Rock 'n' Roll Widow - Wishbone Ash

I can show you, I can show you, some of the people in my life - lyric from the Genesis track 'Turn It On Again'

Returning to last night, and what a night it was. Armed with my 'back stage' pass, I was greeted on reaching the Town Bridge steps by

Jon Storey waving (guitarist and local businessman), Sally Pearce blowing kiss (local business woman) and in the CBGB tee Chris Whiteside (Rocker) who you'll be seeing more of later.

Old mates from Finns music pub Sally, Sandra, her husband Wayne and Sarah.

Jade Pearce and her mum Sally yet again!

First up this evening was Bebe Black who looks like an angel and sings as well as Rosin Murphy,

the demure Ms Black is well able to deal with anything from Bob Dyan to Madness, which is adequately proved last night and is a 'crowdpleaser'.

A tireless Jim had a full time job keeping the beer flowing, and that was only my glass, while Finns landlady Jude Perry most definitely wasn't going to lend a hand on her evening off.

Jamz Perry, these days looking more like James Hetfield (Metallica) than James Hetfield, son of Jude above is these days much involved drumming for metal band Ted Moll.

and here's one for my daughter Lisa in Australian, after several years out of the woodwork comes Innes the Taxi (who has made sure I got home OK on many occasions) and Fred in the background.

Next I bumped into Vinny the Chip (proprietor of the excellent Marlborough Fish & Chip emporium) wife Lou, in white jacket, with other revelers.

Penultimate act for this years festival were London based rockers Four Wheel Drive and having a backstage pass I am able to report that despite

all the 'devil horn' finger salutes and pseudo-Nazi attire those about to close the show

where having serious doubts if they were up to following such a dynamic act.

Debbie Harry only put in a show for an hour and even though Dan Adams is one of her biggest fans he was nowhere to be found?

So with more 'spandex' than Spinal Tap

'Big Gunz' finally took to the boards and showed they could hold their own with any of them.

and while I didn't get the names of the whole line up it's Dan Adams second from fire extinguisher, Chris Whiteside next on vocals and eye make-up,

the unknown lead guitarist and Finns landlord Steve Perry on drums.

Dan Adams

And then the man he steps right up to the microphone, and says at last just as the time bell rings, "thank you good-night now it's time to go home" and makes it fast with one more thing we are The Sultans, we are The Sultans of Swing - Dire Straights

The next generation of 'Rockers' get in some early practice!

While amid the crowd I spot my mate Paul Sunt, unarguably the best rock guitarist in Dorset.

'Four Wheel Drive' take a photo shoot with Sally & Jade Pearce.

The crowd wend their way home through a litter strew street. I checked the are out this morning, the stage had gone as had ALL the rubbish - well done to those concerned.

and finally on site there was another mate Adrian (in black jacket) who when he played bass guitar in various local bands I dubbed him Nicky Wire as he has an uncanny resemblance to the 'Manic Street Preachers' bassist.

It's a long walk home from town, at least 10 minutes, so it's good to be able to stop off part way for a 'nightcap' with Bowie & Sheila - Good Night!

and so to today, where early on this

Coal Tit put in an unexpected appearance in the cemetery albeit briefly. The plan then was to go to Portland, but a text from Daragh announcing the arrival of both Knot and Curlew Sandpiper had me hurrying to Lodmoor. Both were easily located but being at quite a distance, as most things are at this site the photographs were not of the best.

Knot and

Curlew Sandpiper (right) in company with a Dunlin. On the Wader front there were also c2 Common Sandpiper and a few Lapwing there.

Also a still quite young Common Tern barely able to fly and awaiting a parent to bring it food.

The main food species for these birds seem to be Sand Eels, but this adult seems to have caught a Smelt?

and with the goods delivered Mum (or Dad) takes a well deserved rest. In transit from the Moor to Portland I bumped into yet more of my mate enjoying a coffee and the sunshine outside of the William Henry public house.

Quite a coincidence really as I had heard on the news this morning that after 25 years the television programme The Bill (a slangexpression for the Police Force in Great Britain) is to come to an end with the final episode this Sunday. Dean Martin (no relation to FrankSinatra) TV actor, sitting left, has played in many of the shows as well as in The Sweeney and Minder. The other 2 herberts are Mark Shoesmith and Doug Rump. The later is a professional photographer among many other things, so

http://www.gcy60.dial.pipex.com/hairyblokes/guys/doug/ht-pages/cv.htm

insisted I sit and pose for a shot. The links are to their CV's which make interesting reading.
http://www.gcy60.dial.pipex.com/hairyblokes/guys/dean/ht-pages/cv.htm

At Barleycrates Lane I came across this scattering of feathers, where some hapless bird had met its Waterloo while a little further on perched on a rock there was this

Kestrel which may have been responsible for

the untimely end.

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After a second starry night in a row the omens were not particularly favourable for a 'bag full of migrants'. First port of call, as usual, was the cemetery where this formally elusive

juvenile Robin succumbed to the lens, and after a poor showing at Ferry Bridge (c29 Turnstone, an adult Peregrine and a few high flying Yellow Wagtail) I continued on to Barleycrates Lane. There was a little more action by way of this single

Whitethroat, for a short time in company with a close relative a Lesser Whitethroat, while further along there were about 30

Wheatear. plus a lone

Stonechat.

Looking back toward Blacknor it was noted that the work on refurbishing the 'fort' continues apace, and when I get to know more it will be highlighted here.

Yellow Wagtails were in evidence in the Fancy's Farm fields, in the main favouring the company of the Hebridean sheep, while at the main entrance a new emblem was flying.

A most Floydian 'pink pig' and most definitely 'on the wing' so in future I'll be watching for Pigs on the Wing! A coffee at the Observatory was most welcome and just before leaving Ian Dodd very obligingly released a

female Blackcap from one of the 'mist nets'.

Something completely new for me was a White Crab Spider in addition to 3 Wasp Spiders which seem to be colonising the area, plus a Spotted Flycatcher and Tree Pipit. On the way back to Southwell to catch the bus Culverwell seemed to be alive with

Willow Warblers, as this

Sparrowhawk circled above perhaps hoping to catch one or two.

Back in Weymouth, the Quayside 2 day Music Festival was once again well under way, and I felt privileged to catch the 'set' by journeyman guitar / vocalist

Duncan Dukane (nee Elder). One time front man for the seminal outfit 'The Beautiful People'. Duncan & Co scored a mighty hit this side of The Pond with a slant on the Hendrix classic"If 60's were 90's", in addition to which he (they) had a further 3 'Number 1' hits Stateside.

Lots of people not seen for all too long started showing up, including great mates Adrian & Tracy Baker (no relation) and it was another privilege to be afforded an All Areas pass allowing me to mingle with the musicians and partake of the complimentary bar and tab-nabs.

'Hustle' performed next, while

Steve Wooldridge kept the running order and logistics in perfect sync.

The crowd were now getting the groove and being so near to the water's edge, some had taken precautions.

Zoe & Co were a fine example of just what is going on in our fine town musically during their 30 minute set. With a combined age of just over 13 these youngsters are the 'shape of things to come' (Jeff Beck) and we can feel assured that Rock 'n' Roll is safe in such hands.

Just before leaving to go for my second Marlborough 'fish and mushy peas' in as many days this band, who's name escaped me, took the stage starting off in Satriani fashion, and when I get the name I'll bring it to you.

Must take a recess now for a bath & dhobie then straight back to 'the front line' from where I will report, via an addendum tomorrow if I'm still upright. and don't forget, "God gave Rock 'n' Roll to you, gave Rock 'n' Roll to you, she put it in the soul of everyone" - Argent!

Sweet Little Rock 'n' Roller - Chuck Berry

This Grey Squirrel was awaiting my arrival at the cemetery this morning, but apart from a group of feeding House Martins overhead that's all there was.

Radipole proved a little more productive with at least c4 juvenile Great Crested Grebes still in attendance, and the common and prolific

Purple Loosestrife now well in bloom giving the reserve a 'purple haze'.

There were also a few Warblers to be seen and heard including Cetti's, Willow, Sedge and Chiffchaff, while c8 Common Terns fished across the lake. Of these the was still one adult feeding a juvenile which had no more than a trace of brown in the mantle, and looked, in my view, to be well capable of fending for itself? Among these was also a larger Tern which with only a fleeting glimpse I had to consider most likely a Sandwich, while here also good numbers of House Martin were in company with 50 or so Sand Martins. A calling Whimbrel attracted my attention as it few from west to east, followed by a Redshank in the same direction and vocal, both looking for somewhere to put down and feed, but both looking in the wrong place here!

I considered it worth a walk up Radipole Park Drive in pursuit of the afore mentioned 'large' tern but didn't relocate it, however I did arrive at one of the angling 'pegs' to see this fine

Roach of about 1lb landed and then returned to the water seeming no worse for the experience. This coincided with a text from Daragh Croxson announcing the arrival of c8 Avocet at Lodmoor, which had been my next intended location, so was well placed to pop over Alexander Bridge and down Weymouth Bay Avenue to the moor. Just inside the 5 bar gate a

Garden Warbler appeared briefly, but not this one, No, this one was far more obliging further along the track just before I saw c2

Black-tailed Godwit fly in and commence feeding in the shallow pools. It wasn't long before the

Avocet were in view and while studying these, even more Waders flew in by way of these c9

Common Snipe. Further to that there was a single Little Egret, c2 Common Sandpipers, another Whimbrel and a Common Buzzard, but that was all for the moor today. Catching the bus back to Weymouth it was worth a stop to see how the

'Roadies' were getting on with preparing the stage for the 2 days Music Festival commencing at 13-00 today.

At the Bill things were more mechanical than avian with c11 Red Arrows flying over, but a bit late with the camera,

and the tireless Richard Newton was about to start combining in the 'Top Fields', as one of

several Power Boats cut close to the shore-line.

Local artist Sally K Servian also had a mini exhibition of her works from her Chesilisk glass mosaic tile collection, which are for sale. Not restricted to tiles, these 'true to life' and beautifully coloured pieces also include panels, pictures and table tops. Sally can be contacted on 07500349779, info@chesilisk.com or via www.chesilisk.com.

It was now gone noon, and a little late for the 'turn of the tide' but nonetheless made my way to Ferry Bridge where 'bird-wise' it was much the same as yesterday. However, on the other side of the causeway there was an event taking place which was a spectacle in its own right. The kite and wind surfers were out in force, and as the wind had now reached an estimated 6 on the Beaufort Scale all were taking full advantage,

Three 'kiters', each on collision course with the others, had no difficulty keeping out of trouble

as the 'wind surfers' mingled among them.

Here one of the 'kite surfers' has just taken the plunge, kicking up a nice wake in the process.

There were a couple of fungi on the roadside verge, but now it was full steam ahead for Weymouth and a basin full of Rock 'n' Roll.

A good crowd had gathered under a threatening sky, and it wasn't long before we all got a bit wet, and it wasn't long before I started bumping into a few muso mates I hadn't seen for many a day.

First were Nick Gomer and Chris Whiteside (with his missus) 'Rockers of the Old Brigade. Nick, it seems, has been playing harp (harmonica) with Brahms & Liszt, Red Rooster and Custer's Last Blues Band since the beginning of time, and was just rushing off to Bridport to do just that with the latter outfit. Chris on the other hand has been vocalist with Thin Lizzy soundalikes Bad Reputation since they formed in the mid-80's.

'Sanctuary' are a group of Weymouth youngsters playing mainly their own compositions in a Metallicaesque style and did their reputation no harm this afternoon when they kicked this music marathon off.

Danny Adams, the man I really wanted to see, was as has become usual running the show, comparing, announcer, sound checker and you name it. I have followed Dan's progress since he was a 'nipper' and I doubt there is anyone more versatile, talented and just down right charismatic than he. Accomplished Bass and Lead Guitarist he made his mark on me one Sunday afternoon gig in Pete Smith's music pub the Park Hotel. Having buzzed around the music business trying to get gigs with a number of bands, like a wasp that just won't go away, he stepped up to the mic and did the vocal on Zeppelin's Immigrant Song. In my view Robert Plant was the only person in the world who should ever sing this difficult and punchy song, but now there's ANOTHER. I know you'll be logging on Dan, so all the best and hope to see you manana!

The deliciously named 'Dinner Ladies' filled the mid-afternoon slot with a series of classic 60's, Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, Travelling Wilbury's, late Bowie et al songs that brought the house down. Numbers you can sing along to always go well at this kind of gig, and when everyone was 'at it' you must have been able to hear it in Dorchester.

Then out of nowhere, there was 'Fuzzy'! Chris (Fuzzy) Coombs has for a long time been my tip to be Weymouth (Dorset or Great Britain's) next great impresario. Again, someone who has been in and around the local music scene since he was a kid, he now has over 60 bands, 40 of these from the Weymouth area alone, on his books many of which he has personally mentored. 'Fuzzy Music Studios' is based on the Granby Industrial Estate where budding musicians, or anyone else for that matter, can hire floor space, instruments, associate equipment, recording facilities plus production and management technique to get your thing off the ground. He has his own 'Festival' coming up on Saturday 4th September at the Ferry Bridge Inn, Weymouth end of the Chesil Beach Road, showcasing 6 local bands and promises a great evening of 'sounds', commencing 18-00 thru 23-00. Hope to see you there Chris!

The heavy rain showers did damped the afternoon a little but didn't seem to deter these Lads in Hats, and by the time Johnny Cash tribute

The Man in Black came to the stage I had already had to seek refuge in The Swan (JD Wetherspoons) 3 times.

Looking forward to a return visit tomorrow, when who knows we might meet??