GIG GUIDE: The Beat at the Electric Palace

He would no doubt wince as he heard Spandau Ballet’s new single on the radio, shed a tear at the economic gloom and unemployed youngsters in our country and probably do a little sick in his mouth if he saw me sitting here in my leg warmers, rah-rah skirt and deely boppers.

He, however, would be mighty relieved to know that one of the most popular and successful bands of that era are still going strong and are still tearing up dance floors across the nation.

Yep, The Beat are still doing the business, albeit with only Ranking Roger as the remaining original member, and he’s joined on stage, a pop-up toaster, if you will, by his son Ranking Jnr.

Their extensive back catalogue of hits, Too Nice To Talk To, Mirror in the Bathroom, Hands Off She’s Mine and all the others, still sound great today and can still get the most arthritic of hips moving.

They’re out on the road at the moment and The Beat tour bus stops off at The Electric Palace in Bridport tomorrow night, Saturday, October 4.

It’s bound to be a hot and sweaty night and tickets at £18 are available from the Bridport TIC on 01308 424901.

And talking of hot and sweaty, there’s another night of DIY punk at Finns in Weymouth next Friday, October 10 with an impressive and noisy line-up of bands.

Top of the shop are local din merchants Light Fire Down, the sound and the fury of young Bristol in the shape of Criminal Mind and the very hairy Janowski will be coming down from London for their second Weymouth appearance.

Also threatening to show up are The Mistake from Bournemouth, Solent – the new name of the former Fireside – and, last but not least, The Urinal, no doubt flushed with success following their recent support slot with K and the Gang at Finns.

All this for the princely sum of… naff all. Yep, it’s free admission, doors open at 7pm.

Who says you don’t nuffink for nuffink these days?

And finally, those of you slackers who fancy just turning up on the door for the Dub Pistols at The Factory in Weymouth tomorrow night, Saturday, October 4, may have to reschedule their social diaries as all tickets have been sold. So there.

Right that’s it for this week, I’m off to tell Cheryl Cole what to do with her effing new song.

Till next time…

TONIGHT (3)

The Mighty Fine (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Surfin’ Birds (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Under The Carousel (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Rockin’ Rich (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Railway Tavern, Weymouth)

Bit of Rough (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Skinful (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

C Sharp Blues (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Nina Garcia (Café Jagos, Dorchester)

Converse (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell Street, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Kent Duchaine (Beach and Barnicott, Bridport)

SATURDAY (4)

Dub Pistols, Cuba Libre, Ruckus Collective, DN Dubstation, Sneak Eazies (The Factory, Maiden St, Weymouth) SOLD OUT!

The Beat (Electric Palace, Bridport)

The Crack (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Blue Rock (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth)

Chloe and Tom (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Splinter (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Tripod (Moby Dicks, Weymouth) Dave Powell (Rendezvous, Weymouth) 8.30pm.

Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Shooter (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Victoria, Dorchester)

Tom Caulfield (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

BJ McCabe (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Under The Carousel (New Star Inn, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Diva Lea (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Karen and Elvis Pete (Park Hotel, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Left Right and Centre (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Design (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell Street, Weymouth)

Bob Mallett (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Rockaholics (Belvedere, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (5)

The Skones (Three Compasses, Charminster)

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.

Martin Freed (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm-5pm.

Six String Steve (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Finn (Park Hotel, Weymouth) 6pm.

Gut and Steel (Old Ship, Upwey) 2.30pm.

MONDAY (6)

Boytits, Leggomen (Rendezvous, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (7)

Open Mic Night (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (8)

Dave P’s Open Mic Night (Rendezvous, Weymouth) From 8pm.

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

Julie Lewis Band (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (9)

Martin Freed (Edinburgh House of Sounds, 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 (10)

Light Fire Down, Janowski, The Urinal, Criminal Mind, Solent, The Mistakes (Finn’s, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Chloe and Tom (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Darren H (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Barb Jungr (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Finn (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

New Era (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Roy Charles (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell Street, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)