THERE’s probably not a town of equivalent size in the country that can boast such a wide and varied music scene, particularly when you look at what’s coming up in Weymouth over the next weekend.

There’s TWO two-day major music events to mark next weekend’s Whitsun bank holiday: The Quayside Music festival and, over the other side of the Town Bridge, The Fayre in the Square in Hope Square.

It’s the third Quayside of the year with both Easter and the early May events being a huge success with hundreds, if not thousands, enjoying great live music around Weymouth’s harbour.

Next weekend’s knees-up is likely to be even bigger with the line up on the Saturday, May 25, kicking off at noon with Damaris, followed by Hardcore Troubadors, Seren, the Riffs, Xander and The Keys, Bring Me the Pistols, Komakino, Balance of Power at 7pm and the almighty Dolmen headlining from 8.30pm.

Sunday’s show from midday opens with Ed Bleach followed by Sixteen String Jack, Rock Apes, Duke Official, The Undecided, Brace Yourself,  Lady Winwood’s Maggot, The Brotherhood and The Recks, all the way from Sark, headlining from 830 and Four Go Mad taking the party inside at The Anchor from 10pm.

It’s quite a coup for the organisers to land Duke Official, the quite brilliant beatbox trio from Cheltenham, as they are currently touring the UK and will be on stage at the Quayside at 3pm.

Meanwhile, over the bridge and round into Hope Square, it’s the two-day Fayre in the Square.

So-called because it’s a fayre and it’s in a square and it’s over two days, it’s organised by Weymouth Rotary Club.

Last year’s event raised more than £16,000, all of which was distributed to local charities and deserving groups.

Again, there’s a terrific and varied line-up of musical treats with new acts as well as familiar favourites.

Saturday’s attractions include C Sharp Blues, Regulation 9, Monkey Jump and Danny Adams, while Sunday has Dorset Wrecks, the county’s most celebrated buoy band, Total Madness, Crystal Ship, The Silhouettes and the top-notch vintage soul outfit Package Deal.

If you’ve got any spare change in your pocket, please be generous and drop it in one of the official collection buckets, okay? It’s all going to help some fantastic causes.

There’ll be full run-down of all the bank holiday live music events in next Friday’s Gig Guide, so if you want your gig included, ping us your shizzle to echogigguide@outlook.com

Till next time…

TONIGHT 17

Rule the World: Take That tribute (Weymouth Pavilion)

Anakim, Embodiment, Perdisian, Kinzoku (Finn’s, Weymouth)

The Truth Seekers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Innocent Bystander (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Dean Dallinson (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Shooter (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Psychedelic Fridge Project (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Minor Fret (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth)

The Skarlatans (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Strings and Reeds (Park, Weymouth)

Farrago (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 18

The Worried Men (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Balance of Power (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Slipstream  (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

Neil Wale (Weymouth Conservative Club)

The Katz (Punchbowl, Portland)

Chill (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

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

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Cntrl Alt Delete (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Karl (Little Ship, Portland)

Billy and Matt (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Hobo Jones and the Junkyard Dogs (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Paul Sundt (Waterloo, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

The Originals (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Hardy and The Monuments (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

TBC (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 19

Mutter and Clive (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

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

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8.30pm.

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo  (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

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

MONDAY 20

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 21

Tin Angels, The Skeeters (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 22

Nathan Jon (Hardy’s Tavern, Dorchester)

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY 23

Singalong with Roger Mac (Hardy’s Tavern, Dorchester)

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.

FRIDAY 24

The Everly Brothers Story (Weymouth Pavilion)

Rolling Stones tribute (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms)

The Riffs (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Stirling Disco (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Mike Sidaway (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Paul J Smith (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Surfing Birds (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Powelly (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth)