SPRING has quite clearly sprung and if you can resist the temptation to go out picking bluebells or gambol in the meadows like a frolicking lamb, there’s some tip-top live music events coming up.

Should you recover from this bank holiday weekend’s monster bashes in time, there’s another juggernaut of jollity coming right up in the shape of Air FM’s AirFest next weekend on Saturday, May 11 and Sunday, May 12.

As I’m sure many of you will know, Air FM is Weymouth’s own community radio station and will be celebrating getting its FM licence that weekend with a gi-nagerous live music bash on Weymouth beach, featuring a wide range of entertainment.

What it also means is that you’ll be able to listen not just online at aironair.co.uk, but you’ll be able to get their shows on your radio at home or in the car on 107.2FM.

You’ll probably even be able to pick it up on your toaster, your iPod or even your iRon.

The party kicks off on the Saturday with Weymouth Operatic Society at midday, followed by: 12.30pm: Bishan Bollywood dancing. 1pm: Quay Theatre Arts. 1.30pm: Ty Xanders. 2pm; Bovington Military Wives Choir. 3pm: Steve Wilson Band. 4pm; Shooter. 5pm: Magic Drum. 6pm: Aiden Metaflow. 6.30pm; All About Gaga. 7pm: Isaiah Dreads and Francis Anyanjo and Jay. 8pm: The Helm. 9pm: Speedway Snails.

And there’s more to come on Sunday, starting at midday with WOW Youth Musical Theatre, followed by: 12.30pm One Voice. 1pm: Julie Storey’s Let’s Dance. 1.30pm: Tia Roos. 2pm: Rachel Scott’s Girls. 2.30pm: Ian Sedwell. 3pm; Amy Mayes. 4pm: Island Voices. 4.30pm: Logan Carter. 5pm: RPM. 6pm: The Dinnerladies. 7pm: Nick Tatham. 8pm: Danny and the Goosemen. 9pm; Jess Upton, Steve Wilson and Robbie McIntosh.

Phew, don’t know about you but I’m going to need a sit down after that lot. Get me a deckchair… And finally, it’s congratulations to And Finally, the Phil Collins tribute band who picked up the National Tribute Award for best tribute act as voted for by the Agents Association (GB).

Now, whether you like the balding left-handed singing drummer’s music or not, this is a BIG DEAL in the wonnerful world of showbusiness and it’s a fabulous achievement for the ten-piece band which comprises many top musos from round these parts, including keyboardist Barbara Whiteside (Balance of Power, One II One), drummer and mainman Tim Harper and sound engineer Mike Hallett. As Barbara tells me: “It’s quite amazing. To be chosen as the best tribute act in the country from more than 50 other finalists is a real thrill.

“We’ll now be playing a gala night in front of an audience of UK and European agents, so who knows where it’ll take us?”

Great stuff and congrats to all involved and you can catch the band locally at the Nothe Fort in Weymouth on June 22.

Right, that’s it for this week.

I’m off up the woods to pick bluebells. Wanna come?

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

Today (3)

Fluke (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Kings Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)

Chloe and Tom (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Danny and the Goosemen (Moby Dick’s, Esplanade, Weymouth)

North and South (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (The Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Arron King (Britannia, Fortuneswell, Portland) It’s Elvis.

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Boy Le Monti (Halsey Arms, Pulham)

Tripod (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Lo Numbers (Royal Exchange, Weston Rd, Portland)

Georgie Broad and the Breakwater Band (Royal Breakwater, Castletown, Portland)

Nightshade (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Weymouth)

Ansell and Gretal (Tom Brown’s, High East Street, Dorchester)

Burning Glass (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Rockin’ Rich (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth) From 8pm. All styes welcome.

Billy Solo (Wellington, Arms, Weymouth) Mr Tambourine Man plays a song for you.

Saturday (4)

The Vultures (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth) Classic pub rock.

Legomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Slipped Disc (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

Flybone Yellow (John Gregory, Southill, Weymouth)

Shelby’s Elbows, No Country For Old Men, Fill The Sky, Sketchy (Bridport Arts Centre) The Summer Sounds event, from 8pm.

Foo Fakers (New Vic, Esplanade, Weymouth) Foo Fighters tribute.

Devil’s Rejects (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Howling at the Moon (Kings Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Working Men’s Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Icarus (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (New Star Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Flatland Boogie Woogie Band (Black Dog, St Mary St, Weymouth)

Sarah Gee (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Pepperhead (Old Ship, High West St, Dorchester)

Georgie Broad and the Breakwater Band (Belvedere, High West St, Weymouth)

Mixer (Market House Tavern, Maiden St, Weymouth)

Gigolo (Conservative Club, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth)

BJ McCabe (Bridge Inn, Preston Rd, Weymouth)

Deep Fried Bananas (The Park, Grange Road, Weymouth)

Tempo (RBL Blub, Fortuneswell, Portland)

The Veterans (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Sunday (5)

Tom Caulfield, Chloe and Tom, Legomen, Amy Mayes, Shooter, Danny and the Goosemen, Electric Bucket, Hustle, Cheap Shots and many more (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth) It’s the Spring Break, from 3pm downstairs and 5pm upstairs.

Stereoironics, Amy Mayes, Surfin’ Birds, Legomen and many more (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth) It’s the Mayfest, from 2pm.

The Dinnerladies (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth) From 9pm.

Lo Numbers (Rumshack, St Mary’s Passage, Weymouth) 8pm.

Jinder, John Stone, Legomen, Andy Grant, Bit o’Ruff (The Boot, Weymouth) All day, from 1pm.

Finnian (Kings Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth) Robin (Black Dog, St Mary St, Weymouth) and also...

Robin (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee and Jon Storey (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Nathan Jon (Belvedere, High West St, Weymouth)

Six String Steve (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Old Ship, Upwey) 2.30pm.

Karen Kay and Brian Paul (Old Castle, Weymouth) 7pm.

Pete Bunn (Britannia, Fortuneswell, Portland) 4pm.

Tripod (Kings Arms, Portesham) 9pm

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

The Crack frontman, on his own, from 3pm, followed by Ricky Solo (T-Bar, St Edmund St, Weymouth) From 8pm.

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey and friends host this regular Sunday acoustic jam session. Music from 8pm.

Monday (6)

Mr Bucket (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Tuesday (7)

Jinder (The Boot, Weymouth)

Acoustically Acclaimed (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth) The weekly unplugged jam session.

Wednesday (8)

Funky Jam Night (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth) With your hosts Cosmic Slop.

Jam with Mark (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey hosts this regular acoustic jam session.

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth)

Thursday (9)

Powelly (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth) Open Mic Night (The Cornwall, Dorchester) Big Al Whittle hosts.

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester) All backline provided, come on down and have a play.

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth).

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland) Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) 8pm.

Singalonga Dave (Weymouth Working Men’s Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Friday (10)

Surfing Birds (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Accidentals (Kings Arms, Trinity Rd, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (The Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Skinful (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Matt Summers (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes Band (Royal Exchange, Weston Rd, Portland)

The Lizzards (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Weymouth)

Jack Harrison and Matt Benjamin (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

Paul Anthony (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Arms, Weymouth)