigguide@outlook.com

Till next time…

FRIDAY 11

The Billy Fury Years (Weymouth Pavilion)

Omega Project (Finns, Weymouth)

Balance of Power (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Pretty Lustful (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ben Lambert (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Danny Adams (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Darren H (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Komakino (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Under The Carousel (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Compass (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Uphill and Still (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Mojo (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Duke and the Broad’s Rat Pack (Duke of Albany,Weymouth)

Karen Kay (Black Dog, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 12

The Little Mix Experience (Weymouth Pavilion) 2pm

Believe: The Cher Songbook (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ironed Maiden, vs Forever Sabbath (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms)

The Edgelarks (Osmington village hall)

Dead Man’s Clique (Finns, Weymouth)

Dakota (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Inner City Smugglers (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Sticky Jam Band (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Neil Wale (Weymouth Conservative Club)

The Katz (Hope and Anchor, Bridport)

The New Beats (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Skinful (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (Reloved, Dorchester)

Usual Suspects (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Helena Mace and Grant James (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Compass (Park, Weymouth)

Elijah Wolf (Little Ship, Portland)

The Transitions (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany,Weymouth)

Freezer-ish (Three Compasses, Charminster) 6pm.

Total Madness (Black Dog, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 13

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

James Hollingsworth (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Skint Imperials (Britannia, Portland ) 5pm.

The Velvet Doonicans (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Elijah Wolf (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Di’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany,Weymouth)

Sunday Jam Session (Belvedere,Weymouth)

Strings and Reeds (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

MONDAY 14

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 15

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 16

Cuba Libre, Nick Tatham, Andy Grant (Corn Exchange, Dorchester) Brave Face, a fundraiser for Dorset Mind.

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

THURSDAY 17

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.

FRIDAY 18

Rock’n’Roll Dreams Come True: The Meat Loaf Story (Weymouth Pavilion)

Toxic Fish, Hell Death Fury, Three Dead, Mr Kiplin (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Komakino (Finns, Weymouth)

Bring Me the Pistols (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Transitions (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Brian Harris (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Katz (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Alexander Soul Man (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Aaron and Karina (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Ceri Dupree (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Milk & Two (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Jolly Boys Outing (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Skalatans (Ropemakers, Bridport)