IT’S ALWAYS good to catch a young band on the way up.

Not only because they’re hungry for success and play every gig like it really, really matters, but you also get that smug feeling of being able to say: “Of course, I saw them when they gigged in a pub in front of two blokes and their dogs playing dominoes.”

Such a band is Echoic, who hail from Reading and are being touted as very much the next big thing in the world of Indie pop and Alt rock.

Their hard work and infectious enthusiastic live shows have already earned them support slots with such bands as Arcane Roots, The Coronas and Pulled Apart By Horses (hmm, nice name…) They’re also getting the nod from BBC Radio 1 , which is something young people listen to apparently, who raved: “Echoic are ones to watch” and Alex Baker out of Kerrang! who gushed: “100% unique, absolutely amazing”.

You can see what all the fuss is about tonight, Friday, March 24 when they headline a showcase gig at Tom Browns in Dorchester.

It’s a big night for the popular little county town boozer as it’s the opening of their new barn live music venue out the back.

It promises to be a memorable occasion with support coming from Weymouth’s very own Tension Head.

The awesome grunge foursome of Billy Muircroft, Max Wilson, Simon Dean and George Hunt played on the Isle of Wight last night and have a south coast tour coming up in April with dates in Worthing, Bournemouth, Plymouth and their home town on April 24 at Finns.

Also on the bill tomorrow night at Tom Browns are fellow Weymouth band Summer Drive Home and it’s a debut for local psyche outfit The Fuurs.

I hear most of the advance tickets have already gone but it’s £6 on the door tonight from 8pm, okay?

Looking ahead, and it’s time to give your liver advance warning for a couple of gigs from Bristol-based folkie nutters The Imprints who will be bringing their frantic fiery fiddle-fuelled fun and games down the A37 to south Dorset next weekend.

They’ll be tearing it up at The Ropemakers in Bridport next Friday, March 31 and the following night, Saturday, April 1, at The Belvedere in Weymouth.

A quick glance at their gigs for the year will show they’re huge on the folk festival circuit and their high-octane shows are a must for bearded men and women across the south west.

A word of warning to all of those going along: There may well be cider involved.

Right, that’s it for this week. I’m off to see a man about a dog who can play dominoes.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (24)

Ronnie Scott’s All Stars (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Dub Pistols, Cuba Libre, Kioko (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Amy Mayes, Ben Waters (Moreton village hall)

Echoic, TensionHead, Summer Drive Home, The Fuurs (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Bad Intention (Finns, Weymouth)

Paisley Acoustic (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Skinful (Park, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Stacey Lou as Amy Winehouse (The Rock, Weymouth)

Side Door Project (Brewhouse,Dorchester)

The Rock Band (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Innocent Bystander (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (Britannia, Portland)

Nathan Jon (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Guns of Navarone (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (No 10, Bridport)

SATURDAY (25)

Blackwater County (Finns, Weymouth)

Xander and the Keys (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

The Katz (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Silhouettes (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Finn (The Rock, Weymouth)

Lo Numbers (Bull’s Head, Fordington, Dorchester)

Surfin’ Birds (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Steve Nicholas (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

The Persuaders (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

The Bog Dogs (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Market House, Weymouth)

The Wise Guys (Admiral Hardy, Weymouth)

Dale Fender Band (RBL Club, Marnhull)

Saxuality (Boot, Weymouth)

Lauren Bannon Hayes (New Star Inn, Portland)

The Skones (George, Dorchester)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

The Junco Shakers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Rockin’ 60s (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou (Black Dog, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (26)

Precinct of Sound (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Amy Hopwood (Park, Weymouth) 5pm.

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 3-5pm, out the back…

Minor Fret (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 5-7pm, in the front

Paul and Dave (The Rock, Weymouth)

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

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

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

The Gravy Chain (Britannia, Portland) 4-7pm.

JD Acoustic (The Closet, Weymouth) From 11pm.

Georgie Broad (Black Dog, Weymouth) 3.30-5.30pm.

The Rat Pack (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

MONDAY (27)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (28)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Folk Night (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

Barney Newman (Boot, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (29)

Jam Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Open Mic (Bull, Fordington, Dorchester)

THURSDAY 30)

Soapbox (Belvedere, Weymouth)

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) 8pm.

FRIDAY (31)

The Mighty Fine (Finns, Weymouth)

Paul Sundt and Joe Ryan (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)

Shaun Marks (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Slipstream (The Rock, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Imprints (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bad Intention (Golden Lion, Weymouth)