ALL you good boys and girls who have written to Santa asking for a reggae-breaks-jungle mash-up with added rappa gangsta swagga for Christmas this year are in luck.

And your presents are being delivered early this year in the shape of Barry Ashworth and his Dub Pistols motley crew who are returning to Weymouth yet again with a gig at Actors next Friday, December 8.

Celebrating an amazing 20 years of tearing up dancehalls, clubs, pubs and festival fields and generally getting away with it, they released their seventh studio album Crazy Diamonds last month to more rave reviews and are touring the UK promoting it.

Virtually all the dates on this tour have been sold out, which is why they’re sneaking the Weymouth gig in under the radar which is why you need to be quick and snap up a ticket from the Maiden Street venue. They’re just a mere £10 and support on the night comes from local hipsters Cuba Libre.

Moving on, and the musical heritage of South Dorset and Weymouth in particular is legendary.

Last September’s reunion gig for bands from the 60s, 70s and 80s held at the Centenary Club in Weymouth was a huge success, selling out within a matter of days and raising more than £4,000 for Weldmar.

And there’s another gig coming up with two of the bands who reformed specially for that remarkable evening: Package Deal and Brahms and Liszt will be at the Centenary Club again on Friday December 15 for another one-off show.

Tickets are just £5 from the club on 01305 839310 but are limited so get your bottoms in gear, okay?

From the old rockers of yesteryear to the rising stars of tomorrow and the young students at the Modern Drum Academy in Weymouth are hosting their first gig tomorrow, Saturday December 2, at the New Vic in Weymouth.

As academy supremo Antoine Edery tells me: “The academy started a workshop back in September with the aim of putting a band together and getting a gig by the end of term and they’ve succeeded with two bands performing tomorrow: The Will and Junior Beats.”

So far, my experience of putting a band together involves finding a rehearsal room large enough for the singer’s ego and guitarist’s pedal board and someone willing to help the bass player tie his shoelaces for him.

I’m sure the kids will have no such difficulties and it’s going to be great night so pop on down from 7pm and support the next generation of local musos.

And finally, if you like fish and chips, a good pub quiz and some top sounds from the Sixties, you’re obviously a fabulous person.

And you’ll be more than interested to know the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth are hosting an evening devoted to such pleasures next Wednesday, December 6.

The Kwis, Kod and Katz evening (Blimey, who writes their publicity? Is it Slade?) features a fish and chip supper, a pub quiz and then top tunes from The Katz, one of Weymouth’s foremost Sixties bands.

Tickets are just £6 in advance from the pub and all proceeds go towards the Fortuneswell Unit at DCH which, as anyone who has had any dealings with them will attest, is a very worthwhile cause indeed.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (1)

Lo Numbers (Finns, Weymouth)

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

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Pelle van Smith (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Dave Griff’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Revolution (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Compass (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Freak Circus (Park, Weymouth) After 17 years, the Freaks’ final gig.

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tom Toomey (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Leggomen (Brewhouse and Kitchen, Dorchester) Followed by..

The Leggomen (Aura, Weymouth)

Du Kane (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Johnny Mac (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Shelby’s Elbows (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (2)

Bad Intention (Finns, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Market House, Weymouth)

The Will, Junior Beats (New Vic, Weymouth) Students from Weymouth’s Modern Drum Academy. From 7pm.

The Katz (George, West Bay, Bridport)

Pronghorn (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

All Night Workers Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Katz (George, West Bay, Bridport)

Dale Fender Band (RBL Club, Marnhull)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Average Wyke Band (Park, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Wyke Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Precinct of Sound (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Andy Grant (Boot, Weymouth) 3-5pm.

Andy Grant Trio (Crown, Bridport)

V8 Hearts (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Leggomen (Thimble Inn, Piddletrenthide) Followed by..

The Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Black Dog, Weymouth)

DnD (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

BJ McCabe (Bridge Inn, Preston Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Colin’s Community Club, Blandford)

NUMB (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Southern Sinners (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (3)

Andrew Rivers Tone (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Singalong with Roger Mac (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

Amy and the Raven (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 3pm.

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

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Sunday Blues Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth) 3pm.

One Fat Santa (Vinny@6 North Sq, Dorchester) 3pm.

Finnian McGurk (Boot, Weymouth) 5pm.

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

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

Gut and Steel (George, Portland) 4pm.

Jim Reynolds (Ropemakers, Bridport)

V8 Hearts (Three Compasses, Charminster)

The Secrets (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Hope and Anchor, Bridport) 4-7pm

MONDAY (4)

Songwriters Open Mic (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Cheese, Wine and Jam Open Mic Night (Boot, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (5)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

Folk Session (Pilgrim House, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Open Mic (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

No Fixed Abode (Boot, Weymouth)

Jazz Sessions (Belvedere, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (6)

Kwis Kod Katz (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) Fundraiser for DCH Fortuneswell Ward, with a quiz, fish and chips and The Katz. £6.

Dave Bowen’s Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Du Kane (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (7)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Nathan Jon (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Jim and Joe’s Room Temperature Sandwiches (Belvedere, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (8)

Dub Pistols, Cuba Libre (Actors, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth)

The Katz (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Owen Lister (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Dakota (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Freezer (Park, Weymouth)

Amy with Stacey Lou (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Karina and Arron (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Big Heavy (Brewhouse and Kitchen, Dorchester)