EASTER eggs may have been on the supermarket shelves since Boxing Day but we’re almost there.

The daffodils are poking their heads out, the little lambs have joined Gambolers Anonymous, the sun has got his hat on and there’s a spring in our step. BOING!

We’re hurtling towards the first bank holiday weekend of the year and it’s going to massive, almost as big as that blackhole that’s been photographed.

It’s the Quayside Music Festival at the Rendezvous by Weymouth’s Town Bridge and this time it’s not one, not two but three days packed with top live music.

Just checking the weather forecast for next weekend and I see they give it cloudy cider, with an excellent  chance of shenanigans and good times, isolated outbreaks of regrettable dad dancing followed by thumping hangovers. What’s not to like?

Anyways, the whole shebang gets underway on Good Friday, April 19, from midday and it’ll ease you in gently with some jolly pleasant acoustic-style acts, kicking off with Hamish, followed on the hour by Afro Ninja, Identikit, Mama Feelgood, Arron and Karina, Ansell & Getal, M2, Between Bars with the disco delights of Hustle taking you into the large hours.

Saturday’s line-up has a mod/ska/punk theme so don’t be surprised by a sudden outbreak on Doc Martens moonstomping, skanking and/or pogoing. Again, from midday, there’s Total Madness, Offbeat Offensive, Levi, Lo Numbers, The Skones, Tequila Mockingbird, Mad Hatters, Stone Faced Wellers with the mighty Orange Street, arguably one the best ska bands on the south coast, topping the bill.

Sunday’s line-up is equally impressive with John Stone, Matt Black, The Decatonics, Surfin’ Dave and the Absent Legends, Speedway Snails, Tom and the Clementines, Surfin’ Birds, Chief Lazarus and The Brotherd all on the bill.

It’s going to be a massive weekend and it’s good to see so many new acts involved in an event which brings in hundreds of visitors to our town, as well as delighting us locals too.

Moving on to something slightly more sedate and the late Peggy Lee was one of the great figures of jazz and the American songbook, so much so that Sinatra called her ‘regal’ and Duke Ellington called her ‘the queen’.

And there’s a chance to relive and re-hear her classic material, including songs such as Fever, The Folks Who Live on the Hill and Why Don’t You Do Right? when jazz vocalist Jo Harrop pays tribute to the sultry songstress at Dorchester Arts Centre tomorrow night, Saturday, April 13.

Tickets are £14 from the box office on 01305 266926.

Next week’s gig guide will feature as much of the live music going on over the Easter weekend as possible so if you’d like your event included, send all your shizzle to echogigguide@outlook.com

Till next time…

FRIDAY 12

Hazel O’Connor (Dorchester Arts Centre) SOLD OUT

As Flames Rise, Griever, Epsilon, 7eventh Sea (Finns, Weymouth)

Pizza For Dogs (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Loop (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Diane (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Rock Apes (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 13

The Hawkmen, Palooka 5 (Old Ship, Dorchester)

Jo Harrop sings Peggy Lee (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Foo Fakers (Finns, Weymouth)

Rob Davis (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Hustle (Market House, Weymouth)

Replay (Centenary Cub, Weymouth)

Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Outrage (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Alan Roberts (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Strings and Reeds (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Studio 55 (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 2-5pm.

Flying Camels (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Pam Johns (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Ship Inn, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Wyke Social Club, Chamberlain Rd, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Three Compasses, Charminster) 5pm.

Leanne Jackson (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 14

Scared of Jazz (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 5.30pm and 830pm.

Finn (Park, Weymouth)

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

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Di’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

John De Barra (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Nina Garcia (Three Compasses, Charminster

MONDAY 15

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 16

Black Magic: The Little Mix Show (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 17

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY 18

Jack Daniels Band (Piddle Inn, Piddletrenthide)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

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

Open Mic (Aura, Weymouth)

GOOD FRIDAY 19

Hamish, Afro Ninja, Identikit, Mama Feelgood, Aaron and Karina, Ansell and Gretal, M2, Between Bars, Hustle (Quayside Music Festival, Town Bridge, Weymouth) From midday.

Phoenix Tears (Finns, Weymouth)

Mumbo Machine (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Speedway Snails (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Glass Spiders (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Adagio (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dave Griff Solo (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Terry Hayden’s East End Knees Up (Waterloo, Weymouth)

The Katz (Fat Badger, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Nook, Weymouth)

Pretty Lustful (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth)