LOOK at the time: 2003 already, and I still haven't put my clock forward from 1967. It's enough to make you grow older, so it is. I think I'll do just that.

You're welcome to watch if you like, but I shouldn't have thought it'll be all that exciting, apart from the occasional sneeze. Mind you, it might be absolutely riveting compared to what's (not) in store for live music fans this year if the Grown-Ups get their way.

You must all be aware by now of the pending legislation (already being enforced to some degree in certain instances) which aims to make listening to or performing live music punishable by fines of up to and beyond £6m, followed by lifelong incarceration in an iron coffin with spikes on the inside.

Taking my crystal ball firmly in both hands, I can foresee a situation arising where many breweries and/or venues make the decision that live music is just too much trouble to contemplate, and pull the plug on it in favour of comparatively harmless pastimes such as badger baiting, football hooliganism and nuclear fission.

We can't let this happen. If you haven't already done so, add your elaborate scrawl to the e-petition (accessible at http://www.musiclovers.ukart.com/) which will be winging its way to the PM in March and maybe, just maybe, there'll be a happy outcome accompanied by dancing in the streets.Properly supervised and licenced, of course, in groups of one or less, at a volume of 0.01 decibels.

Pausing only to note in passing that there will be no jam tonight at the Excise House - but watch this space for further developments - let us proceed on the proverbial gossamer wings to contemplate the heartening news that the fourth year of Tom Hopkins' avowedly successful Bluesnights programme kicks off this weekend with the first Dorchester appearance by the highly regarded SPIKEdrivers (Dorchester Arts Centre, Saturday, 8pm, £7.50/£4.75 under-18s/students with SU cards, tickets on (01305) 266926).

Those of you idly wondering why on earth Mr Milligan's ex-chauffeurs should deem it necessary to form a blues band might be relieved to learn that a 'spikedriver' is actually the name given to the men who drive the spikes that hold the steel rails to the wooden ties on American railroads.

The band's founder, US-born Ben Tyzack, fondly remembers playing on the railroad tracks in Iowa City as a young lad... a practice which I trust none of you will be foolhardy enough to emulate.

SPIKEdrivers have already made a name for themselves through radio sessions for Paul Jones and Jazz FM

The nation's youths are suggestible enough without planting crazy notions such as these into their soft minds...

And while it's true that as a child, I liked nothing better than playing with my Lego bricks on Runway 1 at Heathrow Airport, hindsight has shown me that this was a very silly thing to do: Runway 3 is much more conducive to Lego play, less steeply-cambered.

Ben and his fellow SPIKEdrivers - namely California-born Constance Redgrave (bass/vocals) and Belfast child Maurice McElroy (drums/vocals) - have already made something of a name for themselves through radio sessions for Paul Jones and Jazz FM, not to mention numerous rapturously-received gigs and an album, Delta Roots, which 'confirms their status as one of the most authentic-sounding blues acts to be found anywhere in Europe.'

Joe Bob says check them out.

Finally, despite the firmly-held conviction of numerous cultural commentators that this will be the year that the whole 'manufactured pop' phenomenon finally turns up its toes and expires with a great deal of noise and smell, I've yet to see any sign of the gravy train coming off the rails.

In fact, a timely missive has just fluttered on to my desk from the good burghers at Independent A&R Records, who are looking to sign four female vocalists to form a new pop/rock act: You have to be between 16-25 with 'good vocal ability, personality and presentation skills and some dance ability' - so that's me excluded.

If you think you could be one (but not necessarily all) of these female vocalists, call the A&R department's voice mail on (01858) 432888 for an application pack, or write to A&R Records UK, Saint Mary's House, Saint Mary's Road, Market Harborough, LE16 7DS.