I DON’T know if it’s just me, but the trouble with nostalgia these days is that it is never as good as it used to be back in my day.

So many bands split acrimoniously and then reform later for a number or reasons, all of which are financially related.. The expensive divorce, the Betty Ford Clinic bill, the difficult greatest hits album tour. whatevs.

But sometimes bands reform because they really enjoy doing what they do and fans, both old and new, really want to hear and see them.

Such is the case with The South, who, as The Beautiful South, split in 2006, citing ‘musical similarities’.

After more than a decade of huge success, selling some 15 million albums (in the days when people had to go to a shop to buy one and not just press a button on a phone) and some huge hit singles, including Perfect 10, Rotterdam, Old Red Eyes is Back and, their monster number one, A Little Time, they called it a day.

But that level of success is more than addictive so, after a brief sojourn, original members Dave Hemingway, Damon Butcher, Alison Wheeler and Gaz Birtles got back together as The New Beautiful South (it must have taken ages to think that one up) which, to cut a long band name story short, shortly became shortened to The South.

Wind forward a few years and the band are now touring their debut album, the self-financed Sweet Refrain, and you have the chance to wallow in nostalgia and enjoy their current beautifully crafted material when they visit the Electric Palace in Bridport next Saturday, October 29. Tickets at £26 are available from the box office on 01308 424901.

Moving on, and if later this evening you are suddenly struck by the urge to sit on the floor and pretend to row a boat with your friends while listening to The Gap Band’s Oops Upside Your Head (And I know I frequently do) then you need put on your sparkliest boob tube and slingbacks and head for the Tythe Barn in Symondsbury RIGHT NOW!

That’s because the truly excellent disco-cheese revisionists Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleasures are topping the bill tonight, Friday, October 21, at a fundraising gig for the local St Catherine’s Pre-School.

Not only can you dance yourself dizzy to Jess and her top-notch groovy scamps, you can also boogaloo to the marvellous Mutter Slater Band who are supporting them, and all in the knowledge that busting some shapes out on the floor is helping a very worthy cause.

Tickets are a mere £8 from billetto.co.uk or you could take a chance, take a chance, take a chance, take a chance etc on getting in on the door tonight from 7pm.

Moving on, and the Sunray Folk Club are thrilled to welcome back one of the country’s finest songsmiths Boo Hewerdine for a gig on Thursday, October 27.

Boo’s written or worked with a host of top names, including Eddi Reader, The Corrs and Chris Difford out of Squeeze, for example, and has numerous TV and film scores to his credit.

His intimate shows at Broadmayne village hall for the folk club are hugely popular so get there early next Thursday. It’s a mere £10 on the door from 8pm.

And finally, don’t forget to tune in to Radio 2 this Monday night, October 24, at 11pm for Jools Holland’s show where he’ll be chatting to and no doubt boogie woogie-ing along with his guests, our very own Ben Waters and Amy Mayes. Woop!

Replay’s party for their retiring drummer Nigel Coles will take place on Sunday, October 30 at the Wyke Smugglers in Weymouth from 2pm, and not as some doofus said in last week’s gig guide. Apologies for my senior moment.

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (21)

Jess Upton and the Guilty Pleaures (Tythe Barn, Symondsbury)

Lo Numbers (Finns, Weymouth)

Toxic Fish, Side Door Project (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Liam Howard and the Truthseekers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Paul Smith (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (George, Dorchester)

Karen (Park, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Dave Griff (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Southern Sinners (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Rob Ryan Pete Austin (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Bemis (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (22)

Dreadzone (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Blackwater County (Finns, Weymouth)

The Dinnerladies (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Barry Hobson (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Bulls Head, Dorchester)

Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Remedy (George, Dorchester)

The Shakespearos (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Ocean Drive (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Replay (Moonfleet Bowls Club, Weymouth)

4 Go Mad (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Collyde (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

The Mighty Fine (Victoria, Dorchester)

Total Madness (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Saxuality (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Outrage (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Dr Robert (Market House, Weymouth)

The Cherry Pickers (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Side Door Project (Ayya, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (23)

Finn (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Amy Hopwood (Park, Weymouth)

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

Sheryl Lee’s Sunday Club (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 7pm.

Farrago (Globe, Weymouth) 4.30pm.

Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth) 3-7pm.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Du Kane (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 4pm.

Tripod (Three Compasses, Charminster)

MONDAY (24)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (25)

Barney Newman (Boot, Weymouth)

Kadia, Paul Openshaw, McFlute and many more (Drax Arms, Bere Regis) Folk night, from 8pm.

WEDNESDAY (26)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (27)

Boo Hewerdine (Sunray Folk Club, village hall, Broadmayne)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (George, Dorchester)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (28)

Blockheads, Surfin’ Birds (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Stereoironics (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Finns, Weymouth)

The Rat Pack (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Finn (Park, Weymouth)

Outrage (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Cuba Libre (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Skones (Chalk and Cheese, Maiden Newton)