THERE’s many a good tune played on an old fiddle, as my GP regularly reminds me.

Just because you reach a certain vintage, doesn’t mean you have to hang up your plectrum or sticks because IT’S THE LAW.

Take Nine Below Zero, fr’instance.

They’ve been tearing it up for the best part of 40 years, since riding the seismic tsunami created by the punk rock earthquake with their high energy blues inspired by the raw sounds of Chicago and energy of The Who and The Yardbirds.

Original members Dennis Greaves (vocals and guitar) and Mark Feltham (vocals and harmonica) are still fronting the band which has now evolved into a red-hot eight-piece complete with horns.

And they’re touring their latest album 13 Shades of Blue (which I guess is kind of like 50 Shades of Grey, but with better hooks and more bars) and are heading this way with a gig at Bridport’s Electric Palace on Friday, December 2.

Tickets at £16 available from the box office on 01308 426336.

And staying on a vintage blues theme, there’s a new jam night in town which starts tonight, Friday, November 18, at the Boat That Rocks on Portland Marina.

No set list, no rehearsals, no fannying around, just a group of top, top players assembled for a bash and a right grin.

So how’s this for a line-up?

Marco Rossi and Steve Payne on guitars, Clive Ashley on sax, Steve Burholt on keys, Simon Rushbrook on bass, Billy Boy Miskimmin on harmonica and vocals and Ady Milward on drums.

Yep, I know.. flippin’ heck… As Ady tells me: “The venue asked me to get a band together for a jam night, and I think that’s pretty good for starters. It’ll be a monthly spontaneous get-together with a variety of musicians.

“I thought we’d kick it off with a bang and we’re looking forward to some great regular sessions.”

It all kicks off tonight from 9pm and it all sounds a right hoot.

And staying on a quality musicianship theme (I really should write the links for The One Show, I know), there’s a night of hot and filthy jazz coming up next Friday, November 25 at the Royal Dorset Yacht Club in Weymouth.

Clarinet ace Andy Cooper, who previously played with Kenny Ball and his jazzmen, has put together a tip-top band of jazzers, with Tony Hurst on trombone and sax, Dave Bowen on sax, Ben Taylor on double bass, Pete Gilmore on trumpet and flugelhorn, Phil Doyle on keys and the legend that is Sir Dougie Cooper on drums.

Tickets are a mere £7 from Jenny on 07854 500839 to enjoy not only a night of quality jazz but the rare chance to see a flugelhorn in its natural environment.

And staying on a vintage rockers theme (hey, this stuff writes itself), here’s an early warning to lock up your pets and head for the hills as the living icon that is Jumpin’ Jimmy Thunder makes yet another comeback for his annual Christmas gig.

Jimmy will be frightening the livestock at the Centenary Club in Weymouth on Friday, December 16.

Top band The Silhouettes will be doing their best to keep up with human whirlwind as he shakes, rattles and rolls his way through assorted Elvis, Little Richard and Eddie Cochrane classics in his own inimitable style, gawd bless ‘im.

Support comes from the fabulous Stacey Lou and Sheryl Lee, tickets are a mere £5 from the club and proceeds will go towards helping local girl Abbie McKay fund her life-changing trip to help the poor in Nicaragua.

Till next time...

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (18)

Bleed Again, End of Days, Red Night Fields, Scars of Protest (Finns, Weymouth)

Jam Night (Boat That Rocks, Portland Marina)

Southern Sinners (Café Jagos, Dorchester) Pictured above.

Chas Roberts (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

4 Go Mad in Dorset (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Mighty Fine (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Mike Sidaway (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Powelly, Leggomen (Ayya, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Fat Marrow Blues Band (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Stacey Lou (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Ansell and Gretal (Pilot Boat Inn, Lyme Regis)

SATURDAY (19)

Simon and Garfunkel Story (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Splinter (Finns, Weymouth)

Average Wyke Band (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Think Twice (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Live Wired (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Remix (Park, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Drive By Jamming (Market House, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz Trio (YCs Café, Brewery Sq, Dorchester)

James Baker (Old Castle, Weymouth)

Mi3 (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Dale Fender Band (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Mandown (Victoria, Dorchester)

Dr Robert (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Shelby’s Elbows (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Vanilla Radio (Crown, Bridport)

Matt Black (Wyke Regis Social Club, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (20)

Hustle (Sailors Return, Weymouth) 2-4pm.

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

Foo Foo (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Zoe Schwarz Blues Commotion (Three Compasses, Charminster)

DuKane (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 4pm.

Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) From 4pm.

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

Farrago (Globe, Weymouth) 4.30pm.

Roger’s Singalaong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Andy Grant, Simon Rushbrook (Crown, Bridport) 4pm.

Paolo’s Rockin’ Blues with TR Longstaff (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4pm.

Gut and Steel (Britannia, Portland) 4pm.

Arron Carter (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

MONDAY (21)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (22)

Lauren Bannon (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (23)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY (24)

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 (25)

The Skones (Finns, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

The Shakespearos (Kings Arms, Weymouth)

Andy Cooper (RDYC, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Barry Paul as Elvis (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Freezer (Park, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)