IF YOU’VE experienced the unbridled joy of my Air FM 107.2 radio show anytime over the last four and a bit years, you’ll be aware I’m a huge fan of soul and funk music.

So much so, I overheard one of the station executives talking about ‘our soul DJ’ the other day and knew it was me he was referring to.

And if you like your soul and funk, you’ll no doubt Get Ready! and dig out your dancing pants for the all-dayer at the Spice Ship in Weymouth tomorrow, Saturday, September 16, for their Soultember spectacular.

Their Maytown event last year (Motown in May) was a big smash and this year’s Soultember (Soul in September, just saw what they did there…GAH!) do is likely to be much the same with a top line-up of bands and artists. So here’s What’s Going On… Kicking off at 1.30 it’s Scott Bench Taylor, followed by 10-piece Motown covers experts The Devotions who will have you Dancing in the Streets with two hours of the sounds of the motor city.

Alexis takes up the mic after that, and she’ll be followed by Drifters tribute band Let’s Drift.

Scott Bench-Taylor is back for his early evening set and bringing the day to a close will be the pretty wonderful Wonderband, performing the tunes of Earth, Wind and Fire, Chic and, of course, all the biggies from little Steveland Hardaway Judkins himself.

I Heard it Through the Grapevine that there are a few tickets priced at £17.50 available from the pub on Preston Road, so Reach Out and They’ll be There for you: Signed, Sealed and Delivered, no doubt.

(Sorry about the song titles, I Can’t Help Myself…) Moving on, and the good village people of Osmington are in for another treat tomorrow night, Saturday, September 16.

After the coup of landing Brookes Williams for their Osfest bash back in August, they’ve now been and gone and booked Phil Beer out of top folk-rock outfit Show of Hands for a solo show.

Not only is Phil an all-round multi-instrumental whizz, he can tell a darn good yarn with a hilarious and engaging series of anecdotes, as well as a classy catalogue of original songs and popular standards.

Tickets for tomorrow’s show at the village hall are £14 and available from 07816 832554.

And there’s a few chances to catch Mark Sprex round these parts this weekend.

He’s usually somewhere in Europe with his band the Rhumba Kings but you can catch him at the Britannia on Portland tonight, Friday, September 15, and an acoustic set of bluesy rockabilly gems at Revolution on Trinity Road in Weymouth on Sunday, September 17 from 2-4pm.

And finally, brothers, sisters, you may have heard it on the news but in case you didn’t Eighties electropop icons Heaven 17 are back on the road and are down this way with a gig at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton next Saturday, September 23.

The brainchild of Martyn Ware following his traumatic split from the Human League, Heaven 17 were one of THE bands of the decade with chart-worrying belters such as Temptation, Fascist Groove Thang, Come Live with Me and their multi-selling album Penthouse and Pavement.

Martyn is joined by original singer Glenn Gregory for an evening of their first material for 12 years plus all those classics.

Tickets are £26 from the box office on 01258 475137.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (15)

Surfing Birds (Finns, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Park, Weymouth)

Dave Griff (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Colin Shore (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Du Kane (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

The Usual Suspects (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Katz (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Guns of Navarone (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Karen Kay (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Pelle Van Smith, Stacey Lou (Tom Browns, Dorchester) from 7.30.

Sprex Mafia (Britannia, Portland)

SATURDAY (16)

Scott Bench Taylor, Wonderband, Let’s Drift, Alexis, The Devotions (Spice Ship, Weymouth) It’s Soultember, from 1.30pm.

The Shakespearos (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Finns, Weymouth)

Phil Beer (Osmington village hall)

Cuba Libre (Roral Exchange, Portland)

Hot Bacon (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Mark Davis (Boot, Weymouth) 3-6pm

Xander and the Keys (Boot, Weymouth)

Replay (RBL Club, Portland)

The Prairie Dogs (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Hurricanes (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

In The Mix (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Hustle (Market House, Weymouth)

Steve Nicolas (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Moonstone (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) 12.30-2.30pm.

Best Kept Secret (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Bemis (Ropemakers, Bridport)

JD Acoustic (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Tori Reed Band (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

SUNDAY (17)

Minor Fret (Boot, Weymouth)

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Aaron and Karina (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) From 3pm, followed by..

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jack and Matt (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

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

Scots Dan’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 4pm.

Seabass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

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

Mark Sprex (Revolutions, Trinity Rd, Weymouth) 2-4pm.

Stacey Lou (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Dakota (Hope and Anchor, Bridport) 4.30-7pm.

Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

MONDAY (18)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (19)

Owen Lister (Boot, Weymouth)

Open Mic with Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (20)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (21)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

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

FRIDAY (22)

Drive By Jammin’ (Finns, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Park, Weymouth)

Sammie (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Karen Kay (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Mercy Lounge (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

JD Acoustic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)