RATHER like a person who’s had their right foot nailed to the floor, musical trends tend to go round in circles.

And it seems to me there’s a bit of an Eighties revival going on, with music from the back-combed and ra-ra skirted decade that taste forgot being featured on every other TV programme or advert, not to mention the well-deserved success of the fabulous Bohemian Rhapsody film, featuring the music of Queen, one of the biggest bands of that glorious epoch.

So it’s quite serendipitous that one of the most popular bands around the south Dorset music scene, who specialise in Eighties rock classics, are getting the show back on the road after a break of a number of years.

Balance of Power attracted huge numbers of punters to their gigs from 2002 or so onwards with their set list featuring such hirsutely-gifted artists as Toto, Bon Jovi, Van Halen, Whitesnake and the like.

The heartbreaking loss of drummer Spencer Bates in 2011 after a long battle with motor neurone disease came as a huge blow but the band continued gigging, notably at Spenstock, the series of fundraising concerts set up by Spencer which raised more than £40,000 for MND.

But as BoP head honcho Barbara Whiteside tells me: “We’ve had a break for a number years for a number of reasons, but a lot of people have been asking if we’d consider reforming.

“I ummed and ahhed for a while but when I decided to go ahead, so many former fans told me: ‘Thank God for that!’ “The reaction has been quite overwhelming,” Barbara added.

A number of gigs have been lined up throughout 2019 and the first is next Friday, February 22, at Finns in Weymouth.

Barbara will be joined by former bandmates Phil Evans-Jones on vocals and Andy Milner on guitar with new recruit Darren Reynolds on bass.

But who will be have the impossible role of following Spencer on drums, I hear you asking? Well, you’ll just have to turn up at Finns next Friday to discover. It certainly came as a pleasant surprise to me when I found out… Incidentally, did I tell you about my new Bon Jovi satnav? It goes WOO HOO when you’re halfway there. I did? Oh right… Moving on, and there’s a bumper weekend of live music at Weymouth Pavilion next weekend.

First up, on Friday, February 22, there’s a celebration of ‘one of the greatest and most important bands on the planet’, as they are modestly billed.

Well, I don’t know about that but Creedence Clearwater Revival did have some pretty cool tunes back in the day and Creedence Clearwater Reimagined have a pretty authentic take on such smashers as Bad Moon Rising, Proud Mary, Fortunate Son and the like.

Tickets are £26 from the box office.

And there’s a choice the following night, Saturday, February 23, with the supercool and uber- funksome James Taylor Quartet celebrating their 25th anniversary of acid jazz and retro Hammond-driven hipness. Tickets are £21 from the box office.

And next door, Totally Blondie celebrate the music of one of my favourite bands whose matchless run of hits include Heart of Glass, Sunday Girl, Call Me, Picture This and so many, many more.

Tickets are £17.50 from a very busy box office.

Till next time…

FRIDAY 15

Package Deal, Eleventh Hour, Gut and Steel (Centenary Cub, Weymouth) We’re hearing this is now a sell-out, but check at the club on 01305 839310 for any available tickets.

Ben Waters Band (Evershot village hall)

Roddy Radiation and the Ska Billy Rebels (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Komakino (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Martin Maton (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Mother Ukers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Silhouettes (Lugger, Chickerell, Weymouth)

Rocking Rich (Black Dog, Weymouth)

The Truth Seekers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SATURDAY  16

Tankus the Henge, Imprints (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Studio 55 (Finn’s, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Alexis (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Sneakers (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Highly Likely (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Psychedelic Fridge project (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Under the Carousel (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Neil Wale (Conservative Club, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Dale Fender Band (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Revolution (Portland Social Club)

Kelly Lorraine (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Ollie Coe (Slug and Lettuce, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Monkey Jump (George, Portland0

SUNDAY 17

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 4.30 and 8.30pm.

Mutter and Clive (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Uphill and Still (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.

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

The Rat Pack (Park, Weymouth) 3-5pm.

Leanne Jackson (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

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

Big Al Whittle (George, Portland ) 4-6pm.

MONDAY 18

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 19

Folk night (Drax Arms, Bere Regis) With Antoine and Ownea, Paul Openshaw and Sam Flounders.

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night with Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 20

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

Open Mic Night (Rock, Weymouth)

THURSDAY 21

Open Mic Night (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

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.

FRIDAY 22

Creedence Clearwater Reimagined (Weymouth Pavilion)

Balance of Power (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Carley Varley (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Retro (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Matt Black (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Cherry Pickers (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Shelby’s Elbows (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

The Truth Seekers (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)