PUNK rockers Weatherstate play their first hometown gig for two years next Friday and they can’t wait to be let off the chain.

The Weymouth four-piece of singer-guitarist Harry Hoskins, guitarist Callan Milward, bassist Joe Hogan and drummer Toby Wrobel have been busy touring the UK and Europe in support of their debut album Born a Cynic which was released last May and, as Callan tells me, they’re looking forward to the gig at Finn’s next Friday, January 24.

“It’s been a long time coming,” he says. “We don’t get the opportunity to come back to where it all started for us but this is something really special to start the year off.

“We’ve been playing all over the UK promoting the album and we’ve done several tours of duty over in Europe, most notably Germany and Belgium.

“This year, we’ll be spending time writing the next album which will be released by the Failure By Design label in Europe and Wiretap Records over in America,” Callan adds.

Next Friday’s gig completes a circle for Callan who played his first gig at Finn’s at a jam night back in 2005. “I was still at Wey Valley School,” he recalls.

The band’s full-on, full-tilt, 200mph sonic sledgehammer has clearly been inspired by US rockers Green Day and they paid homage to their idols with the video for their recent single Medicated with a stunningly accurate parody of the American punk band’s Basket Case, set in a hospital and complete with trollies, wheelchairs, padded cells and surgery gowns.

“Metal mag Kerrang!!! picked up on it,” says Callan, “ and it came to the attention of Green Day’s bassist Mike Dirnt who Tweeted his approval, which is really rather cool.”

Friday’s gig is free entry and features the debut performance of Not So Dead, a new band formed by former members of Fatal Four Way and Light Fire Down, plus more support acts to be announced very soon.

Moving on, and 2019 was quite a year for Portland singer-songwriter, blues guitarist and all-round ace chap Micky Biggs.

Not only did he tour Belgium, Germany, France, Finland, Ireland, the US and all over the UK as part of Ben Waters ’ band for his final series of gigs, he also got to play with Ronnie Wood, Imelda May, Jeff Beck and sundry other superstars for his troubles.

But it’s back to his roots for Micky for his next gig which is at Owermoigne village hall next Friday, January 24.

He’ll be playing much of his own material plus a selection of choice covers and he’ll be joined by the Night Owls, a crack band of seasoned players including Grant Day on guitar, Johnnie Critchell on drums and the equally well-seasoned but perfectly well-preserved Chris Lonergan on bass.

It’s going to be fun night of quality blues, soul and rock’n’roll and Micky tells me: “We’ve got some very special guests lined up, but I’m not allowed to say who they are!”

So if you see private jets, helicopters and a fleet of limousines and police outriders in the vicinity of Owermoigne International Airport next Friday, you’ll know what’s happening, okay?

Tickets for the gig are £12 from ticketor.com/benwaters so get moving, as they’re going fast.

That’s it for this week. If you’d like your live music event featured in the Echo Gig Guide, email your details to echogigguide@outlook.com Thanks!

Till next time…

NICK HORTON

FRIDAY 17

Ironhide (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Adagio (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Tequila Mockingbird (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Vanilla Radio (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Bud Martin (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Dryadic (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Rich Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Undecided (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Du Kane (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

Brian Paul (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Ctl Alt Del (Bambooza, Weymouth)

Finnian (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Sheryl Lee and the Rockets (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SATURDAY 18

Waterloo: The Best of Abba (Weymouth Pavilion)

Ronnie Scott’s All Stars (Dorchester Arts Centre)

Balance of Power (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Tripod (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Replay (Moonfleet Bowls Club, Weymouth) SOLD OUT!

Graham Morris (Weymouth Conservative Club)

The Originals (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Stacey Lou (Little Ship, Portland)

Rob Davis (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

Grizzly Rhys Morgan (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Rich Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 2-6pm.

Rock Apes (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Dale Fender Band (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Big Red Ass (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Leanne Jackson (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Georgie Broad (Portland Social Club)

Asha (Gloucester, Weymouth)

John De Barra, Chief Lazarus (Hardy’s Dorchester) From 5pm.

Fluke (Black Dog, Weymouth)

John Ramon (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Kathy (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

SUNDAY 19

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

Rich Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Jim Reynolds (Ropemakers, Bridport) 4pm.

Folk Country and Blues Evening (Old Town Hall, Weymouth) 7.30pm.

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

Nathan Jon (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Mark Davis (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-6pm.

Diane's Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

MONDAY 20

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Sunset Café Stompers (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY 21

McCartney: The Song Book (Weymouth Pavilion)

Folk Night (Drax Arms, Bere Regis)

Aaron Carter (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY 22

Rich Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

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

THURSDAY 23

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 24

ELO Again (Weymouth Pavilion)

Weatherstate, Not So Dead (Finn’s, Weymouth)

Micky B and the Night Owls (Owermoigne village hall)

Mike Walker (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Freezer (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Dakota (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

John De Barra (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Surfing Birds (Ropemakers, Bridport)

Rich Cooper (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Nathan Jon (John Gregory, Weymouth)

Total Madness (King’s Arms, Weymouth)