Little Dixie played outside the Three Horseshoes, Burton Bradstock, Dorset on Saturday 24th July as part of a fundraising day for the Cancer Care charity. Your scribe was unaware of the outdoor nature of this event before the gig, but was luckily saved from potential Lonergan bonce/ozone layer depletion hazard by drummist Ady Milward, whose sticks bag contained some heavy-duty UV protection stuff had been left there after his gig with the wonderful Dubshack at the last Glastonbury Festival.

Later that day, my serendipitously protected, follically-challenged skull was moved west to the Ropemakers in Bridport, a venue whose clientele always seems to ‘get’ what Little Dixie is about, appreciating Mutter Slater’s wonderfully-crafted songs.

On Sunday 25th July, the Ben Waters Band topped the bill at the Trowbridge Festival, playing to 4,000-odd thoroughly up-for-it punters, in a wonderful setting in the heart of the Wiltshire countryside. We had been preceded on stage by Richard Thompson (who gave a mesmeric performance), The Strawbs, the Eliza Carthy Band, Celloman, Kelly Joe Phelps and other major acts, which could have rendered little old us a little intimidated – far from it. The whole vibe of the place, organisers, sound crew, backstage folk and all, was relaxed and friendly. The sound was great, the beer was free - a thoroughly enjoyable experience all round.

It’s unusual for a band to be given such a prominent slot on their debut appearance at such a high-profile festival (for example, it’s taken us seven years to work our way up to the main stage at the Cork Jazz Festival), and I can tell you that we relished the opportunity.

Next Saturday, 31st July, the Ben Waters Band hits the boards again in Bentley, near Farnham, Surrey, a private party for some media types. On the following afternoon, Sunday 1st August, I’ll be joining the massed ranks of the Barrelhouse Blues Orchestra for a performance at the Gloucester Blues Festival. Details on www. gloucesterblues.co.uk