AS opening lines of songs go, the Three Degrees’ ‘Ooo-oooh haaa-aaa, haaa-aaa ooo-oooh’ from their 1974 global smash When Will I See You Again is up there with the best.

Amazingly, it’s almost sixty years since they got together in Philadelphia, going on to achieve worldwide fame, sell-out tours and shifting shedloads of platinum units.

They’re currently touring the UK, a place they count as their second home, and head this way with a show at The Exchange in Sturminster Newton tomorrow night, Saturday, October 26.

As Valerie Holiday, the longest-serving on the trio having joined in 1967, tells me: "For us, it is still exciting and we still enjoy our work.

‘We are blessed with a wide age group appeal….from fifteen to sixty-five.

‘This is why we have survived, I think. We learned and were taught how to entertain and even before we had hit records, we knew how to do our job,’ she says.

Valerie is joined by Helen Scott and Freddie Pool is what is now recognised by the Guinness Book Records as the longest-running female vocal trio in history and they’ll no doubt be treating the punters tomorrow night to some of their biggies, including Year of Decision, Take Good Care of Yourself, Giving Up Giving In plus My Simple Heart.

Tickets for tomorrow are £20 from the box office on 01258 475137.

Moving on, and at long last there’s a host of live music events coming up in Dorchester over the next few weeks, starting tomorrow night, Saturday October 26 with a show at the Corn Exchange from Hang Massive as part of their Luminous Emptiness tour.

The duo of Markus Offbeat (probably not his real name…) and Dany Cudd are leading exponents of the handpan, (which essentially is a metal pan and is played by, er, your hand…) and have a world-wide following after their first online video and music release Once Again went viral.

As Dorchester Arts head honcho Mark Tattersall says: ‘The band’s new live show will include amazing sonic soundscapes and uplifting beats and bass all which complement the rich sound of the handpan. This is the first time that Hang Massive have toured in the UK and we are excited to welcome them to Dorchester.”

Tickets at £20 are available from the box office on 01305 266926.

And singer-songwriter Gaz Brookfield makes a welcome return to the county town with a gig at the Old Ship on Saturday, November 9.

He’s touring his new album Lostfolk and will be supported by B-Sydes and leading U-bend expert Edd Bleach.

Tickets at £8 are available from the pub.

And speaking of pubs (blimey, this stuff writes itself…) Hardy’s, the former George and Vulture in Trinity Street, is relaunching, coincidentally on Saturday November 9, with three bands playing.

Silk Bullets kick off at 3pm, followed by Phoenix with the mighty Balance of Power headlining from 9pm.

And finally, tickets are selling fast for the next bands reunion night at the Centenary Club in Weymouth. So far on the bill are Hexagon, Ken Watkins and The Originals, so make a date in your diary for Friday November 29 and pick up your £10 ticket from the club sharpish.

Till next time…

NICK HORTON

TONIGHT 25

Sixties Gold with Herman’s Hermits, Merseybeats, Marmalade, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders (Weymouth Pavilion)

Morass of Mollasses, Cybernetic Witch Cult, Duskwood, Doomicidal (Finns, Weymouth)

Compass (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Rock Apes (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Elijah Wolf (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Stereoironics (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Zoe Schwarz and Rob Koral (Y&Ys, Brewery Sq, Dorchester)

Hardy and the Monuments (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Guitarmadillo (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Dr Splink (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Speedway Snails (Club Bambooza, Weymouth)

Dakota (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Frankie Finn (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 26

The Three Degrees (Exchange, Sturminster Newton)

Hang Massive (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Bifrost (Finns, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Nina Garcia (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

The Katz (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

The Decatonics (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Steve Nicholas (Weymouth Conservative Club)

Owen and Darren (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Compass (George, Portland)

Davy Malone and the Longtails (Ropemakers, Bridport)

The Shakespearos (Club Bambooza, Weymouth)

Hawkeye and Hoe band (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Karen Kay (Waterloo, Weymouth)

Rachel Scott (Little Ship, Portland)

Martin Freed (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee (Park, Weymouth)

Leanne Jackson (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Off The Rails (Three Compasses, Charminster) 6-8pm.

SUNDAY 27

Roger’s Singalong (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Jim Reynolds (Royal Portland Arms, Portland)

Mitch Norman (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Replay (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth) 2pm.

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

Mark Davis (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Duke and the Broad Ratpack (Park, Weymouth) 3-7pm.

Alexis (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

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

Shauna and Nicky (George, Portland ) 4pm.

Rocky Horror Burlesque (Belvedere, Weymouth) 6.30pm.

Badger Boys (Three Compasses, Charminster)

MONDAY 28

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 29

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 30

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

THURSDAY 31

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.

Bob and Fitzy’s Open Mic Night (Belvedere, Weymouth)

FRIDAY 1

Blood Red Throne, This Is Endless, Deception, Perdisian (Finns)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Rob Brown (Lugger, Chickerell)

Truthseekers (Royal Portland Arms)

Fat Marrow Blues Band (Portesham Village Hall) Tickets £10 from 07717 194081 in aid of Bowel Cancer UK and scout hall fund.

Open Mic Showcase (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Barry Paul as Elvis (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Buffo’s Wake (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Bitter and Twisted (Britannia, Portland)

Vinyl Monkeys (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Hustle (King’s Arms, Portesham)