There’s a distinctly folky feel to this week’s gig guide, so if you put your finger in your ear, put on your best sandals and baggiest cardy and grow a beard, it would help.

First up, and flamboyant Anglo-French trio The Churchfitters make a welcome return to the county with a show at Dorchester Arts Centre on Thursday, March 5.

Singer Rosie Short, her brother Chris and Boris Lebret make a pretty incredible sound, which is not surprising considering their instruments are made from saucepans, hub caps and a motorcycle fuel tank plus some sort of electronic thing which makes a random bing-bong sound.

They’re also pretty handy with the more traditional dulcimer, fiddle, banjo, saxophone, guitar and harp.

As arts centre head honcho Mark Tattersall tells me: “They’re the most musically inventive group I’ve seen in decades. Coming to see this thrilling and energetic folk act live might just be one of the best nights of live folk music you see this month.”

Tickets are £13 from the box office on 01305 266926.

Moving on, and even though it’s been pretty nippy out recently, the daffodils are poking their little yellow heads out which can only mean one thing. Yes, it’s time for the spring ceilidh at Osmington village hall next Saturday, March 7.

The fabulous Tree Fellas, so called because there are three of them, will be playing, with Teresa Rabbets calling the steps, so best get your Barley Reel, Marmalade Sandwich and Gay Gordons up to scratch.

It’s a fundraiser for the Wessex Folk Festival which will be taking place in Weymouth over the weekend of May 29-31, now firmly established as one of the most popular free festivals in the country.

Tickets are £9.50 which includes supper and are available from 07816 832554.

Next up and the Monday night Acoustic Open Mic and the now-legendary Sunday afternoon Jam Sessions at the hip and happening Belvedere in Weymouth are proving to be the highlights of many punters’ musical week.

This Monday’s get-together on March 2 will be a bit special as it will feature five songs from singer-songwriter John West, who has just released his debut EP at the sprightly young age of 70.

John, who trained as an architect, led a very rock’n’roll lifestyle before retiring to Weymouth, a decision inspired by fond memories of childhood holidays at his auntie’s guest house on Abbotsbury Road.

His EP, It’s Such a Magical Place, highlights the joys of south Dorset and John tells me: “Weymouth was the natural choice for me to retire to and I’ve written about the Quayside festival, donkey rides on the beach, and bobbing yachts and lobster pots, among many other delights.

“I’m so grateful to Rob Ryan, who runs the Monday open mic night, for letting me showcase my songs,” he adds.

Meanwhile, The Leylines’ gig at the Old Ship in Dorchester on Saturday, March 14, has been switched down the road to Tom Browns.

Original tickets are still valid and support acts Edd Bleach and Nasty Fishmonger will still be playing.

There are a few tickets left at £10 from fuelledbycider.com, or it’ll be £12 on the door on the night, if you’re lucky.

And finally, I’ll be hosting another Hijacked show on Air FM 107.2 next Wednesday, March 4, from 8-10pm, featuring some top quality vintage soul and funk and some low quality mumbling from me.

Okay, you can take your finger out your ear and take the sandals off now, but keep the beard: It really suits you, madam.

Till next time…

NICK HORTON

Gigs

FRIDAY (28)

Ironed Maiden (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Revolution (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Total Madness (John Gregory, Weymouth)

TBC (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Kutna Hora (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Hamish (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Kutna Hora (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Dr Splink (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Alexander Soul Man (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Club Bambooza, Weymouth)

Du Kane (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Paul Gibson (Black Dog, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (29)

California Dreamin’: Back to the Sixties (Weymouth Pavilion)

Amy Mayes Band (Upwey Village Hall, Church St, Upwey, Weymouth) SOLD OUT

BiFrost (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Jolly Boys Outing (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Identikit (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Hardcore Troubadors (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Woodchuck (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Elijah Wolf (Little Ship, Portland)

Skinful (Hardy’s, Dorchester)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Replay (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Richard Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 2-6pm.

Alexis (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Voodoo Tweed Cult of Your Mum, Devil’s Prefects (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bitter & Twisted (Old Rooms, Weymouth)

Stevie P (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Antigua Joe (Three Compasses, Charminster) 6pm.

Paul Gibson (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Monkey Jump (Crown Inn, Bridport)

SUNDAY (1)

Sunday Blues Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Darren H (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Nina Garcia (Three Compasses, Charminster) 6pm.

Karen Kay (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 5-8pm.

Fly Yeti Fly (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Di’s Open Mic Night (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 7pm.

Mark Davis (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

Dorset Wrecks (George, Portland) 4pm.

MONDAY (2)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Americana Jam Session (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

WEDNESDAY (4)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night with Lee Beardmore (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (5)

Coldplace (Weymouth Pavilion) Coldplay tribute.

The Churchfitters (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Open Mic Night with Rob Davis (Belvedere, Weymouth)

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

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

FRIDAY (6)

Ironhide (Finns, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Hardy’s, Dorchester)

Monkey Jump (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Buffo’s Wake (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Shauna and Nicky (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Rolling Tone (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Behind Closed Doors (Ropemakers, Bridport)