TONIGHT

False Pretences (Mariner's, Maiden Street, Weymouth): A highly promising young rock/pop band with a shedload of quality originals.

The Muddy Funksters (Bar Banus, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Jazzy funk from some of the most seriously adept players on Weymouth College's music courses.

Jam On It (Finn's, Westham Road, Weymouth): Your chance to shine at this weekly jam night.

Acoustic Jam Session (George Inn, Reforne, Portland): Billy and Mickey from Hokum Society host this come-one come-all have-a-go occasion.

John Stone (Bar on the Corner, St Thomas Street, Weymouth): Coldplay to Kylie to Mavericks from one man and his guitar.

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): The weekly informal, unamplified celebration of the folk tune.

Folk Club (Three Compasses, Charminster): Just what it says on the packet - highly enjoyable.

BJ McCabe (Fairhaven Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Decades of pop classics with digital orchestration.

FRIDAY

Hank Wangford & Reg Meuross (Powerstock Hut, Powerstock, 7.30pm, tickets from 01308 485205/485264): See today's top bit for details.

Paisley (Black Dog, St Mary Street, Weymouth): Choice covers (Hendrix, Cream, The Who) from a band named after my shirt - or a town 10 miles from where I was born.

Gothic Chicken (Finns, Westham Road, Weymouth): Psych-out with the Chickens - set all wah-wah pedals to 'stun'.

The Muddy Funksters (Mariner's, Maiden Street, Weymouth).

Idle Hands (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): Another well-respected local band boasting a set of formidable original material.

Never Love Elvis (Excise House, Hope Square, Weymouth): See three astonishing guitarists at the very top of their game.

Little Dixie (Three Horseshoes, Mill Street, Burton Bradstock): Sterling R&B from Mutter and his merry cohorts.

Doctor Blues (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): Best medicine for the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie-woogie flu.

Shufflebones (Hardys, West Street, Bridport): A splendid night guaranteed in the company of a band named after my dynamic get-up-and-go Live page colleague.

Bob Mallett (Dolphin Hotel, Park Street, Weymouth): Hammer time! Rock & roll with Bob.

Gut & Steel (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth): 60s to contemporary pop and rock covers from Andy and Mark.

Lewis Clarke (White Hart, Cheap Street, Sherbome): Worth an expedition, I'd have thought.

Andy Arnold (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): 60s to contemporary rock and pop covers from Andy and Mark.

Bill Solo (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth): Audience-participation-friendly pop covers from Bill.

Ben & Ritchie (Lugger Inn, Chickerell): First-rate covers.

SATURDAY

Simon Swarbrick Band (Dorchester Arts Centre, School Lane, The Grove, Dorchester, 8pm, £9/£8 DAC members and unwaged): Extraordinarily creative modern jazz from Simon, a violinist without peer, and a mighty sextet comprising Julie Lewis (piano), Rodney Teague (bass), Clive Ashley (saxophone), Geoff Miller (trumpet) and Dave Wallace (drums). Vastly recommended.

Limehouse Lizzy (Marine Theatre, Lyme Regis, 8.45pm, £10 advance/£12 on the door, tickets from 01297 442138): The UK's top Thin Lizzy tribute band will be performing their Live And Dangerous set to celebrate the 25th anniversary of that much-loved, highly influential live double album.

Trafficker (Evershot Village Hall, £5, music from 9.15pm, all proceeds to village hall funds): In which guitarist Tommy Allen, who quietly made a vital contribution to Overload by Sugababes, steps to the front of this much-loved blues/rock combo, redolent of the best moments of 70s-era Stones, Free and Bad Company.

Freak Circus (Mariner's, Maiden Street, Weymouth): Brilliant originals and wantonly skewed covers from one of my favourite bands in the area. Intelligent, drily funny and, well, rockin', frankly.

Soft Edge/Fallout (Verdis, Maiden Street, Weymouth): A Hallowe'en special showcasing two Bristol-based bands playing nu-metal and skatecore. Cheap entry for those in fancy dress.

Satan's Coconuts (Finns, Weymouth): Chaps from Bad Reputation, Entity and Shirley Temple Pilots play works from Dio, Ozzy, Gillan and Mtley Cre.

Comfort Zone (Excise House, Weymouth): Their first proper gig! See the ponderings elsewhere on this page for more details.

Gothic Chicken (Punchbowl, Easton Street, Portland).

Split Pea (Little Ship, Victoria Square, Portland): A band with great taste in rock covers.

Mojo (New Inn, Littlemoor, Weymouth): Melodic rock from Lenny Kravitz to Credence Clearwater Revival.

Chemical Alley (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): Jet to Robert Palmer, Incubus to The Clash.

The Crack (Spa Hotel, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): The south's partiest band bring the festivities to The Spa.

Dragon Clan (Hardys, West Street, Bridport): A fiery performance is on the cards.

HarleyJon, Barney the Banjo & friends (Boot Inn, High Street, Weymouth): A charity gig in aid of the Old Town Hall restoration fund. Jon and Barney are joined by Rob, Si, Chris and Bob X, all donating their services for free.

Alchemy (Kimberlin Club, Westcliff Community Centre, Blacknor Road, Portland): £3 admission, non-members more than welcome, and drinks are at club prices!

Andy Grant (Sailor's Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth): A phenomenal guitarist who can play literally anything.

Johnny Mac (Dolphin Hotel, Park Street, Weymouth): Praise be to Rod and more from Johnny.

Andy Arnold (RAOB Club, Crescent Street, Weymouth): Celebrating rock & roll's golden era.

Frank E Finn (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Celtic airs to rock & roll.

Gut & Steel (Ilchester Arms, Abbotsbury).

SUNDAY

Hank Wangford & Reg Meuross (Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall, 7pm, tickets from 01258 880212/881217).

Time Out (George Inn, Portland): A 4.30pm start for Brian, Mike and their hand-picked repertoire of quality covers from the likes of David Bowie and Pink Floyd.

Acoustic Marmalade (Sailor's Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth): A showcase for new and established acoustic acts. If you want to play, contact John on 07850 730569. Music from 4pm.

Karl Weber (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): Covers from 5pm.

Jam with Tia (Galley Bistro, Hope Square, Weymouth): In the evening, Tia hosts this acoustically-orientated jam session.

Barbara & friends (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth): Barbara adds spice to your evening, bless 'er, with a well-balanced set.

Da Blues (Three Compasses, Charminster): Dr Stomp's blues incarnation.

Skinful (Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland): Zac from Channel 4 fronts this new rock outfit. Music from 3pm.

Rob Koral & Sue Hawker (Elm Tree Inn, Langton Herring, near Weymouth): Lunchtime jazz, elegantly performed.

Zo Schwarz & Rob Koral (Poet Laureate, Pummery Square, Poundbury, Dorchester): More elegant jazz in the evening as Zo takes over the vocal chores.

Piano Dentists (King's Arms, Trinity Road, Weymouth): An excellent choice of unlikely covers from Lucy and Al.

The Crack (The Station, Dorchester): 7pm start and an extended set for the Crack's Hallowe'en party.

Mutt n' Clive (The George, Bridport): Mutter from Little Dixie teams up with sax supremo Clive Ashley at 8.30pm.

Jay (Britannia Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland): Covers, 3.30-6.30pm.

Mac and Pete Bun (Railway Tavern, Queen Street, Weymouth): David Gray to Neil Diamond from Mac, along with a tribute to Robbie Williams from Pete.

BJ McCabe (Central Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Pop classics with digital orchestration.

Darren H (Dolphin Hotel, Park Street, Weymouth): Cabaret-style entertainment.

Andy Arnold (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Authentic 50s rock'n'roll, plus a nod to the 70s, this lunchtime.

MONDAY

Pete Howell (Russell Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Vocals, accordion and guitar from the one they call the Dorset Thatcher, appearing here every Monday.

TUESDAY

Julie Lewis (The Isobar, Trinity Road, Weymouth): Jazz pianist and vocalist extraordinaire Julie and friends can be found here every Tuesday night. Fun guaranteed.

Matt Black (Boot Inn, High Street, Weymouth): Great music and a profound sense of humour from Matt.

Delayed (Finn's, Weymouth): A freshly-formed rock/punk band whose efforts at Finn's jam nights have impressed guv'nor Steve sufficiently to let them perform an hour's set from 9-10pm.

Gut & Steel (King's Arms, Trinity Road, Weymouth).

WEDNESDAY

Roy Williams (Banus, The Esplanade, Weymouth, doors open 7pm, £10, tickets from 01305 777412 or 07941 269566): Jazz trombonist par excellence - see the top bit for more details.

The Fab Beatles (Cork & Bottle, The Esplanade, Weymouth): The south's leading Beatles tribute band, uncannily accurate in both sight and sound.

Gerry Brown's Mission Hall Jazz Band (Excise House, Weymouth): Gerry's still on a mission to bring jazz to the masses - good on him.

Acoustic Jam Session (Park Hotel, Grange Road, Weymouth): The regular jam session here of a Wednesday night, hosted by HarleyJon.

Mystery Band (Three Compasses, Charminster): The plot thickens ...

Kirby (Bar 2012, Upper Bond Street, Weymouth): Acoustic pop/rock guitar and vocals, embracing Jeff Buckley, REM, Elliott Smith and the like.

Rob Koral & Sue Hawker (The Isobar, Weymouth).

Jack Daniels & Benny Wain (Ranch House, Osmington Mills, near Weymouth): Howling At The Moon in fun-size form.

Jefferson Jon (Russell Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Country, and also western, from Big John.

BJ McCabe (Hotel Mon Ami, The Esplanade, Weymouth).

CHRIS LONERGAN www.chrislonergan.co.uk and

MARCO ROSSI marco.rossi@dorsetecho.co.uk