YOU can’t beat a good old knees-up, as my doctor always likes to remind me, and particularly at this time of the year.

And few do a good old knees-up better than Chas and Dave, who’ve been getting punters out their seats and dancing their plates of meat off for more than 40 years.

Before that, back in the Sixties, Chas Hodges and Dave Peacock were two of the most in-demand and most recorded session players in London, and there can’t be many records released during that golden era that they didn’t play some sort of part in.

Chas was famously in the house band at Joe Meek’s Holloway Road studio, along with Ritchie Blackmore, and it’s worth watching the film Telstar: The Joe Meek Story, not just because it’s a terrific film and a real education in the Sixties music scene, but also to catch Chas’s cameo role as an irate neighbour complaining about the noise.

The duo have had a host of hits over the years, including such belters as Gertcha, Rabbit, Down to Margate and the heartbreaking ballad Ain’t No Pleasing You, a paean to ever-exasperated husbands everywhere.

Such is their fabulous back catalogue, they can almost be forgiven for Snooker Loopy and Ossie’s Going to Wemberly (His Knees have Gone all Tremberly). Almost.

They’re from the same gene pool that gave us Ian Dury and The Kinks and their Christmas parties are the stuff of legend and you can experience one at the Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms next Friday, December 23, which is the last date of their current UK tour Tickets, and they’re going fast so look sharp, are £24.50 from the box office on 01305 783225.

Support on the night comes from the mighty Lo Numbers.

Moving on, and following the star to the east, it’s the two-day Winter Solstice event at the Electric Palace in Bridport on Wednesday and Thursday, December 21 and 22.

It’s a Bollywood theme on Wednesday with the Dohl Foundation, a drum workshop from that London who specialise in bhangra.

They’ve featured on the soundtrack to such diverse movies as Gangs of New York and The Incredible Hulk and took part in the London 2012 closing ceremony.

And Thursday night, it’s the turn of local hero Billy Bragg with his special guest Grace Petrie to host an evening of music and film on the theme Whatever Happened to the Protest Song?

Tickets are £11 for each evening and available form the box office on 01308 428354.

And, tonight’s the night, Friday, December 16, for Jumpin’ Jimmy Thunder’s spectacular fundraising party at the Centenary Club in Weymouth.

Jim, who has had more comebacks than Lazarus and Frank Sinatra put together, will be proudly unveiling his new Elvis-style white satin and rhinestone jumpsuit tonight which was made especially for him by top designer Polly Esther de Portland.

And I’m thrilled and honoured to show you a world exclusive preview today. Calm down now, ladies, okay?

Jim, who will be backed by The Silhouettes tonight with Stacey Lou and Sheryl Lee also performing, is raising money to help local girl Abbie McKay take part in an educational trip to Nicaragua to help the poor.

There are just a handful of tickets at £5 left so give the club a ring pronto on 01305 839310 to reserve yours.

And finally, if you want your gig included in next Friday’s Christmas gig guide special, send your details to me at gigs@dorsetecho.co.uk as soon as possible. Thanks!

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (16)

Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Alexis (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Charlie (Park, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Jumping Jimmy Thunder, Sheryl Lee, Stacey Lou (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Cloud 9 duo (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

SAS duo (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Drive By Jamming (Market House, Weymouth)

Wilma Fingerdoo (Café Jagos, Dorchester)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Mother Ukers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (17)

Paisley, Surfin’ Birds, Kipper, Laura and George, Side Door Project and many, many more (Gimme Shelter festival, Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) Fundraiser for YOU Trust, from 1pm. £3 on door.

Blackwater County (Finns, Weymouth)

Hot Bacon (Market House, Weymouth)

Under the Carousel (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Nite Lite (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)

The Sneakers (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Replay (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

TBC (George, Dorchester)

Jolly Boys Outing (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Rob Ryan (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Rockin’ Rich(Black Dog, Weymouth)

Longdogs (Red Lion, Winfrith)

No Country for Old Men (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (18)

Lo Numbers (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Amy Hopwood (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

Dave Taylor (Wyke Smugglers, 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.

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

Pronghorn (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Ratpack (Kings Arms, Weymouth) 6pm.

JD Acoustic (Three Compasses, Charminster)

JD Acoustic (Closet, Weymouth) From 11.30pm

Folk, Country and Blues Evening (Old Town Hall, Weymouth) From 7pm.

MONDAY (19)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (20)

Leggomen (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (21)

Bollywood Night with the Dohl Foundation (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Jam Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (22)

Billy Bragg and guests (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Ben and Tom Waters (Royal Manor Theatre, Portland)

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 (23)

Chas and Dave, Lo Numbers (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ben and Tom Waters (Royal Manor Theatre, Portland)

Tripod (Finns, Weymouth)

Toby De Kretser and Mr Bucket (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Phil Denton (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Total Madness (Park, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Freezer (Spice Ship, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Dave Griff (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Cuba Libre (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)