TONIGHT(9)

Back Seat Blue (Nelson's Cheese and Ale Bar, Salisbury Street, Blandford): We begin this week's wander through gig wonderland with BSB's bluesy, rootsy rock offerings.

Jam On It (Excise House, Hope Square, Brewer's Quay, Weymouth): The weekly jam session cum variety show continues to throw up more local talent (bleurgh...).

Mr Chuffy (King's Arms, High East Street, Dorchester): Ocean Colour Scene to Sex Pistols.

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

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): The informal, unamplified folk session.

Folk Session (Hope & Anchor, St Michael's Lane, Bridport):

FRIDAY (10)

Karen Brown/Tristelle/Bob Kirkpatrick (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Weymouth Folk Festival 2002 gets under way with a triple bill of local stalwarts of the folk scene. Music from 7.30 to midnight, with open slots for have-a-go types. Tickets £2. For details on all festival events, call the box office on (01305) 783225.

Konar T (Mariner's, Maiden Street, Weymouth): Contemporary alt. and pop rock from this increasingly band.

Gothic Chicken (Finn M'Coul's, Weymouth): Tonight they're gonna party like it's 1968: Warp speed psychedelia, with newies from Moby Grape/The Association/The Left Banke.

Maximum '65 (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth): Tonight they're gonna party like it's, well, 1965: Who, Small Faces, Kinks, oh yes.

Freak Circus (Old George, Trinity Street, Dorchester): Tonight they're gonna party like it's on sale for $19.99, as Apu had it. The Freaks' new album is virtually finished: Marco's heard a three-track sampler and he can vouch for its thorough superbitude, especially a song called All You Need Is A Gun... more details when it come out.

West & Nelson (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): Country and bluegrass from a top twosome.

Stress and the Also-Rans (Little Ship, Victoria Square, Portland): The mighty stress deliver prime cuts of blues rock.

No Worries (Three Horseshoes, Mill Street, Burton Bradstock): Big Al's well-crafted original material has a distinctly 'world music' flavour.

Mojo (Red Lion, The Square, Beaminster): Three for Mojo this weekend, including a biker bash tomorrow night.

First Men on the Sun/BJ McCabe (John Gregory, Radipole Lane, Southwell, Portland): Darts final night is celebrated with a double-bill featuring FMOTS's mixture of covers from Van Morrison to David Grey and Beejer's top of the pops.

Motel 6 (Jolly Sailor, Castletown, Portland): South Side Chicago blues shuffles and funky grooves.

Pond Life (Excise House, Hope Square, Weymouth): Excellently chosen and faultlessly performed covers. Bassist Rodney even does that flash forward/backward bass break in 'You Can Call Me Al'.

Version 2:0 (Black Dog, St Mary Street, Weymouth): Spin Doctors to Small Faces from Anjee's band.

Howling at the Moon (Brewers Arms, Martinstown): Jack and Benny condense the howlers into duo mode.

Half As Many (Ropemaker's, West Street, Bridport): Gah! I can't remember who this is half of...it'll come to me...

Paul Dillon (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland): Having carved out a musical career in Australia, winning songwriting awards along the way, Paul returns to our pubs and clubs.

Rivers Run Deep (Spice Ship, Preston Road, Preston, Weymouth): It's James Ross and Sheryl Lee to you and me.

Paul Williams (White Hart, Cheap Street, Sherbome): He's either here or...

Paul Williams (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): ...here, but not verifiable at press time.

Bill Solo (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth): It's Billy at the Welly.

SATURDAY (11)

The Rhino Men (Finn M'CouI's, Weymouth): This is a collection of some seriously heavyweight players, i.e. Spike Ederney (keyboards), Carnello Luggeri (guitar), Ian McLaughlan (bass), John Marter (drums) and Ian Duck (vocals), whose pedigree Marco details on this page. They play ZZ Top/Ry Cooder/Little Feat and lots of Chicago blues.

The Yetties (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room, The Esplanade, Weymouth): A day of folk music workshops, open sessions and children's entertainment (starting at 10am, mostly free) is followed by a ceilidh with The Yetties, from 7.30 to midnight (£6 all tickets for the evening gig).

Loop Garou (Royal Oak, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): New Orleans funk and soul, gumbo and gris-gris.

Karl Weber (Hope and Anchor, Bridport).

Werewolves of London (Excise House, Weymouth): Soulful R&B from this London-based band.

Crying Out Loud (Ropemaker's, West Street, Bridport): Classic rock covers.

Hokum Society (Jolly Sailor, Portland): Funky blues, classic and original, from this driving five-piece.

Konar T (George Inn, Custom House Quay, Weymouth).

Piano Dentists (Anchor Inn, Seatown, Chideock, near Bridport): Intelligent pop covers from Lucy and Al.

BJ McCabe (Wood's Edge, Sanford, near Blandford): Decades of pop from Beejer.

Jim Derek (Lawrie's Jazz Bar, Edenhurst Hotel, The Esplanade, Weymouth): The Godfather can be found here every Saturday.

Gigolo (RAOB Club, Weymouth): Pop covers from Weymouth's family band.

SUNDAY (12)

John Kirkpatrick/Blue Horses (Weymouth Pavilion Theatre, The Esplanade, Weymouth): The Folk Festival continues with John Kirkpatrick, joined by the Blue Horses. Concert 1.30 to 4.30pm, tickets £7.50. See Marco's musings alongside.

Maddy Prior (Weymouth Pavilion Theatre, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Perhaps the definitive voice of English folk, who came to prominence with Steeleye Span, graces the Theatre. Music from 7.30 to 10pm, tickets £9.50.

Mojo (Little Ship, Victoria Square, Portland): Mojo wrap up their weekend tour, starting here at 3pm.

Motel 6 (Hope & Anchor, Bridport): 3pm.

World in a Jug (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth): Funky Latin grooves and jazz standards from this young trio, from 1pm every Sunday

Steve Dubya (The Sunday Club, Harbour Inn, Marine Parade, Lyme Regis): Musical fun, games and brain teasers, 2 to 5pm.

Jam with Tia (Cork & Bottle, The Esplanade, Weymouth): Another chance for new talent to perform, starting at 3pm.

The Cadillacs (Three Compasses, Charminster): Rock.

The Untrustables (King's Arms, Trinity Street, Weymouth): Chris and Kim give you well-chosen pop covers, with sax.

Kevin Ray (Fox and Hounds, Cattistock): Pop covers, from Billy Fury to Billy Idol, from 1 to 3pm.

The Entire Population of China (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth): Steve Charles with classy pop covers.

Jim Derek (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth).

Andy Arnold (Duke of Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth): Rock'n'roll to 70s offerings at lunchtime.

MONDAY (13)

Star Time 2002 (Chesham Suite, Hotel Rembrandt, Dorchester Road, Weymouth): Talent show running Mondays until July 8. The winner gets £500 and a spell in CMG Audio Studios, and the runner-up gets £250 and a crack at the recording studio. Admission is £1; doors open at 7.30pm.

James Ross (Bar on the Corner, St Thomas Street, Weymouth): Mellow jazz sax from James.

TUESDAY (14)

Tia (Isobar, Trinity Street, Weymouth):

The Crack (Rendezvous, Town Bridge, Weymouth): Ricky rants as punters hit the dancefloor. It's a 9.30pm start.

Gut & Steel (Boot Inn, High Street, Weymouth): You read it correctly - Andy and Mark take a night off from their regular slot at the Isobar.

Live Music Quiz Night (Cornwall Hotel, Alexander Road, Dorchester): A change of management at the King's Arms sees the quiz night re-locate to the Cornwall. There's £100 in the kitty to be won - Toby the drummer won the box of matches last week.

WEDNESDAY (15)

Fabulous Beatles (Excise House, Weymouth): the return of this highly-rated Fab Four tribute act, complete with instrument and costume changes and to reflect the transition from mop-tops to sages.

Ronnie Hughes (John Gregory, Radipole Lane, Southill, Weymouth): Trumpeter Hughes is a stalwart of British jazz, having had stints with the Ted Heath Band, Geraldo, Jack Parnell and the BBC Big Band, not to mention ones with Liberace, Gina Lolobrigida and 15 years with Frank Sinatra on his European tours. Tickets are £10 including supper (£9 for members). Tickets and information on (01305) 777412 or (07941) 269566.

??????? (Three Compasses, Charminster): It could be you... Wednesday nights at Terry's are up for grabs, be it a full gig, a live rehearsal or whatever. Call Terry on (01305) 233618.

The Untrusables (The Isobar, Trinity Road, Weymouth).

BJ McCabe (Springhead, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth).

Wessex Folk Club (Wessex Royale Hotel, High West Street, Dorchester): This club meets on the third Wednesday of every month, with 'open slots' for players and singers of all abilities and ages who are warmly welcomed. Call Jan and Paul on (01305) 260658.

CHRIS LONERGAN