THERE are ways and means of finding out someone’s age.

Clearly, you could just come out and ask them straight but, speaking as a leading female impersonator, I personally would find that rather rude.

Or you could have them scientifically analysed and carbon dated, pinpointing their DoB to possibly a Tuesday sometime in the Mesolithic period.

Or you could just browse through their record collection, which would indicate precisely when they were a teenager.

It’s an established fact that the music you loved between the ages of, say, 13 and 20 will stay with you for the rest of your life. Nothing comes close.

So we have the situation today of people in care homes debating whether Little Richard or Elvis was the greatest rock’n’roller, pensioners duking it out over the Beatles or the Stones, fifty-somethings, like me, getting fatter and greyer (like me) over the glam v prog v punk debate, couples in their forties divorcing over Blur and Oasis, and so it goes.

In 50 years’ time, today’s teenagers will be comparing their Bieber and Little Mix downloads on a virtual cloud no doubt.

But if the era 1976-1980 was your time to shine, you will certainly enjoy The Skones, the Dorchester-based trio who make their debut at Finns in Weymouth tomorrow night, Saturday January 30.

 

Remember at school when you buried a time capsule for future generations to discover? Well, someone put The Skones in their one.

They’ll be celebrating the 40th anniversary of punk rock with classics from the likes of the Clash, The Buzzcocks, The Damned through to Toy Dolls and Department S.

Enthusiastic but arthritic pogoing is compulsory, as is a bit of a lie down with a cup of Ovaltine when you get home.

And tomorrow night, Saturday, January 30, in Dorchester, it’s the opening date for the DA Blues spring season.

And they’re off to a belter with a visit to the Corn Exchange of Washington DC blues man Michael Roach.

And if that’s not enough to float your boat, he’ll be joined by blues harp ace Johnny Mars.

Michael, who is now based in the UK, is a renowned authority on the blues, lecturing across the world at universities as well as gigging all over the shop, and Johnny is a gob iron genius of some repute having worked with some of the greats of the blues world, including BB King, Earl Hooker, Spencer Davis, Ian Gillan and, er, Bananarama.

Tickets for tomorrow’s show are £13 from the box office on 01305 266926.

And finally, it’s a real dilemma where to go tomorrow night, Saturday, January 30, as it’s the debut gig for all-round troubadour John Stone and his new band, cunningly christened The John Stone Band.

Singer-songwriter John will be joined by Mark Phillips on bass, Simon Swarbrick on guitar and Ady Milward on drums at the Old Town Hall in Weymouth for a delightful evening of songs he’s penned over the last couple of years.

It’s a fiver on the door, which is an absolute bargain in anybody’s language Till next time…

TONIGHT (29)

Silly Band, Light Fire Down, Accursed Years, Solent (Finns, Weymouth)

Chase Me (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Brian Harris (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Park, Weymouth)

Phil Hammond (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Replay (Wyke Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Skint Imperials (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Duke and the Broad (Clifton, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Freezer (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Tripod (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

The Riffs (Little Ship, Portland)

Leggomen (Harbour Lights, Portland Marina)

Peacock Suit (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Minty Trevina (Old Ship, Dorchester)

White City Shakers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (30)

Michael Roache and Johnny Mars (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

The Skones (Finns, Weymouth)

Fluke (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

John Stone Band (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

Spiggen Mist (The Snug, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Electric Blue Quays (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Jason Hughes’s Ska Night (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Katz (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

The Riffs (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Regulation 9 (Market House, Weymouth)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Weymouth)

Mr Bucket (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Fuzzy and the Grooveriders (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Brothers Grimm (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

Pronghorn (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (31)

Wilson (King’s Arms, Portesham) 3pm.

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

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) Music from 8pm.

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 4pm.

Danny Adams (Boho, Weymouth) 7pm.

Blazing Strings (Ayya, Weymouth) 10pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm.

Stupidity (Three Compasses, Charminster)

MONDAY (1)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (2)

Weird and Gilly (Boot, Weymouth)

Jazz Guitar Nights (Boho, Weymouth)

Singalong with Nigel (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (Park, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (3)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Jam Night (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth) Hosted by Blazing Strings

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

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

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

An Evening with… (Boho, Weymouth) Originals night.

THURSDAY (4)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Steve’s Singalong (King’s Arms Weymouth)

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

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth) 8pm.

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth) Hosted by DuKane.

FRIDAY (5)

Mighty Fine (Finns, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Amy Hopwood (Park, Weymouth)

Helena Mace (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Gaz Brookfield, Ben Wain and Nick Parker (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Shooter (George, Dorchester)