YOU can tut and walk on by, pretending you didn’t notice, or you can do something to help the homeless.

And that’s what some of this region’s most talented and kind-hearted musicians are doing again with the third Gimme Shelter festival, to be held at the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth on Easter Sunday, April 1.

It may well be All Fools Day, but homelessness is no laughing matter and the two previous festivals have raised well over £4,000 to help the vulnerable locally.

There’s a terrific line-up for this year’s bash with The Surfing Birds, Cuba Libre, Meat Sweats, Toxic Fish, Mad Ox Brothers, Electric Soup and the Million Dollar Bash and many more all donating their time and considerable talent on the Electric Stage for free to help others.

Meanwhile, on the Acoustic Stage at the front of the Smugglers, Minor Fret, Edd Bleach, Kipper, Danx and Squidhead, and many more with equally daft names, will be doing their thing, but not making so much racket.

As Martin Saint, one of the event organisers, tells me: “I’m always grateful to everyone who gets involved, not only the performers but also Rhos and Anna at the Smugglers.

“As far as the size of the festival is concerned, the sky’s the limit. The bigger it gets, the more people we can help.

“Homelessness can happen to anyone and it’s said you’re only two wage packets away from it.”

This time the money raised will be going to Weymouth’s Lantern Centre, which is an independent charity formed in 1983 and helps marginalised and vulnerable people in Weymouth and Portland, and also the Homeless Bus project, set up by Emily and Eddie McCarron.

It’s just £5 on the door at the Smugglers from 1pm on Sunday, April 1, and donations for a food and clothing bank will be most welcome.

Moving on, and some of the talented youngsters at the Modern Drum Academy will staging a showcase this Sunday, March 25 at the New Vic in Weymouth, from 4pm.

As part of their course, the pupils, aged from nine to thirteen, have to organise a gig as well as learn how to play and sing, so here we are…

The three bands, The Will, Limited Edition and Junior Beats, will be performing songs from such artists as Queen, Stevie Wonder, Bon Jovi and Duffy and have been well tutored in autograph signing and dealing with requests to: ‘Play Something I Know’.

And, finally let’s hear it for showbiz legend Bobby Davro, who is currently starring at Weymouth Pavilion with Dani Harmer in Beauty and the Beast for the Easter panto. (Tickets available from the box office on 01305 783225.)

Bobby has been enjoying Weymouth’s terrific live music scene this week and has joined both Martin Freed and Du Kane at their Duke of Cornwall gigs for an impromptu jam and a few impressions.

Bobby’s a great sport and it must be a genuine thrill for him to sing with such celebrities...

Right, that’s it for this week. I’ll be back next Friday with a full round-up of all the great live music over the Easter break, including all the runners and riders at the monster two-day Quayside Music festival in Weymouth.

If you’d like your gig included, send me the details to gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk. Thanks!

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (23)

Freezer (Finns, Weymouth)

Chill (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Helena Mace (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Elvis Pete (Park, Weymouth)

The Glass Spiders (Café Jagos, Dorchester) 11pm.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Average Wyke Band (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Farrago (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Karen Kay (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Captain’s Beard (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Leggomen (Brewhouse & Kitchen, Dorchester)

SATURDAY (24)

Guns or Roses, Tripod, Danny Adams (Weymouth Pavilion)

Captain’s Beard (Finns, Weymouth)

Vinyl Monkeys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Katz (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Red Crow (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Restless (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Glass Spiders (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Chief Lazarus (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Revolution (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

John Stone Band (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Neil Wale (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Replay (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Sawn-off Shooter (Punchbowl, Portland)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Admiral Hardy, Weymouth)

Stars in their Eyes final with Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Tori Read Band (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Gut and Steel (Nags Head, Lyme Regis)

SUNDAY (25)

The Will, Limited Edition, Junior Beats (New Vic, Weymouth) Showcase for young bands from Weymouth’s Modern Drum Academy. From 4pm.

Wilson (Old Ship, Upwey, Weymouth 3pm.

Acoustic Dolmen (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm, and 8pm.

Mutter and Clive (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2pm.

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

Andy Grant (Vinny@6, Dorchester) 4pm.

Acoustic Paisley (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 6.30pm.

The Rat Pack (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Dorset Wrecks (George, Portland) 4pm.

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

Sheryl Lee (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Andrew Hurst (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Revolution (Three Compasses, Charminster)

MONDAY (26)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (27)

Gary Puckett and the Union Gap (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ansell and Gretal (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Martin Freed’s Open Mic (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (28)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (29)

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (30)

The Shakespearos (Finns, Weymouth)

Vici Yates (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Lo Numbers (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Hot Bacon (Park, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Rock Band (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Barry Paul as Elvis (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Royal Exchange, Portland)

The Intercepteurs (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)