LAST WEEK’s shocking revelation by Shelter that one in 200 people in this country are officially recorded as homeless or living in inadequate homes is a dreadful indictment of these times.

In London, it’s even worse with one in 59 in a similar plight, which is quite frankly unacceptable.

There’s also a pretty frightening homeless crisis in our part of the world as anyone who has been out doing their Christmas shopping in Weymouth or Dorchester town centres could not have failed to notice.

There are agencies doing their bit to help, most notably The Lantern Centre and Homeless Bus Shelter in Weymouth, but they in turn need support, which is why YOU should support an all-day music festival next Saturday.

The fourth Gimme Shelter bash takes place at the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth next Saturday, December 8, from 1pm and, as always, there’s an impressive line-up of local talent all more than willing to devote their time and considerable musical nift to help a series of very worthy causes.

Take a look at the lot who will performing in the back room at the Smugglers: The Surfing Birds, Paisley, Meat Sweats, Komakino, Bring Me The Pistols, Mad Hatters, C Sharp Blues and, as they’re being allowed to stay up a bit late as it’s not a school night, The Undecided.

Meanwhile, out in the front bar, there’s a more laid back acoustic feel with Rob McIlroy, Simon G, Frank G (What? No Kenny G?), Kipper, Jamie Pinnow, Squidhead and Sukulele among others getting mellow.

There’s also a food and clothes bank which will happily accept your donations (Yes, that’s how we live in Great Britain in 2018. Great, innit?) and admission is £6 on the door from 1pm.

As Martin Saint, one of the event organisers, tells me: “So far our Gimme Shelter events have raised well over £4,000 for local charities which help the homeless and the vulnerable.

“We couldn’t do this without the help of so many local musicians and DJs so I’d like them all so much, along with Rhos and Anne at the Smugglers for their support too.”

Moving on, how anyone managed to survive the debacle that was the Happy Mondays from way back in the Nineties is beyond all comprehension, but dancer and maracas maestro Bez and singer Rowetta will be at Dorchester’s Corn Exchange tomorrow, Saturday, December 1, for a gig with the Dub Pistols sound system.

Bez will presumably be doing his dance, known as The Bez, and is very similar to the Funky Gibbon by all accounts, while Rowetta will be giving her spectacular pipes a good airing.

Tickets, and there are just a few left, are £9.95 and available from www.drbods.com And finally, those of you who have just recovered from Ironed Maiden’s debut gig at The Park in August have the chance to do it all again tonight, Friday, November 30, when singer Carl Edwards and the boys have their first outing at the home of rock and metal, Finns in Weymouth.

Last August’s gig was pretty damn hot, sweaty and rammed and tonight’s show is going to be much the same and even more so, so get there early for a place down the mosh pit.

Till next time…

TODAY (30) Rolling Stones Story (Weymouth Pavilion) Dreadzone (Electric Palace, Bridport) Ironed Maiden (Finns, Weymouth) Drive By Jammin’ (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) Lewis Craven Band (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Brian Harris (Weymouth Working Mens Club) The Katz (Portland Social Club) The Hawkmen (Ropemakers, Bridport) Barry Paull as Elvis (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth) Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth) Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth) John Stone (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) Cuba Libre (Belvedere, Weymouth) Jack Daniels and Steve Garden (Kings Arms, Portesham) 6pm, for the lights switch-on.

Strings and Reeds (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) Elijah Wolf (Gloucester, Weymouth) Stealing Whisky (Thimble Inn, Piddlehinton)

SATURDAY (1) Bez and Rowetta out of the Happy Mondays, Barry Ashworth out of the Dub Pistols (Corn Exchange, Dorchester) Katy v Taylor (Weymouth Pavilion) The Shakespearos (Finns, Weymouth) The Crack (Sailors Return, Weymouth) Nathan Jon (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) The Katz (Weymouth Working Mens Club) The Skones (Bull’s Head, Fordington, Dorchester) Chill (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth) Aaron and Karina (Conservative Club, Weymouth) Lady Winwood’s Maggot (Ropemakers, Bridport) Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth) Ollie Coe (West Bay Hotel, West Bay) 5pm.

Tequila Mockingbird (Market House Tavern, Weymouth) Darren H (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) Million Dollar Bash (Martyrs Inn, Tolpuddle) Surfing Birds (Belvedere, Weymouth) Skinful (Punchbowl, Portland) Georgie Broad (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) Nite Lite (Centenary Club, Weymouth) Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) The Prairie Dogs (Gloucester, Weymouth) SUNDAY (2) Owen Lister (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) From 3pm.

Blues Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

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

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm and 8.30pm.

Skeg and Sandi Horler (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.

MONDAY (3) Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth) Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (4) Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Acoustic Folk Session (Pilgrim House, Hope Sq, Weymouth) From 7.30pm.

Martin Freed’s Open Mic Night (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) WEDNESDAY (5) Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth) Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Open Mic Night (Ropemakers, Bridport) THURSDAY (6) 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.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth) FRIDAY (7) Mad Dog McRea (Corn Exchange, Dorchester) Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth) Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) Revolution (Golden Lion, Weymouth) Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth) Nick Sellars (Weymouth Working Mens Club) Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) Dave Griff’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth) Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth) Uphill and Still (Ropemakers, Bridport)