THE Christmas decorations are only just back in their biscuit tins and put up in the loft for another year.

But already those cheery blighters who wished you a Happy New Year just a few days ago are pinching your parking place at the supermarket and pushing in at the bus stop.

Everyone is skint after the festive excesses, the weather is utterly dreadful and everyone has a rotten cold. Happy new year indeed.

So when things are this low, what you need is a good ol’ dose of the blues, just to cheer us all up, like.

Step forward Guy Tortora and Costa Tancredi.

This dynamic duo are at the first Bluesnight of 2012 at Dorchester Arts Centre on Saturday. (Tickets £12 in advance, £13 on the door plus concessions. Available from the box office on 01305 266926.

US guitarist Guy is back for his sixth visit to the Bluesnight and this time he’s with bass supremo Costa and will be playing tracks from his latest CD Prodigal Songs.

It promises to be a treat for fans of old style RnB and Americana, but don’t just take my word for it. Radio 2’s Paul Jones enthused: “Excellent songwriting, subtle, beautiful. And lovely slide guitar too.”

And Blues Matters opined: “The new CD from the excellent Guy Tortora shines out in the January gloom. Make a resolution to buy, it is more than worth the price... every track stands out.”

Moving on, folk legends Martin Carthy and Dave Swarbrick are joing forces at the Electric Palce in Bridport, next Friday, January 13, (tickets £12.50 from Bridport TIC on 01308 424901.) Resheduled from last December, the two men were in the vanguard of a modern revolution that shook up British folk in the 1960s – and they are still going strong.

Right, that’s it for a rather quiet week on the live music front.

And in the words of David Bowie, who celebrates his 65th birthday tomorrow, it’s time to take my backpain pills and put my cardy on...

Till next time...