TONIGHT (28)

Crying Out Loud (Cornwall Hotel, Alexandra Road, Dorchester): A great big rocky racket from local experts of the genre.

Jam On It (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): If you want to try out your new band in front of a live audience, this is the place to do it.

Sue Pugh (New Inn, West Knighton): Bournemouth-based Sue is a well-established name on the folk scene and mixes traditional material with her own compositions.

Acoustic Jam Session (George Inn, Refome, 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): Kylie to Coldplay from the man of Stone.

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

H20 (Hotel Prince Regent, the Esplanade, Weymouth): Pop to opera from Eddie Hintze and Hayley Owen, here most Thursday nights through the summer season.

Gigolo (RAOB Club, Crescent Street, Weymouth): Pop covers from Ralph and family.

BJ McCabe (Fairhaven Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): A plethora of pop covers from Beejer.

FRIDAY (29)

Ben Waters Band (Evershot Village Hall): Ben is now firmly established as Britain's premier boogie/rock'n'roll piano masher and first-call session player. Tickets are £5 on the door, or you can book on 01305 812775.

Werewolves Of London (Excise House, Hope Square, Weymouth): The excellent Werewolves are mates of Ben's from the London R&B circuit.

Bad Reputation (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): Whiteside, Storey, Davis et al get severely rockular.

Gothic Chicken (Finn M'Coul's, Westham Road, Weymouth): Magnificently mad psychedelic rock mayhem.

Little Dixie (Bridport Arts Centre, South Street, Bridport): Padge and Trub join Mutter for tonight's outing, which is a beer festival. Mmmm, beer festival...

Acoustic Central (Hope & Anchor, St Michael's Lane, Bridport): I guess the band name is self-explanatory.

Freak Circus (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): The Freaks are coming to town, ha haaa...Check out their website: freakcircus.ukbands.net

Chill (Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland): Hendrix to Huey Lewis to Don Henley from this accomplished band.

Spider (Black Dog, St Mary Street, Weymouth): Pink Floyd to Stereophonics to Travis from the arachnoid ones.

Steve Wilson & Robbie McIntosh (The Galley, Hope Street, Weymouth): Steve's original material and carefully-chosen covers (Little Feat, Randy Newman) is treated to the accompaniment of one of the country's finest guitarists.

Time Out (Britannia Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland): Mick and Brian play everything from Pink Floyd to the blues.

Gut & Steel (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): Sixties to contemporary pop and rock covers from Andy and Mark, alias G&S.

Entire Population of China (Borough Arms, High East Street, Dorchester): Steve Charles is the natural choice for this charity fundraising Chinese theme night, with guests Jamie Pinnow and Kate Greenslade.

Mike Walker (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth): Decades of pop covers from Mr Walker.

Sarah J (White Hart, Cheap Street, Sherbome): Cabaret-style pop entertainment.

Bob Mallett (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Witness Bob's rock'n'roll show.

Bill Solo (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth): Audience-participative pop and rock'n'roll.

Barry Hobson (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Fifties to 90s pop covers from Barry.

SATURDAY (30)

The Hamsters (Marine Theatre, Church Street, Lyme Regis): Quite simply one of the best live bands in Britain - see comments alongside.

Loop Garou (Tickled Hippy, The Esplanade, Weymouth): New Orleans funk and soul, a la The Meters and Irma Franklin, from 9pm, admission free.

Little Dixie (George Inn, Refome, Portland): The regular Dixettes (Clive, Ady and your humble scribe) rejoin Mutter tonight. Witness some brand new Slaterisms.

New Breed (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): Excellent new rock covers and original material, roaring out of the Chosen Ones stable.

Cheese (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): A rare chance to hear m'colleague Marco's simply wondrous self-crafted works.

Mitch & friends (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): Mitch Norman is simply the funkiest acoustic player around.

Marianas Trench (Excise House, Weymouth): Snappy, funky, fulsome grooves from the massed and brassy ranks of the Trench.

Off The Rails (New Inn, Littlemoor Road, Weymouth): Sparring rock and blues guitar is the centrepiece of this well-respected band.

Sweet Home Chicago (Weymouth Pavilion Theatre, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Blues Brothers tribute starring Pete Tobit and an 8-piece band. Enquiries and bookings to the Pavilion box office on 01305 783225.

Hokum Society (Jolly Sailor, Castletown, Portland): Portland's own brothers in the blues.

Toxic Twins (Finn M'CouI's, Weymouth): This band claim to be the nation's No1 Aerosmith tribute band - authentic in every way. £4 entry tonight, with music until midnight.

Harry Skinner & Dave Saunders/Sugar Mama (Three Elms, Sherborne): The heart and soul of blues experts The Producers are joined by female-fronted acoustic blues exponents Sugar Mama, all part of the World Iron Man championships.

The Sultans (Centenary Club, Jubilee Close, Weymouth): Classic rock from this band.

Rob Koral (No10 Cafe Bar, East Street, Bridport): Solo jazz guitar for the lunchtime clientele.

Mike Lee (Punchbowl, Easton Street, Portland): Pop gems from Mike.

Alan West plus mystery guest (Anchor Inn, Seatown, Chideock, near Bridport): Country offerings of the highest order.

Steve Wilson & Chas Dickie (Sailor's Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth): That Wilser is spoilt rotten. Robbie McIntosh last night, and Chas's mellifluous 'cello work tonight.

Gigolo (Bridge Inn, Bridge Inn Lane, Preston, Weymouth): The return of Weymouth's family band.

Doctor Blues (Royal Oak, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): Raw-edged blues classics, taken twice a day with food.

Johnny Mac (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth): Johnny gives tribute to Rod Stewart.

Tempo (RAOB Club, Crescent Street, Weymouth): Pop and rock from the Gut & Steel stable.

Tracey (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Pop covers from Tracey.

Jim Derek (Basement Bar, Edenhurst Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Songs from the shows to more contemporary pop from the one they call The Godfather.

SUNDAY (31)

Insomnia (Verdi's/Mariners, Maiden Street, Weymouth): Dandy Warhols to Green Day to The Hives, plus original material.

Duffus (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): A dbut here for this punky young band, starting at 5pm.

New Breed/Gasoline (Finn M'CouI's, Weymouth): New Breed are joined by Gasoline, fond of the odd bit of Hendrix and ZZ Top.

Balance of Power (Little Ship, Victoria Square, Portland): Eighties melodic rock, as practiced by Bon Jovi, Aerosmith, Faith No More and the like; it's a 4pm start.

Red Rooster (George Inn, Portland): Biggsy, Tim and company give it stacks of blues, from 4.30pm.

Jiggerypipery (Borough Gardens, Dorchester): Folky frolics in the gardens, from 2.30pm, with free admission.

Harry Skinner & Dave Saunders (Hare & Hounds, Waytown, near Bridport): An al fresco blues outing, weather permitting, starting at 2pm.

Jam with Tia (Galley Bistro, Hope Square, Weymouth): Tia hosts this regular acoustic jam session.

Surprise Band (Three Compasses, Charminster): Look in tomorrow's gig guide for details of tonight's band.

Channel 4 (Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland): Zac fronts covers from Motorhead to AC/DC to Rush; 3pm.

Zo Schwarz & Rob Koral (Poet Laureate, Pummery Square, Poundbury, Dorchester): First-class jazz vocals and guitar.

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

Andy Arnold (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): 50s style rock'n'roll this lunchtime.

BJ McCabe (Ranch House, Osmington Mills, Weymouth).

Jim Derek (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth).

MONDAY (1)

Norfolk & Good (Cork & Bottle, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Fun and frolics with Steve Wilson and Jack Daniels.

Eddie Hintze (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Pop to opera from Eddie and his keyboard.

TUESDAY (2)

Morgan Rattler (No10 Cafe Bar, East Street, Bridport): Rootsy offerings from Morgan.

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

BJ McCabe (Ranch House, Osmington Mills, Weymouth).

Mark Allen (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Keyboards, guitar and vocals from Mark.

WEDNESDAY (3)

Seed (Little Ship, Portland): Welcome a brand-new band to the local scene.

Gerry Brown and the Mission Hall Jazz Band (Excise House, Weymouth): This first-class New Orleans jazz band welcome new trombonist Mike Blakesley, from Southampton.

Surprise Band (Three Compasses, Charminster).

BJ McCabe (Richmoor Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth).