CLASSIC rock fans are in for a treat next weekend when the ground-breaking music of two of this country’s most popular and influential bands will be celebrated.

Two cracking tributes bands go head-to-head at the Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms on Saturday, October 12, with south Dorset’s very own Ironed Maiden flying the flag for Trooper Eddie and the boys while Forever Sabbath, who hail from the Midlands, will be recreating the sounds from both the Ozzy and RJD eras of the legendary metal pioneers.

And as Carl Williams, Ironed Maiden’s effervescent front man charged with the unenviable task of reproducing IM’s vocal acrobatics, tells me, it’s been quite a year for the hard-working five-piece.

“The Pavilion gig is our biggest to date and it came right out of the blue.

“Forever Sabbath initially approached fellow tribute act Iron-On Maiden to play with them but they were unavailable but kindly pointed in our direction.”

Carl, speaking to me the day after a storming gig in the New Forest, continues: “We’re all huge Maiden fans and I think people enjoy our shows because we use so much energy and like to get everyone involved.

“Die-hard Maiden fans appreciate us as do those new to the band.

Carl, who is joined in the band by the twin guitar attack of Russ Limbrick and Luke Rake, Darren Hentall on bass and Lee ‘The Hammer’ Harris on drums, adds: “Our set is very much The Legacy of the Beast, with all the classics, loads of singalong tunes and quite a few ‘Ooooh? Wow! Really?’ ones too.

“I couldn’t be more proud of the band as they all work so hard learning and rehearsing the songs and I’d like to thank our families for all their support too,” says Carl.

Ironed Maiden will be sharing the stage with Forever Sabbath who boast ‘the UK’s No. 1 Sabbath show’.

“Our aim is to deliver THE BEST Black Sabbath tribute show anywhere. We play a huge and broad range of the Ozzy era with some of the very best from the Dio era too,” they tell me.
“We guarantee energy and passion with every show, oh, and of course some serious NOISE!”

So authentic are they that Forever Sabbath bring their own catering truck to gigs and I understand bats and doves are a popular feature on the menu. Now THAT’S commitment… (although not necessarily true.)

Tickets for next Saturday’s show, and they’re going fast so be quick to snap up yours, are £19 and available from the Pavilion box office on 01305 783225.

Moving on, and the series of fund-raising gigs at Osmington village hall continues with a show from folk duo The Edgelarks next Saturday, October 12.

Phillip Henry and Hannah Martin have just finished touring with The Gigspanner Big Band and will be playing songs from their new album Feather, described as ‘bright songs for dark times’.

Last month’s gig by Phil Beer netted £500 for the Ups & Downs charity which supports children with Downs Syndrome and their families, and next weekend’s event will raise money to have the village’s historic Grade II-listed war memorial bus shelter re-roofed: Thatch Aid anyone?

Tickets for The Edgelarks are £14 and available from 07816 832554.

If you’d like your live music event featured in this august page, email details to echogigguide@outlook.com, okay?

Till next time…

TONIGHT 4

Nina Garcia, Jolly Boys Outing, Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures (Boogie Fest, Freshwater Holiday Park, Burton Bradstock)

Into The Groove: Madonna tribute (Weymouth Pavilion)

George Hall Trio (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Katz (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Open Mic Showcase (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Toxic Fish (Finns, Weymouth)

4 Go Mad (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Rapport (Ship Inn, Wool)

Rock Apes (Club Bambooza, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Kaboodle (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

Kelly Lorraine (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Alexander Soul Man (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 5

Chris Payn, Matt Black, Fluke, Balance of Power, Howling at the Moon, Hustle (Boogie Fest, Freshwater Holiday Park, Burton Bradstock)

Speedway Snails (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Rockin’ Robins (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Katz (King’s Head, Bradpole, Bridport)

Tea Party (Gloucester, Weymouth)

BiProxy (Finns, Weymouth)

TBC (Little Ship, Portland)

V8 Hearts (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Mark Davis (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Aaron and Karina (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Ctl Alt Del (Bambooza, Weymouth)

Duke and the Broad Rat Pack Show (Park, Weymouth)

Kelly Lorraine (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Rock Waves (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Gut & Steel (Ship Inn, Weymouth)

Antigua Joe (Three Compasses, Charminster) 6pm.

New Era (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Kathy (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Identikit (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 6

Garry J Foley as Elvis, Glass Spiders, Ben Waters (Boogie Fest, Freshwater Holiday Park, Burton Bradstock)

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland) 5-8pm

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

Blues Jam with Paul Sharod and friends (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Leanne Jackson (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

Du Kane (Bakers Arms, Dorchester) 3pm.

Di’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

Kelly Lorraine (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Billy Hutchinson (1652, St Alban St, Weymouth) 1.30pm.

MONDAY  7

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 8

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 9

Nigel Evans Quartet (Three Compasses, Charminster)

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

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

THURSDAY 10

Beautiful Noise: Neil Diamond 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 11

The Billy Fury Years (Weymouth Pavilion)

Omega Project (Finns, Weymouth)

Balance of Power (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Pretty Lustful (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Ben Lambert (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Danny Adams (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Shooter (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Darren H (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)