LIVE: Fab Beatles in Dorchester Arts Centre show

Older and bigger kids would pick on me, sometimes covering me in whipped cream and glacé cherries.

Yes, it sure was tough living in the gateaux in them days.

Still, being a nipper in that glorious decade had its compensations.

As far as I can recall, it was always sunny, England won the World Cup and the music coming out of the Bush radiogram in our front room and the little transistor in our kitchen was utterly fabulous.

The Kinks, The Stones, The Who, Small Faces and, of course, The Beatles: Will we ever hear or see the likes of them again?

Well, funny you should ask that because the answer is: Er, yessum!

The Fab Beatles are regarded as THE number one tribute act to the Fab Four, so much so that EMI selected them above all others to promote their Beatles 1 CD and even Michael Parkinson waxed lyrical, saying: “The Fab Beatles are truly fab and I should know: I saw the other lot.”

They’ve been paying homage to the loveable mop tops since 1991 and their stage show starts in the early days in Hamburg all the way through Beatlemania, Shea Stadium, Sgt Pepper and finally Let It Be.

The costumes are accurate, the guitars, keyboards and drums played are all correct: So much so, they even use the very Ludwig kit Ringo thrashed the living bejayzus out of on their 1964 US tour.

Such is the attention to detail, they even wheel a hairy Japanese woman onto the stage as a finale, before filing off separately, accompanied by their individual legal teams.

(Actually, I may have just made that bit up.)

The Fab Beatles will be bringing their remarkable show to Dorchester Arts Centre on Friday, January 31 and tickets at £10 are available at wegottickets.com/event/255429

I know the end of the month seems light years away but tickets go fast for events at the DAC: Sam Kelly’s gig there tomorrow night is now completely sold out.

So be quick, and who knows: As the Fab Beatles are playing the county town, they might even do Salisbury Fields Forever.

Moving on, Big Al Whittle is a bit of a legend in folk circles round these parts.

The self-styled Fred Astaire of the fretboard is highly regarded for his considerable guitar nift and dark, self-deprecating, humorously offensive songs.

You can often catch him at the folk nights at the Sailors Return in Weymouth on Wednesday nights.

Or you can pop up to the café at Absolute Music in Bournemouth tomorrow, Saturday, January 11, from 2pm to 4pm where Big Al will be modelling the rather handy Variax 700 guitar.

Big Al’s been selected from a galaxy of talent to show off this tasty bit of kit which, at the flick of a switch can be a 12-string simulator, tune to an open G or D major, and amazingly, DADGAD, which as any fule nose, is the capital of Iraq.

And finally, 50s/60s/70s specialists The Silhouettes are looking for a new singer.

So if you think you’ve got the chops to front up one of the tidiest outfits on the circuit with a busy diary, give Barrie a bell on 07753 532944.

Right that’s it for this week.

I’m off to dig a pygmy with Charles Hawtry and his deaf aids and make sure Doris gets her oats.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (10)

Suckerpunch (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Retro (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Haze (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Spice Ship, Preston Rd, Weymouth)

Amy Mayes (Café Jagos, High East St, Dorchester)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth)

Cooking on Gas (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (11)

Sam Kelly’s Station House (Arts Centre, Dorchester) This is now sold out.

Tripod (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

The Mighty Fine (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth)

ACBBs (Wyke Smugglers, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Big Al Whittle (Absolute Music cafe, Bournemouth) 2pm-4pm.

Simon Gee (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund St, Weymouth)

Gale Force 4 (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Usual Suspects (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Portland Rd, Weymouth)

Double Dare (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Bob Mallett (Edinburgh House of Sounds, St Thomas St, Weymouth)

Cash Converted (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (No 10, Bridport) 12.30pm-2.30pm.

The Silhouettes (Black Dog, St Mary St, Weymouth)

Chill (Green Shutters, Castletown, Portland)

Skinful (Royal Exchange, Weston Rd, Portland)

Kevin (Centenary Club, Jubilee Sidings, Weymouth)

Andy Grant Trio (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Left Right and Centre (Chalk and Cheese, Madien Newton)

Mike Walker (Conservative Club, Dorchester Rd, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (12)

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth) 1pm.

Amy Mayes (King’s Arms, Portesham) 2.30pm

Vanilla Radio (Three Compasses, Charminster)

David Lumas (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland) 4pm.

Gut and Steel (The Crown, Bridport) 4pm.

Sheryl Lee (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Karen (Royal Oak, Quayside, Weymouth) 3pm.

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

Jam Night (Sailor’s Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth)

Mark Stacey and friends host this regular Sunday acoustic jam session. Music from 8pm.

MONDAY (13)

Lucy’s Ukulele Night (King’s Arms, Portesham) 8pm.

Mr Bucket (Lazy Lizard, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (14)

Julie Lewis and Simon Rushbrook (The Boot, Weymouth)

Dougie Cooper Quartet (The Star, Park St, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (15)

Danny Adams (Oasis Bistro, Weymouth)

Jam with Mark (Wellington Arms, St Alban Street, Weymouth) Mark Stacey hosts this regular acoustic jam session.

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Nicholas Street, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.

THURSDAY (16)

Singalonga Dave (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Powelly (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Open Mic Surgery (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester) All backline provided, come on down and have a play.

Steve’s Singalong (Duke of Cornwall, St Edmund Street, Weymouth) Steve hosts this session, with guests joining in.

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, St Nicholas St, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

FRIDAY (17)

Skint Imperials (Finns, Westham Rd, Weymouth)

Ian Sedwell (Tom Brown’s, High East St, Dorchester)

Leggomen (Lazy Lizard, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Café Aura, Esplanade, Weymouth)

Blue Rock (Royal Portland Arms, Fortuneswell, Portland)

Dr Robert (Weymouth Working Mens Club, Mitchell St, Weymouth)

Leggomen (Royal Oak, Weymouth)

Jam Night (The Lounge, Colwell Centre, Weymouth)