A quick peep out of the window and a consultation of the captain’s log and it can be confirmed: It is still flipping January, and has been since, ooh, last year at least.

Even so, there are some fabulous things to look forward to, particularly if you like big hairy blokes in skirts, and who doesn’t, eh?

Tonight the John Gregory pub at Southill, Weymouth, will be invaded by hordes of Scotsmen, wearing kilts, thumping their drums and honking their bagpipes at anyone who comes near.

Saor Patrol (pronounced shore and it’s Gaelic for freedom or liberty) are one of the biggest Celtic folk/rock bands around and regularly play festivals around the world.

They once shared the bill at a UK festival with Motorhead and Lemmy described them as “The Motorhead of folk” and I for one am not going to argue with Mr Kilmister.

The band headed down from Fife yesterday to play at the John Gregory tonight as guests of their good friends The Dolmen, with whom they’ve shared the stage and recorded the album Crann Tara last year.

It promises to be a pretty amazing year for Saor Patrol with shows all over the UK, Germany, and Italy lined up, plus a date at the prestigious SxSW festival in Austin, Texas, in March.

 

And they’ll be back in Weymouth on February 14 for the Crabchurch Conspiracy event, but more about that nearer the time.

It’s great to see live music is back at the Gregory after their problems last year but take a look at the picture on this page. Would you want to tell that lot to turn it down a bit, please?

No, thought not…

And another hostelry which is embracing live music is The Dorothy on the seafront in Weymouth.

They’ve lined up a host of top bands over the next few months and kick off their Saturday night sessions tomorrow night with The Dinnerladies, who are not bad, apparently, or so I hear anyway.

However, next Saturday, February 1, it’s the return of the ten-piece ska/Northern Soul outfit the Decatonics.

Anyone who was there for their gig at The Dot back in November will still be talking about the gig and nursing their sore feet from all the dancing, so make a date in your diary for that one.

And talking of Saturday, February 1, there’s a change on the bill for the Sepultura gig at the Weymouth Pavilion that night.

Apparently, Revoker are washing their hair so 80s rifferama specialists Primitai have stepped in, and there are just a few tickets left priced at £16.50 (and not £17.50 as some doofus suggested in the page last week) from the box office on 01305 783225.

And finally, it’s congratulations and welcome home to local musos Tom Caulfield, Barney Stevens, Jack Daniels and Benny Wain and their colleagues who scaled Kilimanjaro, raising so much dosh for the Steve Charles Help a Friend Help a Friend charity.

Scaling the highest mountain in Africa is a hugely impressive achievement in anyone’s book, but it pales in comparison to the nine-hour wait at a booze-free Doha airport hell-hole in Qatar on the way home.

That took some doing for any musician, I’ll bet.

You can congratulate Tom Caulfield and buy him a well-deserved drink tomorrow night at the Royal Oak on Weymouth quayside, which is about one foot above sea level.

That’s it for this week, I’m off to toss my caber and buff up my bagpipes ‘Till next time…

TONIGHT (24)

Saor Patrol (John Gregory, Southill, Weymouth)

TBC (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

One II One (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Spice Ship, Preston Rd, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Greyhound, Sydling St Nicholas)

The Skones (Chalk and Cheese, Maiden Newton)

Rat Salad (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Punchbowl, Easton, Portland)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Ska Roadshow (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (25)

The Dinnerladies (Dorothy, Esplanade, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Hustle (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

Splinter (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Night Shades (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Freak Circus (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Finn (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

The Crack (Royal Oak, Milborne St Andrew)

ACBBs (Clifton, Portland) One2One (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Cash Folding (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Neon Yellow (New Star Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Karen (The Rock, Abbotsbury Rd, Weymouth)

Left Right and Centre (RBL Club, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Speedway Snails (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Dead To Rights (Eight Kings, Portland)

Tripod (Crown Inn, Bridport)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth)

Stress (Chalk and Cheese, Maiden Newton)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

Tempo (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Tom Caulfield (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (26)

Loop Matt Carbis (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland) 4pm.

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 1pm.

Stress (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Karen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Babylon Bar, St Thomas St, Weymouth) 3pm.

Dave Bowen Quintet (The Trooper, Stourton Caundle) 1pm-3pm.

Jamie Parker (Durnovaria, Dorchester) 3pm.

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Tripod Acoustic (Belvedere, Weymouth) 7.30pm

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) From 3pm.

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth)

Mark Stacey and friends host this regular Sunday acoustic jam session. Music from 8pm.

MONDAY (27)

Lucy’s Ukulele Night (King’s Arms, Portesham) 8pm.

TUESDAY (28)

Stone Donkey Pilots (The Boot, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (29)

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 7pm.

Jam with Mark (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey hosts this regular acoustic jam session.

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

THURSDAY (30)

Powelly (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth) Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester) All backline provided, come on down and have a play.

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth) Steve hosts this session, with guests joining in.

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

FRIDAY (31)

Jolly Boys Outing (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Golden Lion, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Pronghorn (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Danny Adams (Café Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Richard Young (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (Conservative Club, Easton Sq, Portland) £6 on the door. Fundraiser for Portland Utd youth teams.

Dougie Cooper Quartet (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Weymouth)