Apart from death and taxes, there are two things that are an undoubted nailed-on certainty.

And that’s Weymouth’s great musical heritage and the generosity of the musicians involved and who are willing to give their time and immeasurable talents to support a good cause at the drop of a drumstick.

Take the recent series of reunions of bands from the 60s, 70s and 80s at the Centenary Club in the town which have attracted scores of die-hard music fans, as well as some of the finest musicians ever seen round these parts, to get together and rock‘n’roll down memory lane and have a great time doing so.

And there’s another such reunion coming up next Friday, February 15 at the Centenary Club with one of the town’s all-time great bands topping the bill.

As Chris Dean, one of the event organisers, explains: “I put Package Deal together in the late 60s because I felt there was a need at the time for a band playing soul and funk with lots of brass.”

He was certainly correct as they became one of the must-see bands in the area for a number of years.

Look at this for a line-up: Tony May on vocals, Andy Prior on keys and Steve Peach on bass, all of whom have form as long as your arm on the local live music scene, ex-Georgie Fame and the Nite People sax ace Pat Bell, Bobby Lovett on trumpet (currently touring with the reformed Cliff Bennett and the Rebel Rousers), Mike Stockwell on guitar and rising starlet Marco Rossi on drums.

And let them loose on a set list of classic Motown and Stax earthquakers and you have an incendiary mix that will leave any dancefloor a little singed round the edges.

Also on the bill next Friday are Eleventh Hour, featuring Bob McAlpine and Peter Langdown, plus special guests Andy Collett and Mark Duxbury’s duo Gut and Steel.

Previous reunion gigs have raised thousands of pounds for local charities and some of the proceeds of the last bash in September were presented yesterday with £1,500 going to the Dorset County Hospital Scanner Appeal and £1,500 to the Somerset and Dorset Air Ambulance.

As Chris says: “Myself and Simon Breakspear and our dedicated team of helpers and supporters would like to thank all of those who have come along to previous reunions, all the musicians for their time and also Paul Ward at the Centenary Club for his support. We really couldn’t do this without you.”

Tickets are £7 from the club, so get yours now by calling 01305 839310. Friday’s gig will be raising money for The Lantern Trust and Muntsy’s Day Opportunities for Adults.

By Nick Horton

FRIDAY, FEB 8

The Elvis Years (Weymouth Pavilion)

Mari Wilson (Exchange, Sturminster Newton)

The Leylines (Old Ship, Dorchester)

The Skones (Finns, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Ferals (Ship Inn, Wool)

Alexis (Weymouth WMC)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Mickey Biggs, Richie and Jim (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Guns of Navarone (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Leanne Jackson (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SATURDAY, FEB 9

Queen Rhapsody (Weymouth Pavilion)

Antigua Joe, Leggomen, Kipper, The Rev Jack Daniels (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Rock Against Racism event. Tickets £6 from Dorchester TIC, Harmony Music, Reloved, Claire’s Jewellery.

Owen Lister, Garry ‘Slide Guy’ Smith, The Remedy (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Fundraiser for Music for Mind charity. From 7pm. Bifrost (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Cherry Pickers (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) 12.30-2.30pm.

Mill Street Jazz Band (Portesham village hall) Tickets £8 from 01305 871035.

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (Reloved, Dorchester)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Rockwaves (Wyke Regis Working Men's Club, Weymouth)

Duke and the Broad (Little Ship, Portland)

Woodchuck (Weymouth WMC)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Johnny King as Elvis (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Market House, Weymouth)

George Hall Trio (Star Inn, Portland)

The Rat Pack (Little Ship, Portand)

Big Red Ass (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

The Originals (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

The Ferals (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Nag’s Head, Lyme)

SUNDAY, FEB 10

Rockin’ Rich (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 4.30, followed by… Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Skint Imperials (George, Portland) 4-7pm

Amy and the Raven (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Andy Twyman (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.

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

John De Barra (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Compass (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland) 5-7pm.

MONDAY, FEB 11

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY, FEB 12

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night with Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY, FEB 13

Mike Denham’s Speakeasy with the Sunset Valley Stompers (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Park Life Open Mic (Park, Weymouth) 8pm.

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Vivo Lounge, Dorchester)

THURSDAY, FEB 14

The Poptonics (Ship Inn, Wool)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return,  Weymouth) From 8pm.

FRIDAY, FEB 15

Package Deal, Eleventh Hour, Gut and Steel (Centenary Cub, Weymouth)

Ben Waters Band (Evershot village hall)

Komakino (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Martin Maton (Weymouth WMC)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Inner City Smugglers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Mother Ukers (Ropemakers, Bridport)