BACK in 1982, a bouffant-permed and moustachioed England were stumbling out of the World Cup after failing to score against West Germany and hosts Spain.

(They did things differently then, but with much the same outcome...) And riding high in the pop charts, as they were called back in those days, were Haircut 100, who were enjoying their time in the limelight with such smasheroonies as Favourite Shirts, Fantastic Day and Love Plus One, plus the album Pelican West.

Sadly, it went all hits up and socks out for the band when head honcho and principal songwriter Nick Heyward headed off for a solo career with chart-bothering tunes such as Whistle Down the Wind, Blue Hat for a Blue Day and Take That Situation.

His solo career has been ticking over quite nicely thank you over the decades and Nick, who still looks as though he’s just left school or at least landed a minor part in The Inbetweeners, is touring his latest release Woodland Echoes.

He’s down our neck of the woods next Friday, June 22, with a gig at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton. Tickets are £22 from the box office on 01258 475137.

Moving on, and it’s a warm welcome back to The Recks who will coming over from their home on the island of Sark for another series of dates on the mainland, including a gig at The Belvedere in Weymouth next Saturday, June 23.

Formed some six years ago from a motley bunch of misfits from the Channel Island which is only slightly bigger than your front room, their repertoire is a genre-bending compot of gypsy jazz, folk, hip-hop and reggae.

They’ve played at the Isle of Wight, Boomtown and Boardmasters festivals and are releasing their debut album The Beast from the Sea this very month.

Trumpet/melodica-playing vocalist Ash Jarman was formerly with local faves Hybrid a while back while frontman Richey Powers has seen service with Paisley and the Surfin’ Birds. He’s also originally from Portland, so is well used to living on an island with a bunch of nutters.

Should be quite a night down the Belv, then.

Next up, and Weymouth’s leading Joy Division homage-istes Komakino are looking for a new guitarist, they tell me.

The band’s gigs so far this year have been immense and they have more lined up throughout the rest of 2018.

Applicants should have a considerable degree of nift on the axe, ideally know their way round a synth, have a decent knowledge and appreciation of the works of both JD and New Order and must be prepared to live their life in the key of D minor, which, as we know, is the saddest of all keys.

If you fancy it and think you’ve got the chops, contact the band via their Facebook page.

And finally, COME ON ENGLAND! (Other nations are available..)

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (15)

Marc Anthony as Prince (Weymouth Pavilion)

Shooter (Finns, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Red Crow (Park, Weymouth)

The Remedy (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Suzy Mac (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Chill (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Andy Grant (Bridport Arts Centre)

Revolution (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Sixteen String Jack (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Total Madness (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Identikit (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Frankie Finn (Star, Weymouth)

Farrago (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Anchor, Burton Bradstock)

Minor Fret (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (16)

The Searchers (Weymouth Pavilion)

Boot Led Zeppelin (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Rooms)

Stereoironics, Pity The Foo, Blurd, Peacock Suit, Oasiss (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Elijah Wood, Nina Garcis, Danny Adams (Brewery Sq, Dorchester)

Cellar Rats (Finns, Weymouth)

Tripod (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Sixteen String Jack (Boot, Weymouth)

The Prairie Dogs (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Pronghorn (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Old Dogz New Trix (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Elvis Pete (Park, Weymouth)

The Katz (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jamie Pinnow (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

V8 Hearts (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Finnian (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Million Dollar Bash (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Replay (Portland Social Club)

Frank E Finn (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Scanners (Hardy’s, Dorchester)

Wessex Pistols (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Vanilla Radio (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Martin Freed (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Diane (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

One Night Only (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

The House Band (Cider Shed, Bredy Farm, nr Burton Bradstock)

SUNDAY (17)

Mutter and Clive (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Replay (Red Lion, Hope Sq, Weymouth) 2pm.

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm and 8pm.

Karen (Royal Oak, Weymouth) 5pm.

Identikit (Market House, Weymouth)

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

Jess Upton and Andy Grant (Vinny@6, Dorchester) 4-6pm.

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

Bitter and Twisted (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Craig and Alex Priddice (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Martin Freed, Hamish (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth) From 3pm.

Scots Dan’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

Gut and Steel (King’s Arms, Weymouth) From 7.30pm.

Bandeoke (Golden Lion, Weymouth) 

MONDAY (18)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (19)

No Fixed Abode (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (20)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY (21)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

FRIDAY (22)

The Producers (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Nick Heyward (Exchange, Sturminster Newton)

Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth)

JK Duo (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Steve Whale (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Cherry Pickers (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Skimmity Hitchers (Ropemakers, Bridport)