WEYMOUTH’s historic harbour and its surrounding streets, roads and pubs have their chance to shine not just this bank holiday weekend but also next weekend too.

There’s a double bubble of live music starting tomorrow  with the year’s third Quayside Music Festival by the Town Bridge tomorrow, Saturday, May 25 and Sunday May 26.

There’s a whole host of terrific music over the two days with the awesome Dolmen headlining tomorrow and the equally fab Recks, all the way from Sark in the Channel Islands, topping the bill on Sunday.

Over the bridge, and it’s the return of Weymouth Rotary Club’s Fayre in the Square with Danny Adams the main event tomorrow, Saturday, May 25 at 5pm and vintage soul outfit Package Deal getting Hope Square dancing on Sunday evening, again from 5pm. There are events on all day so pick up a programme for a full list and timings, with proceeds going to help several local good causes.

And looking ahead to next weekend, it’s the return of the Wessex Folk Festival which brings in thousands of folk fans from across the country and further afield.

The main acts take place on the stage in Hope Square but there are events and attractions along the side of the harbour in Trinity Road plus many of the pubs, including The Boot, Sailors Return, and the King’s Arms.

Among the many artists appearing on next Saturday, June 1, are The BeauBowBelles, Doc Clarke’s Remedy, Annie Dressner, Glymjack, Harbottle & Jonas, The Kilpecks, Sharon Lazibyrd, Mitchell and Vincent, Barney Newman and Tom Leary, Oka Vanga, Alex Roberts, The Rumblestrutters and the Stomping Boondocks.

Incidentally, did I tell you about time I had a nasty outbreak of Stomping Boondocks. It was pretty itchy but the ointment cleared it up a treat. Thanks for asking…

The line-up for Sunday, June 2 includes Dorset Wrecks, Gadarene, Hickman and Cassidy, Mad Magdalen, No Direction, Ant Noel and the Peabody Drakes, Dom Prag, Kathryn Roberts and Sean Lakeman, Roswell, Sherborne Folk Band, Vicky Swan & Jonny Dyer, Tin Angel, Wareham Whalers and the Wild Rover Set.

There are also several sessions around the harbourside pubs where you can learn to play the ukulele or banjo while putting your finger in your ear and many other skills associated with folk music.

As ever with this sort of occasion, there is always a very high risk of Morris dancers.

Now, these odd creatures are perfectly harmless and have been known to breed in captivity, providing they stay clear of too much cider. It’s virtually impossible for them to sneak up on you unawares with all those bells on, so just keep your distance and applaud politely when they clout each other over the noggin with their sticks, okay?

For full details of timings and venues, pick up the official programme which is available from the Pavilion, The Boot and King’s Arms plus The Bridge Fair Trade Shop and Harbour Stores.

Till next time…

TONIGHT 24

The Dreadnoughts, Skimmity Hitchers, Black Water County, Palooka 5 and many more (Cursus Festival, Sixpenny Handley)

The Everly Brothers Story (Weymouth Pavilion)

Rolling Stones tribute (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms)

The Riffs (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Stirling Disco (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Mike Sidaway (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Paul J Smith (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Surfing Birds (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Powelly (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Johnny Mac (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

The Leggomen (Stable, Weymouth)

Lily and the Rockets (Park, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 25

Damaris, Hardcore Troubadors, Seren, the Riffs, Xander and The Keys, Bring Me the Pistols, Komakino, Balance of Power, The Dolmen (Quayside Music Festival, Town Bridge, Weymouth) From midday.

On Reflection, Charlie, WOW, Darron Garnett, C Sharp Blues, Regulation 9, Monkey Jump, Danny Adams (Fayre in the Square, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Bowie Experience (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ferocious Dog, Splink, Sweetchunks Band, Lobsetr, Will Varley and many more (Cursus Festival, Sixpenny Handley)

Tripod (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Johnny King as Elvis (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Crack (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Steve Nicholas (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Suited and Booted (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 2pm.

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

V8 Hearts (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Hardcore Troubadours (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Freeborn Brothers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Rat Pack (Portland Social Club)

Crystal Ship, Double Bubble Blues (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Nina Garcia (Fat Badger, Weymouth)

Karen (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Gut & Steel (Ship Inn, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 26

Ed Bleach, Sixteen String Jack, Rock Apes, Duke Official, The Undecided, Brace Yourself,  Lady Winwood’s Maggot, The Brotherhood, The Recks, 4 Go Mad (Quayside Music Festival, Town Bridge, Weymouth) From midday.

Dorset Wrecks, Weymouth Ukuleleans, Total Madness, Rock Choir, Crystal Ship, Silhouettes, Package Deal (Fayre in the Square, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

The Eskies, Freeborn Brothers, Nosebleed, Monkey Bizzleand many more (Cursus Festival, Sixpenny Handley)

Rock Apes (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Martin Burr (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Dakota (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Replay ( Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2pm.

Keith Live (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm and 8.30pm.

Mark Davis (New Vic, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

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

Dorset Wrecks (Black Dog, Weymouth) 2-4pm.

Andy Grant (Anchor, Burton Bradstock)

Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures (Crown Inn, Bridport)

Jack Daniels (Fat Badger, Weymouth)

Di’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

MONDAY 27

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 28

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Park Life (Park, Weymouth) Open mic night.

WEDNESDAY 29

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY 30

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return,  Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

FRIDAY 31

Wessex Folk Festival (Boot, Kings Arms, Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Inner City Smugglers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Ben Lambert (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Rock Apes (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Chloe, Tom and Jack on the Box (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth)

Alisha Tried (Waterloo, Weymouth)