THEY say the apple never falls far from the tree, which is quite handy if you’re trespassing in an orchard and wanting to pinch a wheelbarrow-load to make some scrumpy.

It’s also quite useful if you’re in a band who’ve been going for absolutely ages and you want your offspring to get involved in the family business.

Take Ranking Roger out of The Beat, f’rinstance.

They were part of the Two-Tone explosion of the late Seventies and early Eighties along with The Specials, Madness and The Selector and had huge hits with such reggae/ska/punk hybrids as Too Nice To Talk To and Mirror in the Bathroom. Fast forward some 35 years and they’re still tearing it up with original member Roger now the main singer-songwriter, MC, toaster and driving force behind the band.

And he’s joined on stage by his son Ranking Junior, a moniker which must have taken a vast team of management consultants months to come up with.

Even so, they’re a terrific live band, with former Ocean Colour Scene sticksman Oscar Harrison holding it all together at the back, and they’re currently touring their latest studio album Bounce, the band’s fourth LP and the first for more than 30 years.

They’re heading this way on Thursday, December 8 with a show at the Electric Place in Bridport and support for the evening are highly-rated Brighton trio The RPMs, who, continuing with the father-son thingy, are fronted by Jack Velero who happens to be the nipper of one William Bragg Esquire of Barking and, more recently, Burton Bradstock.

Tickets for the gig are £17 from the box office on 01308 428354.

Moving on and next Saturday, December 10, is one of those occasions when you need some sort of Sky+ app for your life as there are three top gigs all on the same night.

First up, and everyone’s favourite estate agents Wilson, Upton and Macintosh will be hosting their Christmas show at the Old Town Hall in Weymouth.

Steve, Jess and Robbie promise a veritable selection box of joyfully delivered festive classics and carols and they’ll be joined by Robbie’s son Fraser on piano, continuing the dad/lad theme.

It’s just £10 on the door from 7.30pm.

And heading north up the A354 to the seething metropolis that is Upwey, it’s the Shine On mini-beer and music fest at the Upwey Memorial Hall. Hosted by the Piddle Brewery, so you know there’s going to be some quality refreshments, there’s also some quality music, with The Fab Beatles paying homage to the Fab Four with stunning accuracy.

It’s also the launch gig of Dorchester six-piece indie band Margot Escargot who will be off to that London the week after to record their first EP after landing a deal with Animal Farm records.

Also appearing are Till There Was Uke and, continuing on a father/son relationship vibe, Christ ‘Kipper’ Roberts, who is clearly the son of God.

Tickets are £10 and available from ticketsource.co.uk/date/305031 Another gig of note that night is the return to Dorchester Corn Exchange of The Producers who are celebrating their 25th anniversary.

They’re one of the most popular blues bands on the circuit and tickets at £13 are available from 01305 266926.

That’s it for this week but if you have an overwhelming urge for vintage soul and funk, some of which may have a festive theme, then tune in to Air FM 107.2 next Wednesday, December 7, from 8-10pm when I’ll be hosting the Hijacked show.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (2)

The Damned (Weymouth Pavilion)

Nine Below Zero (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Bad Intention (Finns, Weymouth)

Phil Hammond (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Screamin’ Miss Jackson and the Slap Ya Mama Big Band (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Keith (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Morgan Lily (Park, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Toby De Kretser (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Café Jagos, Dorchester)

Shooter (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Blackwater County (George, Dorchester)

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Guns of Navarone (Ropemakers, Bridport)

SATURDAY (3)

Reef (Electric Palace, Bridport) SOLD OUT

Our Hollow Home, As Flames Rise, Glimpse of Misfortune, Bloodsworn (Finns, Weymouth)

Anthrax UK, Urban Rail Punk, WOB (Dolphin, Weymouth)

Mama Feelgood (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Neil Wale (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Market House, Weymouth)

Stomping’ Dave Allen (Thimble Inn, Piddletrenthide)

Darren H (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Freak Circus (Park, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Johnny King (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Compass (Clifton, Portland)

Dakota (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Bandtastic (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

The Skones (George, Dorchester)

Surfin’ Birds (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

The Katz (Royal Oak, Charmouth)

Total Madness (Black Dog, Weymouth)

The Curst Sons (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Rip It Up (Bull's Head, Fordington, Dorchester)

SUNDAY (4)

Amy Hopwood (Royal Portland Arms, Portland) 4pm.

Kipper (Revolutions, Trinity Rd, Weymouth) 3pm.

Lo Numbers (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Sunday Blues Jam (Belvedere, Weymouth) 4-7pm

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, 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)

Howling at the Moon (Three Compasses, Charminster)

Gut and Steel (Bakers Arms, Dorchester) 3pm.

Stacey Lou (Black Dog, Weymouth) 3-5pm.

JD Acoustic (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 7-7pm.

JD ACoustic (Closet, Weymouth) 11pm

MONDAY (5)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (6)

Finn (Boot, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (7)

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)

THURSDAY (8)

The Beat, The RPMs (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Andy Grant Trio (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

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 (9)

Drive By Jamming (Finns, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

Elmore Goes Electric (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Shaun Marx (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Karen (Park, Weymouth)

Watkins and Swarbrick Band (Preston village hall, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Saxuality (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Chickerell, Weymouth) 8pm.

Compass (George, Dorchester)

Fitzy’s Open Mic (Market House, Weymouth)