Blessed are the cheesemongers (From Thisisdorset)

Blessed are the cheesemongers

10:14am Friday 27th April 2012 in Leisure By Nick Horton

WHEN it comes to having a party, you just can’t beat a bit of cheese, can you?

Chopped into squares on sticks with silver onions and pineapple chunks, stuck into a melon wrapped in silver foil, like some glam rock hedgehog: Nom, nom, nom, my favourite.

The same can be said of cheesy music. How many times have you been at a do and noticed the cheerful mass shuffle to the dancefloor as soon as the opening bars of Abba’s Dancing Queen are heard. Feel that meat on the tangerine, indeed.

So cheese fans will be licking their lips and gyrating their hips at the prospect of next month’s Durnovibe festival, which starts on Friday, May 11, with a gig at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester and three fantastic party bands on the bill.

For just £10, you can dance the night away to party specialists The Crack, disco pop tarts Hustle and the cheese-tastic Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures.

I saw the Guilty Pleasures at last summer’s Beach Live in Weymouth and their fabulous set list is a catalogue of every song you secretly loved but were too cool to admit.

Well, it’s okay, you’re among friends now. Buggles, Neil Sedaka, Abba, REO Speedwagon, you’re all welcome here, come on in.

The three-day Durnovibe festival, which also includes choral and classical concerts at St Mary’s and St Peter’s churches in the county town, will be raising funds for the local branches of the Parkinson’s UK and Cavernoma Alliance UK charities.

Tickets and all the details on the events are available online at durnovibe.com Now then, many people would have been saddened at the passing of The Band drummer and vocalist Levon Helm, who lost his battle with cancer last week at the age of 71.

But there’s a chance to celebrate the life and work of the great man tonight, Friday, April 27, at The Star in Weymouth where assorted musos, including Chris Lonergan, Kipper, Tom Caulfield, Ady Milward, Tim Broad and many, many others will be paying tribute to the legend. It’s guaranteed there won’t be a dry seat in the house when they do I Shall Be Released.

Talking of legends, there’s quite a weekend ahead at Bridport’s Electric Palace.

Soul belter Ruby Turner takes time off from Jools Holland’s R&B orchestra with a solo gig tomorrow, Saturday, April 28, while guitar maniac Wilko Johnson brings his no-nonsense R&B to the Palace on Sunday night, April 29. Tickets for both gigs are available from the box office on 01308 424901.

Staying with the legendary theme, Tony May, Andy Prior and Steve Peach of Left, Right and Centre have been knocking around the local music scene since the invention of electricity.

So, it’s ironic then that LRC are eschewing (bless you) Thomas Edison’s brainwave and are going acoustic for their gig on Sunday from 3pm at The George, at Reforne on Portland which will mark a new era for this hugely popular trio.

For me, LRC are one of the best outfits around with great harmonies and a really diverse set list. The atmosphere at The George on Sunday will be, well, battery-powered at the least.

And finally, it’s been a year since I took over this page from Chris Lonergan, himself a legend in his own mankini, and I’d like to thank everyone who has sent their gigs in. It won’t work without your help and support so if you’d like your gig, band or whatever featured, drop me a line at gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk Till next time, you lucky monkeys…