SOMETIMES, the best way to succeed in the cesspool of vipers that is the music business is to not play the game at all.

Since supporting the Sex Pistols days after the Bill Grundy hoo-hah with his Scouse pop tarts The Yachts (once hailed as ‘The Cole Porters of punk’), and penning every track on The Christians’ 1987 triple platinum debut album (that’s THREE MILLION copies sold, for all you downloading dipsticks), singer-songwriter and all round good guy Henry Priestman has been winning at music very much on his own terms.

He’s got form longer than Stretch Armstrong’s arms, including writing hits for It’s Immaterial and Mark Owen, composing the title song for West End smash Dreamboats and Petticoats, soundtracks for Xbox games and BBC wildlife programmes, and countless sessions with the Merseyside Mafia of Pete Wylie, Ian McNabb, the Lightning Seeds and Echo and the Bunnymen.

Oh, and he’s also the proud wearer of the badge which says: ‘Oldest Man to Ever Land a Deal with Island Records’ for his 2009 debut solo album The Chronicles of Modern Life.

So how does a tunesmith of such undoubted nift and reputation end up playing a gig at the compact and bijoux Martinstown Village Hall next Saturday, April 16, because that’s where he’ll be.

“Well,” Henry tells me from a studio in Anglesey where he’s working on his latest project, “I’ve done a lot of work with ace string arranger Pete Whitfield and his sister Annie lives in the village.

“She’s been badgering him to come down with me for a gig for ages, and here we are. It’s a fundraiser for Medecins Sans Frontieres, which is Annie’s cause.

“The way I see it, small is beautiful when it comes to gigs,” he adds.

Which is certainly the case for Henry as he is never happier than when playing in your front room.

“You see, I’ve got 30 house gigs booked up so far for this year.

“Essentially, I come round and play at your birthday party or anniversary, or whatever, in your own home.

“I’m playing all sorts of places, from a kitchen in Glasgow (capacity: 12 at a squeeze) to a mansion in Surrey (capacity: considerably more).”

Henry will be joined on stage at Martinstown by long-term sidekick ‘Loved-Up’ Les Glover and stringsman Pete Whitfield and tickets at £8 are available from 01305 889059 or it’s £10 on the night, but be aware, tickets are flying out the door like hot cakes on a stolen moped.

Moving on, and from one singer-songwriter who has scaled the slippery slope of super-stardom and success, (Excuse me, while I wipe that up) to a group of guys just setting out.

The Leggomen are arguably the hardest working band round these parts and they’re certainly the hairiest.

They’ve got a prestige gig tomorrow night, Saturday, April 9, at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester where they’ll be showcasing their original material plus a few of the choice covers that have made them one of the most popular outfits around.

They’ve sold out at their London gigs and will be headlining the 02 in Islington later this year.

They’re supporting the Fun Lovin’ Criminals at the Jurassic Fields festival in Bridport this summer and left Glastonbury supremo Michael Eavis mightily impressed with both their epic sound and their epic beards at the recent Pilton Party auditions.

Good work fellas, and tickets for tomorrow night’s bash at the CornEx are £9 from the box office on 01305 266926.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (8)

Silly Band, Tate, Old Boy plus more (Finns, Weymouth)

Tony England (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Park, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

B-Town Soul Cats (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Kathy (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Fat Marrow Blues Band (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Flight Brigade (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Yui Kulberg (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Tripod (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (9)

Daniel Kemish, James Weston, No Country for Old Men (Electric Palace, Bridport)

The Leggomen (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Tripod (Finns, Weymouth)

Shooter (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Southern Sinners (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Steve Francis (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Highly Likely (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

The Dolmen (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Slipstream (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

New Era (Wyke Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Speedway Snails (Market House, Weymouth)

Elvis 56 (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Dale Fender Band (RBL Club, Portland)

V8 Hearts (George, Dorchester)

Danny Adams (Tides Inn, Weymouth)

Stress (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Coyote (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

The Curst Sons (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Silhouettes (RBL Club, Marnhull)

SUNDAY (10)

Leanne Jackson (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Skint Imperials (Three Compasses, Charminster)

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

Open Mic Surgery (George, Dorchester)

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

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 3pm.

Danny, Adams, Ezio (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina) 5pm.

The Dolmen (Belvedere, Weymouth) 1pm

Amy Hopwood (Belvedere, Weymouth) 3pm

MONDAY (11)

Songwriters night with George Hall (Boho, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (12)

Gut and Steel (Piddle Inn, Piddletrenthide)

Dougie Cooper’s Big Comeback II (The Star, Weymouth)

Singalong with Nigel (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (13)

Georgie Broad (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

THURSDAY (14)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic (Drift Bar, Hope Sq, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

SoapBox Night (Belvedere, Weymouth) Music, poetry, comedy, whatever Hosted by DuKane.

FRIDAY (15)

Dallahan (Evershot village hall)

Lo Numbers (Finns, Weymouth)

Sammie (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Amy Hopwood (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (George, Dorchester)

Leggomen (Spice Ship, Weymouth)