MY SINCERE apologies to Edna O’Brien, but August is shaping up to be a well wicked month.

Just take a look at two outdoor events this weekend for starters.

First up tomorrow, Saturday August 3, there’s the Gimme Shelter festival out at Bredy Farm along the Jurassic Coast near the seething metropolis of Burton Bradstock.

This is the outdoor version of the bash held a few times at the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth and has raised more than £5,000 to help the homeless and vulnerable in the area.

And it’s the same cause which will benefit from this weekend’s event and with a tip-top line-up, lovely location and clement weather forecast, they’ve got every reason to pull in quite a few quid.

Headliners are Moriaty, the Devon-based duo of Jordan West and Matt Partridge who describe themselves as ‘filthy’, presumably a reference to their dirty blues and not their personal hygiene, although I’ve never met the guys so you’ll have to take their word for that.

Also on the bill are the Surfing Birds, Electric Shakes, Jawbone, Bring Me the Pistols, Toxic Fish and a whole shedload more.

Donations are welcome to the food and clothing bank and info on tickets plus the shuttle bus running from the old council offices in Weymouth to the site is available on the festival’s page on the Book of Face.

Next up on Sunday, August 4, it’s another Party in the Park at Lodmoor Country Park in Weymouth and hosted by those absolutely happening hipsters at Air FM 107.2, the community radio station covering Weymouth and Portland.

Kicking off at midday, there’s an impressive line-up of live music, with sets from The Ruff Cuts, Regulation 9, Danny Salamander Band, The Undecided, Modern Disciples, Blazin’ Strings and Oasiss, a tribute band so authentic not only do the lead singer and guitarist beat each other up onstage but one of them storms off in a huff and starts a media feud with Lewis Capaldi. (I may have made some of that up…)

Moving on, and south Dorset’s beauty attracts thousands of tourists throughout the year and the region’s fabulous music scene is also attracting talented artists from across the world.

Chicago-based singer-songwriter Rich Krueger is touring the UK currently and has made a slight detour to play at the compact and bijou Royal Portland Arms on the rock next Wednesday, August 7, starting at the earlier than usual time of 6pm.

His razor-sharp wit, passionate delivery and irreverence has drawn comparisons to Loudon Wainwright III, Richard Thompson, Randy Newman and the Sex Pistols (Yes, I know, quite a mixture..) so he sounds well worth knocking off early and heading for Jill’s lovely booze emporium in Fortuneswell.

And tomorrow night, Saturday, August 3, we’re blessed by a visit from Negra Santa who’ve come all the way from Buenos Aires for a UK and European tour which stops off at The Ropemakers in Bridport.

Their heady mix of Latin beats will have you fandango-ing like a fruit bat and tango-ing like a twerp so do yourself a favour and check ‘em out.

Till next time…

TONIGHT 2

Leather and Lace (Weymouth Pavilion)

Toxic Fish (Finns, Weymouth)

Greg Agar (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

4 Go Mad (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Showcase Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Balance of Power (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Behind Closed Doors (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Karen Kay (Waterloo, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (George, Portland)

Darren H (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Rock Apes (Club Bambooza, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Star, Portland)

SATURDAY 3

Moriaty, Surfing Birds, Jawbone, Toxic Fish, Bring Me The Pistols, Electric Shakes and many more (Gimme Shelter, Bredy Farm, nr Burton Bradstock)

The Drifters (Weymouth Pavilion)

Worried Men (Finns, Weymouth)

Room 13 (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Fuzzy ( Mary’s Tea Room, Weymouth)

The Katz (Fat Badger, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Hustle (Gloucester, Weymouth)

City Limits Duo (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ocean Drive (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Replay (Lions’ Street Busk, St Mary St, Weymouth) From 10am

Negra Santa (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Tribute Night (Weymouth Conservative Club)

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

Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Dead Man’s Clique (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Dakota (New Vic, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Market House, Weymouth)

Jay (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 4

Ruff Cuts, Blazing Strings, Modern Disciples, Oasiss, Regulation 9, Danny Salamander Band, The Undecided (Party in the Park, Lodmoor Country Park, Weymouth)

Navi’s King of Pop Michael Jackson Show (Weymouth Pavilion)

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Retro (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Replay (Red Lion, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 2pm.

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

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 8pm.

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

Hamish Jeffcott (Kings Arms, Portesham) 3-5pm.

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

MONDAY 5

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 6

Mike Robbins (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 7

Rich Krueger (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

THURSDAY 8

Speedway Snails (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Crocodile Rock: Elton John tribute (Weymouth Pavilion)

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 9

Jess Upton, Steve Wilson, Robbie McIntosh (Upwey village hall)

The Sound of Springsteen (Weymouth Pavilion)

Dead Man’s Clique (Finns, Weymouth)

Rob Davis (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Glass Spiders (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Danny Adams and Stacey Lou (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Something Borrowed (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

John Ramon (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Rachel Scott (Waterloo, Weymouth)

Pretty Lustful (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Aura, Weymouth)