Ready to rock at Guitars on the Beach

PERHAPS the headline of this, my last column of the year, is a little misleading as I won’t actually be playing at Guitars on the Beach but I will be there to cheer on and photograph the expected huge crowds!

I’m not particularly musical - the closest I came to mastering a musical instrument was grade 3 piano in school (not very rock ‘n’ roll!), so I think my talents will be better saved for the sidelines.

In fact, music doesn’t run in the family but dad is planning to give the three chords of Buddy Holly’s 'Rave On' a go this Saturday afternoon, just to say he was part of Britain’s Biggest Band. 

I’m sure guitarists up and down the country, amateur and professional, are practising those same three chords this week in preparation for Saturday’s record-breaking event and surely the largest event Lyme Regis has ever seen.

The town is gearing up to welcome more than 2,700 guitarists and, if all goes to plan, we’ll be making it into the Guinness record books for the most people playing one song at one time (not forgetting the biggest guitar made out of sand!).

Musical or not, Guitars on the Beach is set to be an event we will all remember, one of those wacky ideas only Lyme Regis can pull off, thanks to the unfaltering dedication and enthusiasm of lead organiser and music PR Geoff Baker, and his partner Jill Newton, over the past few months.

Geoff’s hard work has secured sponsorship from guitar manufacturer Fender and West End star of 'Buddy!', Billy Geraghty, to lead the house band, plus a number of other attractions and imaginative ideas to keep the crowds happy in the run-up to the big moment. 

It will be big, it will be loud, it will be great! Don’t miss it!

DON’T MISS A NOTE

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 6TH

7.30pm - Doors open for The Night with Robbie McIntosh, Marine Theatre. Tickets £12.50

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 7TH

10am - Registrations start in the Jubilee Pavilion on the seafront (all guitarists must register to count for the record attempt)

12noon - Accredited buskers start in shops and cafes around the town and music starts on the seafront stage

4pm - Registrations close. Please take your places on the Sand Stage!

4.30pm - Announcements, raffle draw for the two Fender guitars, warm up run throughs etc

5pm - BRITAIN'S BIGGEST-EVER BAND PLAYS BUDDY HOLLY’S 'RAVE ON'

5:30pm - House band plays some classic R&B numbers - join in if you like

7:30pm Doors open for the After Party, Marine Theatre. Tickets £10 to see six local bands.

What I’m doing... for the rest of the year

WELL, I like to think I haven’t got the remaining four months of the year (yes, that’s right, there’s only four left!) planned out to a tee, but here’s a few of the events I’ll be covering just to show you how much really does go on in Lyme Regis, not just in summer:

• Lyme RegisArtsFest - September 21st to 29th

• Official twinning with Barfleur - September 21st

• Bonfire and firework night - November 2nd

• Remembrance Day parade and church service - November 10th (note new time of 9.30am for parade start)

• Armistice Day service - November 11th

• B Sharp’s Christmas Party - November 23rd

• Christmas Lantern Parade and Lights Switch-On - November 30th

• The Great Lyme Regis Christmas Pudding Race in aid of Cancer Research UK - December 7th (another favourite of mine, don’t miss the fun!)

• Charmouth Christmas Day Swim - December 25th

• Lyme Lunge - January 1st 2014 

And although it’s over the border, don’t forget East Devon Carnival Circuit throughout September and October, always worth a visit. 

Of course, this is just a few - there’ll be plenty to keep you busy and dad will be keeping you up-to-date as his “Lyme Matters” column returns next week. Hope you’ve had a great summer!

And ready to get cooking!

LAST week I mentioned that the Food Rocks Festival was coming up and this week I’ve really got in the mood.

I’m ready to get in the kitchen and, having looked through the programme, I’ve already decided on all the demonstrations, talks, tastings and ‘how to’ workshops I’ll be attending. 

From local seafood to chocolate and cocktails, there’s something for everyone. 

It seems Lyme has been getting in the mood for food too, and is continuously building on its budding reputation as a 'foodie' destination. Our own Mighty Hop Brewery won best drink at the Taste of Dorset awards this week, with vegetarian restaurant Tierra Kitchen also reaching the finals and the Town Mill Brewery scooping no less than six prizes in the Taste of the West Awards - congratulations to all. 

The accolades will be added to a long list won by Lyme establishments in recent years, which I’m sure will be enjoyed by food fans heading our way this weekend.

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