London Gay Men's Chorus
Firstly the London Gay Men's Chorus are returning and will be performing their very popular West End Saturday Night Diva Show.
It’s no secret that people love to be entertained by the diva, such is the sparkle and power they command on stage, with their point blank refusal to compromise, despite societal expectations. At Chesil Rocks this year, an ensemble from the London Gay Men’s Chorus explores the fascination of divas through a musical journey encompassing over 75 years of music including from Aretha Franklin, Madonna, Lady Gaga and Diana Ross. This promises to be a joyful performance, with one of the UK’s best-loved vocal groups.
Balance of Power
Performing at Chesil Rocks on 21st June will be Balance of Power - the ultimate tribute to 80's classic rock, covering songs from some of the greatest artists of all time including Bon Jovi, Queen, Toto, Def Leppard, Whitesnake, Van Halen, Peter Gabriel, Journey and many more.
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Comprising top musicians with a wealth of experience together, they bring dynamic performances to every show and faithful reproductions of iconic tracks such as ' Livin on a Prayer', ‘Jump', ‘Rosanna', ‘One Vision', ‘Don't stop Believing' and a multitude of other loved tracks from that golden era.
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if you love 80's rock anthems, you will love Balance of Power, and they are guaranteed to have audiences jumping up and singing and dancing to every song!
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Balance of Power are Phil Evans-Jones on lead vocals, Barbara Whiteside on keys and vocals, John Quinney on guitar and vocals, Michael Callaby on bass and Jack Pryor on drums and percussion.
Balance of Power showreel: https://youtu.be/RgNHb52gMLk
Upton, McIntosh, Wilson and friends
Jess Upton is perhaps Dorset’s best keep musical secret and since fronting her first band, the stunning Jess Upton Soul Band at the age of just 17, she has captivated audiences and received great plaudits from those lucky enough to have seen and heard her sing. Her voice is as versatile as it is beautiful, also having worked with big bands, an acapella trio and a Pink Floyd tribute band, which featured an extraordinary performance by her on the track Great Gig in the Sky.
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Jess lost her mum when she was just aged 15 and went to live with her aunt and uncle in Bridport, but already immersed in the Bridport music scene through the inspirational Rex Trevett at Colfox School and her equally inspirational singing teacher Sammy Hurden, she was then hugely influenced by the film The Commitments. From being one of 40 or so people in the Bridport Big Band, she became a founding member of the Jess Upton Soul Band with Chris Lonegan – who had also noticed her talent – her teacher Sammy, Clive Ashley, Julie Trevett, Matt Barge, Terry Cottam, Dave Kenderdine and Steve Mutter. They performed in pubs, clubs, weddings and parties all over the country and gigged also in London at the Mean Fiddler.
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On a course at Weymouth College, she met one Steve Wilson and they just clicked and started gigging, sometimes with other Weymouth musicians such as Robbie McIntosh and Marco Rossi. Moving to London in 1999 made it difficult for the soul band, although there were still reunion gigs and they had around 20 years together. Then Jess and Steve formed their own band, naming it Jess Upton & The Guilty Pleasures and who still perform today, delighting audiences. There have been a few different incarnations, but being smaller than the Soul Band, they were more affordable for festivals, weddings and private functions and they perform songs from a multitude of genres!
Robbie McIntosh has legendary status amongst fellow musicians and his career has included spells as guitarist with Sir Paul McCartney, Sir Tom Jones, John Mayer and Norah Jones. Robbie has played many of the world’s top festivals and venues and amongst his numerous TV and radio appearances, Robbie performed with Sir Tom Jones on Jools Holland’s Hootenanny BBC TV show on New Years Eve 2015 and also with Zucchero in 2016. As a long-term member of The Pretenders, Robbie played at Live Aid in 1985 and on their top-10 UK hit, Don’t Get Me Wrong. Robbie takes his own special blend of music on the road with The Robbie McIntosh Band, and in trio and duo formats.
Born in Surrey, England, in 1957, Robbie grew up loving The Beatles, The Beach Boys and The Who, leading to the development of an uncanny melodic sense and a knack for knowing how to fill rhythmic space. Listen to The Pretenders’ Learning to Crawl, Talk Talk’s It’s My Life or Paul McCartney’s Flowers in the Dirt for evidence of this ability.
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Robbie was seriously ill during lockdown with non-Hodgkin lymphoma but has recovered and still works remotely for major artists and is also part of the outstanding local trio Upton, McIntosh, Wilson – commenting that he particularly enjoys their three-part harmonies.
Steve Wilson cut his musical teeth with The Little Green Men, a band that developed a strong cult following in the late 80s early 90s from Northampton to Weymouth. In 1993 he decided to go back to college to study music and performing arts and which is where he met Jess. He went on to form The Steve Wilson Band, producing two albums - Stepping It Up A Notch and Sideshows And Fairytales, both of which feature Jess on Backing vocals. More recently, Steve formed the band Steve Wilson and the Innocent Bystanders and performed at Chesil Rocks in 2024 with Jess on backing vocals. Steve and Jess have worked on and off since 1995, share a love of alt. country/folk and acoustic roots music and enjoy a residency at Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall’s River Cottage – where Jess has worked for 20 years.
Upton, McIntosh, Wilson have been performing together for nearly a decade and for Chesil Rocks this year, are being joined by the most accomplished drummer Paul Beavis and the equally accomplished keyboard player Steve Smith - to form a full band and an act not to be missed, as they are likely to be epic!
The Pete Brown Blues Band
Pete Brown Guitars and Vocal
Andy Crowdy Bass and backing Vocal
Matt Girling Keyboards and backing Vocal
Adrian Dacre Drums
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A collaboration of four accomplished and versatile musicians playing an eclectic mix of songs from blues, prog, rock, soul to boogey woogy and back again, In their own unique and groovy way.
Pete Browns pedigree goes back to being 12 years old and recording local bands on his Dad’s (Joe Brown) 8-track neve set-up. Having started performing on stage at the age of 15 with his dad he then went on to work at “Powerplant Studios” in London in the 1980’s working his way up from tea boy to being one of the youngest house engineers in London at the age of 19. Working on major acts in the 80’s including Sade, Nick Lowe, Dusty Springfield, Edwin Star, Courtney Pine, Status Quo and George Harrison. He then produced the hugely successful “Stop” album with his sister Sam Brown and toured the world extensively with her. Other things of note amongst a list too long to explore, he has performed live with Deep Purple, Dave Edmunds and Dave Gilmore of (Pink Floyd).
Andy Crowdy - started out like many as a self-taught guitarist, trying to copy the likes (and licks) of Eric Clapton and Jimmy Page, before moving across to bass, a role he has loved ever since. In the 80’s and 90’s Andy played with slide guitarist Michael Messer, and with American legends Jesse “Guitar” Taylor, Ted Hawkins, and Joe Ely. More recently he has collaborated with the Blockheads’ Chaz Jankel. Andy is also a double bass player, working with most of the UK’s top jazz names, and away from the Pete Brown Blues Band loves being a versatile musician and taking the role of guitar and keyboards in a band playing the music of Led Zeppelin.
Adrian Dacre - became obsessed with drumming at a young age and dreamed of drumming greatness. Having practiced and honed his craft, Ade has played with many bands crossing over many genre’ and his most notable 15 mins of fame was drumming on the Badly Drawn Boy’s hit single “Once Around The Block” and his EP3 EP and others
Matt Girling - As a young boy couldn’t control his talent and quickly became a skilled multi-instrumentalist playing guitar, bass, keyboards and “dabbles” on many other instruments. “Dabbles” could mean chopsticks for the rest of us but for Matt he has a knack of being able to play any instrument he picks up.
He's performed alongside members of Jamiroquai and Jools Holland’s Rhythm and Blues orchestra proving his credentials as a great musician.
He provides backing vocals for the Pete Brown Blues Band and you will definitely be able to hear his stylish keyboards skills.
Electronique
​ELECTRONIQUE is a Weymouth based musical cooperative, formed in 2022, with a focus on 1980s themed electronic music. Anyone who has recorded can play live, if they are available, recreating a range of pop, political and dance songs.
Playing for ELECTRONIQUE on 21/06/25 are Barbara Gasior (violin) and Paul Avis (vocals / keyboards). We believe that music matters, words matter and having had vast experience of playing gigs both locally and internationally we embrace the opportunity to present our music to a local audience at the Pavilion for such a great cause.
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Weymouth Rock Choir
Rock Choir is the UK's leading contemporary award-winning choir experience offering local weekly rehearsals, performances and life-affirming events to more than 400 towns and communities across the UK. Rock Choir is recognised as the first of its kind to offer a no-audition and no-requirement-to-read-music choir experience in the UK and invites anyone with any level of musical experience to join. It's all about singing, fun, your local community, friendship and life-changing experiences!
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Here in West Dorset, Rock Choir began in 2013 under the direction of Stacey Davies-Hobday in Weymouth, Dorchester, Bridport and Poole. The choirs have had the pleasure of performing at many local and national events, most notably recording at Abbey Road studios in 2017.
Stacey continued running multiple choirs in the area until September 2023 when she was promoted to Head of Choir Leaders for the UK looking after recruitment, training and brand delivery for all Rock Choir leaders. Alongside this mammoth task she continues to lead the Weymouth choir once weekly at Radipole School, Wednesdays at 7:30pm, We are always open to new members but you'll have to be quick as the choir is nearing capacity! To find out more please visit www.rockchoir.com
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After a Chesil Rocks debut in 2015 we are delighted to have been invited back to support this fantastic event.
Chesil Rocks 2025
The below acts are now confirmed for Chesil Rocks 2025.
Our Comedy Hour compere will be Tom Glover, and will feature Nina Gilligan and Jake Lambert.