SO, there it was Christmas and New Year, been and gone: The decorations are down and back up in the loft, livers and waistlines damaged beyond repair, resolutions made during the singing of Auld Lang Syne are forgotten and broken by the end of the second verse and we look out on the bleak tundra and aching void that is January.

Still, it’s for the kids though, innit?

But it’s not all grim out there as there’s some top live music coming up, starting next Friday, January 11 with a welcome visit of T-rextasy to the Bridport Arts Centre.

Frontman Danielz has virtually lived his life as Marc Bolan since forming the band back in 1992, not only does he sound like the cosmic dancer himself, but he looks, walks and talks like the seventies glam pioneer.

The life-long fan no doubt terraplanes in the pouring rain and most likely drives a Rolls Royce as it’s good for his voice.

For those of you in need of a short music history lesson, Marc was in the forefront of the glam explosion of the early seventies, ahead of even close pal and rival Bowie and Roxy Music, and was at one time the biggest (and simultaneously the shortest at just over five foot without his platforms) star on planet pop, with his trademark corkscrew hair, glitter guy-liner and feather boa.

Huge hits, such as Hot Love (the first single I ever bought, trivia fans) Get It On, Metal Guru, Jeepster, 20th Century Boy and many more ensured he was always in the charts and on top of the pops although his star had begun to wane by the middle of the decade.

Adopted by the emerging punks, he was starting to get his career back on track before that fateful night in September 1977 when his purple mini (Fox 661l: You’ll want me in your quiz team, I know) driven by his girlfriend Gloria ‘tainted love’ Jones, hit a tree on Barnes Common, South West London.

Such is Danielz’ all-encompassing and accurate devotion to all things Marc and T Rex, T-Rextasy are the only tribute act officially endorsed by Marc’s estate and former band members and are unique among tribute acts in that they have a record deal on release their own material, which is very much in the Bolan vein, naturally.

Friday’s show at Bridport has all the makings of a great night for glam fans, with all the platform-stomping biggies and crowd pleasers, obvs, but also many of Marc’s lesser known album tracks.

Tickets from £23.50 from the box office on 01308 424204 but hurry up, as there are only a few left, I hear.

And staying in the wonderful world of tributes, there are a couple coming up at Weymouth Pavilion which may tickle your fancy, depending where you sit of course.

First up next Friday, January 11, is Hello Again: The Neil Diamond Story which features the remarkable voice of Brooklyn Creed.

Close your eyes and it’s like he’s in the room, not that that could happen again as the real diamond retired from live performances a year ago through ill health.

The West End-style show takes you through Diamond’s amazing 50 year career and features all his popular songs, from Sweet Caroline to Cracklin’ Rosie, Beautiful Noise to America plus loads you didn’t even know he wrote!

Tickets are £23.50 from the box office on 01305 783225.

And talking of legendary songwriters (hey, this stuff writes itself…) Buddy Holly: A Legend Reborn pays tribute to horn-rimmed, stratocaster-toting genius who penned such classic as Oh Boy, Raining In My Heart, Peggy Sue, Rave On and many more and essentially invented rock’n’roll back in the fifties.

Tickets for the show on Saturday, January 19 are £27 from the box office on 01305 783225.

If you’d like your live music event featured, just send your details into echogigguide@outlook.com.

Till next time…

Nick Horton

FRI Jan 4

Stompin’ Dave (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Dean Dallinson (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Big Al Whittle (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Mojo (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Behind Closed Doors (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Sat Jan 5

Biproxy (Finns, Weymouth)

Replay (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Tony England (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Chris Woodchuck (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Aaron and Karina (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Strings and Reeds (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Market House, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

4 Go Mad (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

The Skarlatans (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Jack Daniels and Stevie Garden (Three Compasses, Charminster) 6-8pm

SUN 6

Finn (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm and 8pm.

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

Scots Dan’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 6pm.

Aaron and Karina (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Garry ‘Slide Guy’ Smith (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4-6pm.

MON 7

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Slow Americana Jam (Drax Arms, Bere Regis) Can you hear banjos?

TUES 8

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WED 9

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURS 10

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.

FRI 11

Hello Again: Neil Diamond Story (Weymouth Pavilion)

T-Rextasy (Bridport Arts Centre)

Toxic Fish (Finns, Weymouth)

Django (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Mark Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Chris Payne (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Mutter Slater Band (Ropemakers, Bridport)