YOU don’t need Noddy Holder yelling ‘IT’S CHRISTMAS’ in your earhole to know what time of year it is.

Why, just the other day I was up in the loft with the wife getting the decorations down, a bit crumpled and dusty but she’s good with the kids, when I thought: “Surely it must be time to put the sprouts on?”

Well, no matter if you’ve been naughty or nice, Santa’s got you down for some live music treats this year starting tomorrow night, Saturday, December 8 with the return of Genesis Visible Touch to the Electric Palace in Bridport.

If Phil Collins were ever to enter a Phil Collins soundalike contest, he would more than likely finish second behind GVT frontman Chris O’Connell, such is his extraordinary resemblance.

Not only that, Chris is more than handy thumping the tubs: DOOF DOOF-DOOF DOOF-DOOF DOOF DOOF-DOOF (that’s the drum break from In The Air Tonight, by the way…) and the crack band of Tony Turrell on keys, Martin Gordon on bass, Stuart Norman on guitar and Russell Wilson on drums will be featuring all the biggies from the Collins era, plus the fans favourites from the earlier albums, including Lamb Lies Down On Broadway, Foxtrot and Selling England by the Pound.

It’s a must for fans of this iconic British band and tickets at £15.50 are available from the box office on 01308 424901.

And talking of top quality tributes, there’s a chance the celebrate the music of Jamaica with the return of Legend: The Music of Bob Marley to Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room tomorrow night, Saturday December 8.

From Marley’s ska roots in a government yard in Trenchtown to his global superstardom, all the smashers are featured from Stir It Up, No Woman, No Cry, Get Up Stand Up etc, all delivered by some of best players in the reggae world who have worked with such top bands as The Mighty Diamonds, Burning Spear and Desmond Dekker.

Incidentally, did I tell you about the time I played triangle in a reggae band? I just stood at the back an’ ting.. No? Oh, okay… Anyway, tickets for tomorrow are £22.50 and available from the Pavilion box office on 01305 783225.

So from tributes to the real thing: Yes, that’s The Real Thing, who will be reliving their Seventies heyday of You To Me Are Everything, Can’t Get By Without You and Can You Feel The Force? tomorrow night, Saturday December 8 at the Weymouth Pavilion.

Original singers Chris Amoo and Dave Smith are still belting out those amazing harmonies and are still touring despite the sad passing of Eddie Amoo earlier this year at the age of 73.

I saw them last time they were down a couple of years back and they’re absolutely terrific with everyone up dancing from the get-go.

Tickets are £26 from the box office on 01305 783225.

Till next time…

TODAY (7)
Thea Gilmore, Nigel Stonier (Electric Palace, Bridport)
Mad Dog McRea (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)
Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth)
Zoe Schwarz and Blue Commotion (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)
Revolution (Golden Lion, Weymouth)
Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)
Nick Sellars (Weymouth Working Mens Club)
Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Dave Griff’s Open Mic (Gloucester, Weymouth)
Acoustic Session (Victoria Inn, Knights in the Bottom, Chickerell, Weymouth)
Uphill and Still (Ropemakers, Bridport)
Jolly Boys Outing (Park, Weymouth)
Stevie P (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)
Pam Johns (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)
Nathan Jon Duo (Gamekeeper, Charminster)


SATURDAY (1)
Paisley, Surfing Birds, Komakino, Bring Me The Pistols, Mad Hatters, The Undecided and many more (Gimme Shelter, Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) £6 on the door from 1pm.
The Real Thing, Richie Sampson (Weymouth Pavilion)
The Legend of Bob Marley (Weymouth Pavilion Ocean Room)
Genesis: Visible Touch (Electric Palace, Bridport)
Bad Intention (Finns, Weymouth)
Speedway Snails (Sailors Return, Weymouth)
Rapport (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)
Neil Wale (Conservative Club, Weymouth)
Blind Harvest (Golden Lion, Weymouth)
The Shakespearos (Belvedere, Weymouth)
The Silhouettes (Centenary Club, Weymouth)
Regulation 9 (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)
Highly Likely (Weymouth Working Mens Club)
Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Dave Griff and the Trouser Band (Gloucester, Weymouth)
Toxic Fish (Ropemakers, Bridport)
Rob Davis (Market House, Weymouth)
Hardy and the Monuments (Ship Inn, Wool)
Jon Storey Band (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)
Martin Freed (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)
Vinyl Monkeys (Hardy’s, Dorchester)
Jolly Boys Outing (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)
Nathan Jon Duo (Royal Oak, Weymouth)


SUNDAY (9)
Arni (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)
Nathan Jon (West Bay Hotel, West Bay) 5pm.
Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm, followed by..
Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
James Hollingsworth (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.
Rob Davis (Gamekeeper, Charminster) 2pm.
Ricky Solo (Sailor’s Return, Weymouth) From 3pm.
Seabass (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)
Di’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.


MONDAY (10)
Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)


TUESDAY (11)
Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Rob Davis (Vivo Lounge, Dorchester)
Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)


WEDNESDAY (12)
Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth) Acoustic folk, here every Wednesday.
Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)


THURSDAY (13)
Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)
Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, ChiswelI, Portland) 
Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.
Open Mic Night (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)


FRIDAY (14)
Jess Upton, Robbie McIntosh, Steve Wilson (Upwey village Hall)
Komakino (Finns, Weymouth)
The Katz (The Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)
Andy Grant Trio (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)
The Rat Pack (Golden Lion, Weymouth)
The Silhouettes (Admiral Hardy, Weymouth)
Rob Davis (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)
Emma C (Weymouth Working Mens Club)
Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)
Total Madness (Gloucester, Weymouth)
BEMIS (Ropemakers, Bridport)
Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)
Matt Black (Park, Weymouth)
Nina Garcia (Ship Inn, Wool)