Good times, bad times (From Thisisdorset)

Good times, bad times

10:00am Friday 10th February 2012 in Leisure By Nick Horton

IT will be an emotional occasion tomorrow at Wey Valley School in Weymouth for a fundraising night in memory of former pupil James Wright.

James was killed aged just 21 while on duty with the Royal Marines in Helmand province in Afghanistan last August.

Live music at tomorrow nights’ bash will be provided by Rock Steady, Cheap Shots and the Amy Mayes Band and there will be sponsored head shaving, chest waxing and Guitar Hero sessions to help raise money for the Royal Marines Charitable Trust Fund.

Singer Amy tells me: “James’s parents Sallie and Dave are fans of ours after coming to a few of our gigs.

“It’s a real honour to be asked and it’ll be a great night for a fabulous cause.”

Tickets for The Big Reach (which was James’s nickname) tomorrow night, Saturday, February 11, are just £5 and available from the school office or from The Works book shop in Weymouth town centre.

Now then, the other morning I nearly choked on my Sugar Puffs when Chris Evans played a short blast of Led Zeppelin’s Black Dog on his Radio 2 Breakfast show.

It reminded me just how fantastic Led Zep were in their prime and we’re never to see or hear the like again.

However, the closest you’ll get these days will be tribute band Whole Lotta Led who are at the Marine Theatre in Lyme Regis tomorrow night, Saturday, February 11.

From humble beginnings 14 years ago, the band is the hardest working Led Zep tribute act in the country with well over 100 gigs a year and have even been endorsed by Jimmy Page himself.

So if you fancy shaking your moneymaker to some of their timeless songs, tickets are £12 and available from the Marine Theatre box office on 01297 442138.

Staying in the wild west, if you like your singers to be hairy and have a mouthful of gravel (and I know I do) you’ll be heading to the Beach and Barnicott in Bridport next Friday, February 17 for the return of blues, ska and creole specialists Bug Tree Swamp.

Straight from the Tamar Valley delta (Yes, I know it’s not Mississippi), BB Tim’s voice has been compared to Captain Beefheart, Howlin’ Wolf, Seasick Steve and Tom Waits.