EVERY now and again, someone comes along with a CV so perfect that you just have to sit down and mop your thighs in admiration.

Just such a person is Hank Wangford (with Reg Meuross, Powerstock Hut, Friday and Winterborne Whitechurch Village Hall, Sunday - Powerstock tickets from 01308 485205/485264, Winteborne tickets from 01258 880212/881217).

Apart from being an evangelical country music songwriter of no little repute, Hank is also a practising doctor who has written two books on country music and numerous travel articles for The Sunday Telegraph and The Guardian.

He was one of Syd Barrett's mates. He is the president of the Nude Mountaneering Society (yes, yes, I'm already imagining the snow on the upper slopes).

Together with his songwriting partner Reg Meuross, Hank will be circling his wagons around a number of Dorset village halls in the next few weeks, performing such deathless country classics as You've Already Put Big Ole' Tears In My Eyes - Must You Throw Dirt In My Face? and I've Forgotten What It Is That I'm Drinking To Forget.

You are implored not to miss him.

At this point, I'm delighted to welcome a terrific new band to the page, namely Comfort Zone (Excise House, Weymouth, Saturday), who were kind enough to send in their freshly-minted five-track demo.

The band are instinctively drawn towards emotive rock/pop in the Keane/Coldplay/Starsailor/Snow Patrol vein, and display an intuitive, sympathetic feel for the form.

To their eternal credit, they also perform two covers by a little-known band, well worth seeking out, called I Am Kloot.

Saturday's gig is their first proper appearance - I'm sure you'll join me in wishing them well and waving them off as they embark upon their career.

Now, among my nefarious media contacts is a splendid chap from Newcastle called Dave Hill, whose taste can always be relied upon when dealing with quality clients (The Zombies, Steve Hackett, Lindisfarne).

It speaks volumes, therefore, that Dave has seen fit to throw his considerable promotional weight behind a tribute band, namely Viva Santana (Mr Kyps, Ashley Cross, Parkstone, Poole, Friday, £7, tickets from 01202 748945).

On their previous visits to the locale, all have been in agreement that Viva Santana deliver the goods in a manner which even Santana themselves have struggled to achieve since their blistering appearance at Woodstock.

Two days later, the Mr Kyps stage will be graced by the genuinely legendary Geno Washington & The Ram Jam Band (Mr Kyps, Sunday, £10, tickets from 01202 748945). Don't miss the UK's most distinguished soul agents.

Pausing only to note that incendiary R&B monsters Dr Feelgood are at the Cheese & Grain, Frome on Saturday (support from Karmaveda, £11.50 advance/£13 on the door, tickets from 01373 455420), I must point you all towards Roy Williams (Banus, The Esplanade, Weymouth, Wednesday, £10, doors open 7pm, tickets from 01305 777412 or 07941 269566).

The 'natural heir to George Chisholm's crown', trombonist Roy is a giant in UK jazz circles, having performed with leading lights such as Alex Welsh and Humphrey Lyttleton during, er, 'a career on the slide', if you get my drift.

RIP John Peel.