APPARENTLY, it’s still January and has been since, oooh, I don’t know, 2016 at least.

It does go on a bit doesn’t it?

But there is light at the end of the long, dreary tunnel and it’s a train, and it’s loaded with steel girders, aluminium sheets, iron bars and gold bars.

Yes, it’s a train carrying a load of metal and it’s heading for Finns in Weymouth next Friday, February 3.

It’s another Uprising Promotions night of metal mayhem with four terrific bands, and, what’s more it’s all in an extremely good cause.

On the bill are Bristol moshers Weatherstate, featuring local lad Callan Milward, and who are touring the UK in February.

Also appearing are Pompey pop punk performers High Down who list among their influences as State Champs, and The Bottom Line and, presumably, alliteration.

Grunge rockers Tension Head will be making their debut in their hometown. The Weymouth trio of Billy Muircroft, Max Wilson and Simon Dean list their ambitions for 2017 as having fun with their interpretation of grunge music in the 21st century. Something to look forward to then.

And bringing up the rear, so to speak (matron!) are Southampton punks Valensole, who will be launching their debut EP Where We Should Be in March.

Pretty impressive line-up of young and up-and-coming talent and it’s just £3 on the door next Friday.

So not only can you say you saw them before they were HUGE, you can have that warm and fuzzy feeling that goes with knowing you’re helping a great cause, and in this case it’s the remarkable Teddy Rocks charity.

As enny fule nose, Teddy Rocks is the hugely successful charity set up by the force of nature that is Tom Newton.

Starting off as a small all-day bash in the Greyhound pub in Blandford, it’s now a monster festival spread over a few days and raises thousands and thousands for Teddy20, which helps fight cancer in children.

This year’s festival is from April 28 to 30 and headline acts so far confirmed are Scouting for Girls, Twin Atlantic and Modestep with loads more to come no doubt.

All proceeds from Friday’s gig go to this worthy cause and you can find out more at teddyrocks.co.uk If all that’s a bit too lively for you, lovers of a more sedate style of music can look forward to another Watkins and Swarbrick Band outing, also next Friday, February 3, at the Old School hall in Upwey.

So confident are they that you’ll have a marvellous time enjoying their rootsy, folksy harmonies, you can pay what you think the gig was worth on your way out.

Reserve your seat by calling 01305 837299, and bring some extra cash with you to pick up a copy of the new CD Different Routes.

Till next time..

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (27)

Jolly Boys Outing (Finns, Weymouth)

Stevie P (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Macca-Man (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth) Jimmy Stanley’s tribute to Paul McCartney.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jamie Pinnow (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Bug Tree Swamp (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Brass Monkeys (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

DuKane (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Bill Smarme and the Bizness (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Dirtbox (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Pilot Boat, Lyme Regis)

Wilma Fingado(Cafe Jagos, Dorchester)

SATURDAY (28)

The Dolmen, Dorset Wrecks (Old Town Hall, Weymouth)

The Skones (Finns, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Martin Maton (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Bandtastic (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Rock, Weymouth)

Steve Allan (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Park, Weymouth)

Boytits (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Replay (Moonfleet Bows Club, Weymouth)

The Prairie Dogs (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Secrets (George, Portland)

Southern Sinners (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Bad Intention (Market House, Weymouth)

The Remedy (George, Dorchester)

Something Else (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Splinter (Crown Inn, Bridport)

Sheryl Lee (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Freak Circus (New Star, Portland)

Steve Nicholas (Bridge Inn, Weymouth)

Skinful (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Wyke Regis Social Club)

SUNDAY (29)

Mr North (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Precinct of Sound (Belvedere, Weymouth)

James Hollingsworth (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2-5pm.

Roger Mac’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

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

Milk and Two (Royal Standard, Upwey, Weymouth) 2-5pm

Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Nina Garcia (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Britannia, Portland) 4pm.

MONDAY (30)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (31)

Gut and Steel (Boot, Weymouth)

Jazz with Julie Lewis (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Folk Night (Drax Arms, Bere Regis) Featuring Rod Jenkins, Bob Carter, Heavens, Sam Stockley. Hosted by Richard and Lesley Quayle.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (1)

Dave Bowen and Jazz Friends (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

Jam Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (2)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic (George, Dorchester) With Elijah Wolf

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

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

FRIDAY (3)

Weatherstate, Tensionhead, Valensole, High Down (Finns, Weymouth)

Bog Dogs (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

The Gravy Chain (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Watkins and Swarbrick Band (Upwey Old School Hall)