THOSE of you who enjoy spending a few days up to your neck in other’s people’s effluence will no doubt be missing Glastonbury this year.

But fear not, festival fans, there’s a vast range of alternative options out there to get your outdoor fix of tents, wellies and rockin’ good times and there’s one coming up next weekend, with Jurassic Fields down at Bridport on Friday and Saturday, July 13 and 14.

Now in its fifth year, this family-friendly festival has grown and grown and aims to promote live music in the west Dorset area, by funding rehearsal facilities and generally support local creatives and musos.

There’s an impressive line-up this year, with the ever-popular Dub Pistols headlining on the main stage. Also appearing are Rusty Shackle, which sounds like something you should speak to your doctor about, Shoot The Moon, the marvellously-named Cockney Nutjob, The Leggomen and Black Water County.

Saturday’s roll of honour includes sarf London’s ska and reggae maestros The Dualers, the mighty Doctor and the Medics, Arcade Hearts and many more.

For the full SP and ticket info, check out jurassicfields.com Next up, and when a tribute band gets the thumbs-up from one of the band they are tributing, you know you’re on to a good thing.

And that’s very much the case with Dizzy Lizzy who have been devotedly recreating the absolute magic of Phil Lynott and Thin Lizzy since 1994.

Indeed, so good are they that Philomena Lynott, Phil’s ma, obvs, lauded them as the ‘the closest to playing my son’s music’.

They’ve also performed and toured with Eric Bell, Lizzy’s original guitarist, but the experience proved too much for him.

“I could only watch three numbers owing to the emotions. The resemblance to Phil and the mannerisms and playing, it was spooky – it made the hairs stand up on the back of my neck,” he said.

Yes, they’re THAT good.

And you can catch them next Saturday, July 14, when they play all the classic hits, including The Boys are Back in Town, Whiskey in the Jar, Jailbreak, Rosalie and so many, many more, at Finns in Weymouth.

It’s £6 on the door, by the way.

Moving on, and you could be forgiven for assuming McIntosh, Watkins, Swarbrick and Watkins were a firm of solicitors in Midsummer Murders, but you’d be wrong. In fact Robbie, Ken, Simon and Lucy are a fine group of players and all round good eggs and when they get together, it’s well worth being there.

So many people missed out on the chance to see them last time they played, they’re hosting another gig at the Old Town Hall in Weymouth tomorrow night, Saturday, July 7.

Tickets are £14 and are very limited so reserve yours RIGHT THIS VERY INSTANT from 01305 837299 or online at songsfromthehalls234@gmail.com.

And finally, the marvellous NHS celebrates its 70th birthday this year and remains one of this country’s greatest achievements and the envy of the world.

And you can join in the party this Sunday, July 8, from 2pm at Dorchester Cricket Club with a fundraising family fun day.

There’s a great line-up of live music too, with The Snot Rockets (love that name…), The Skimmity Hitchers, Kipper and Jamie McDonald all entertaining the punters.

And finally, finally, COME ON ENGLAND!

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (6)

Moscow Drug Club (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Toxic Fish (Finns, Weymouth)

Mercy Lounge with Billy Boy Miskimmin (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Ashley Day (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Dave Griff’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Shelby’s Elbows (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Katz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

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

Jolly Boys Outing (Park, Weymouth)

Kipper (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Darren H (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Hamish (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Frankie Finn (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (7)

McIntosh, Watkins, Watkins and Swarbrick (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Finns, Weymouth)

Blind Harvest (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Rock Apes (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Restless (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Glass Spiders (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Streetlife (Gloucester, Weymouth)

TBC (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

The Skones (Market House, Weymouth)

The Crack (Hardy’s , Dorchester)

The Katz (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Revolution (George, Portland)

Greg Agar (Star, Weymouth)

Nite Lite (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Blazing’ Strings (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Karen (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

SUNDAY (8)

The Snot Rockets, Kipper, Skimmity Hitchers, Jamie McDonald (Dorchester Cricket Club, Weymouth Avenue, Dorchester) NHS 70th birthday celebrations, from 2pm.

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

Replay (Red Lion, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 2pm.

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

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8pm.

Skint Imperials (George, Portland) 4pm.

Stour Valley Stompers (Ship, Wool) 4-6pm.

Georgie Broad (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Julie Lewis’s Jazz Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth)

JD Acoustic (Crown, Bridport) 4-6pm

MONDAY (9)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (New Vic, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (10)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dougie Cooper Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (11)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (New Vic ,Weymouth)

THURSDAY (12)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

JD Acoustic (New Vic, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (13)

Dub Pistols, Rusty Shackle, Shoot the Moon, Leggomen, Black Water County and many more (Jurassic Fields, Bridport)

Oas-is, Stereoironics (Weymouth Pavilion)

Dean Man’s Clique (Finns, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

David Howes (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Rich Baxter (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Inner City Smugglers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Royal Oak, Weymouth)