AS one-hit wonders go, Dr and the Medics’ 1986 smasheroonie Spirit in the Sky is pretty impressive.

A mere 23 million copies sold worldwide, and hitting the number one spot in 19 countries around the globe, is an incredible achievement, particularly when you consider how few downloads are needed these days to bother the charts.

But is that enough to sustain a band who are celebrating their 35th anniversary this year? Well, yes, that and their flamboyant, utterly over the top stage shows, fronted up by the flamboyant and utterly over the top frontman The Rev Dr Clive Thomas Jackson.

The good doctor is something of an institution on the 80s revival circuit, not least because he probably belongs in one, but also because so few bands would willingly go on after them.

Take it from me, as I’ve been on the same bill as them twice.

They’ve always been recognised as a great live act with their mix of original material plus their own treatment of other 80s classics, so do yourself a favour and catch them tomorrow night. Saturday, December 9, at the Electric Palace in Bridport.

Support tomorrow night comes from rising Gosport stars Arcade Hearts and the whole event is a fundraiser for next summer’s Jurassic Fields festival in Bridport.

Tickets are £16.50 from the Palace box office on 01308 428354.

Moving on, and visitors to Dorchester tomorrow night should look out for a wild dog on the loose.

Well, not really but Police Dog Hogan are a pretty wild bunch, fully armed with banjos, trumpets, accordions and a repertoire of country-rock Americana that had Radio 2 presenter Bob Harris whispering their praises from the rooftops when he saw them in Nashville a couple of years back.

And you can catch them tomorrow night at the Corn Exchange in Dorchester. Tickets are £15 from the box office on 01305 266926.

Next up, and there’s only one thing better than an evening with Ken Watkins and Simon Swarbrick, and that’s TWO evenings with Ken Watkins and Simon Swarbrick.

Yep, the Batman and Robin of English folk music are hosting a double-header at the Mission Hall in Sutton Poyntz tomorrow and Sunday, December 9 and 10, from 7.30pm.

It’s the last show Simon will be doing for a while with Ken as he’s off on the road with Martin Carthy and the likes in the touring tribute to his late uncle Dave: Swarb, It Suits Him Well.

Tickets must be reserved from 01305 837299 or songsfromthehalls234@gmail.com and you pay what you think the gig was worth on the way out, which is very magnanimous of the chaps.

And finally, I’ll be hosting a Christmas Special Hijacked show for Air FM 107.2 next Wednesday, December 13, from 8-10pm.

So, if you love all the classics from Slade, Wham, Wizzard, Shakin’ Stevens etc, you’re probably best off going elsewhere as I won’t be playing any of them. Vintage funk and soul with a festive twist will be on the playlist and if you’re very good, I’ll get my sleigh bells out.

Till next time…

GIG GUIDE

TONIGHT (8)

Dub Pistols, Cuba Libre (Actors, Weymouth)

Mad Hatters (Finns, Weymouth)

The Katz (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Owen Lister (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

Dakota (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Wiggie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Freezer (Park, Weymouth)

Stacey Lou’s Amy tribute (Black Dog, Weymouth)

Total Madness (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Karina and Arron (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Farrago (King’s Arms, Weymouth)

The Big Heavy (Brewhouse and Kitchen, Dorchester)

The Replays (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Operatic Sean (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Tequila Mockingbird (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

SATURDAY (9)

Dr and the Medics, Arcade Hearts (Electric Palace, Bridport)

Police Dog Hogan (Corn Exchange, Dorchester)

Big Gunz (Finns, Weymouth)

Cherry Pickers (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Regulation 9 (Market House, Weymouth)

Million Dollar Bash (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

The Shakespearos (Golden Lion, Weymouth)

Stocky Lamaar (Crown, Bridport)

Johnny King as Elvis (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Blue Keys (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Replay (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Hot Bacon (Park, Weymouth)

The Riffs (Royal Exchange, Portland)

Karen Kay (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Danny Adams (Boot, Weymouth) 3pm.

Stealing Whiskey (Belvedere, Weymouth)

The Silhouettes (Admiral Hardy, Weymouth)

The Defibrillators (Wyke Regis Working Mens Club, Weymouth)

Jolly Boys Outing (Kimberlin Club, Portland)

Watkins and Swarbrick (Mission Hall, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth)

Frank E Finn (Bridge Inn, Preston, Weymouth)

Rocking Rich (Black Dog, Weymouth)

The Mad Hatters (Bull Inn, Fordington, Dorchester)

John Stone (Royal Standard, Upwey, Weymouth)

Gut and Steel (George, Chideock)

Strings and Reeds (Duke of Albany, Weymouth)

Soft Rock Cafe (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

SUNDAY (10)

Singalong with Roger Mac (Gloucester, Weymouth)

Moonshine Hillbillies (King’s Arms, Weymouth) 3pm.

Kathy (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth) 3pm, followed by..

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Mark Davis (Boot, Weymouth) 5pm.

Parsley (Belvedere, Weymouth) Australia’s leading Paisley tribute band.

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

The Rat Pack (Golden Lion, Weymouth) From 7.30pm.

Kipper (Vinny@6, Dorchester) 4-6pm.

Watkins and Swarbrick (Mission Hall, Sutton Poyntz, Weymouth).. and take two.

Johnny Mac (Black Dog, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Scots Dan’s Open Mic (Duke of Albany, Weymouth) 4-7pm.

Ansell & Gretal (Wyke Smugglers, Weymouth)

MONDAY (11)

Acoustic session (Belvedere, Weymouth)

TUESDAY (12)

Speakers Corner (King’s Arms, Weymouth) Open mic night for poetry, rap etc.

Open Mic (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Leggomen (Boot, Weymouth)

Acoustic Session (Rock, Weymouth)

Dougie Cooper’s Jazz Night (Star, Weymouth)

WEDNESDAY (13)

Du Kane (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Tim Andrews (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Wessex Folk Night (Sailors Return, Weymouth)

Open Mic Night (Royal Exchange, Portland)

THURSDAY (14)

Georgie Broad (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Soapbox (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Leggomen (George, Weymouth)

Ricky Solo (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

Traditional Tune Session (Cove House Inn, Portland)

Ukulele Sessions (Sailors Return, Weymouth) Strum on down from 8pm.

FRIDAY (15)

Package Deal, Brahms and Liszt (Centenary Club, Weymouth)

Blackwater County (Finns, Weymouth)

Peacock Suit (Tom Browns, Dorchester)

SAS Duo (Gloucester, Weymouth)

The Shakespearos (Spice Ship, Preston, Weymouth)

Sammie (Weymouth Working Mens Club)

Sheryl Lee (Duke of Cornwall, Weymouth)

Darren H (Edinburgh House of Sounds, Weymouth)

The Imprints (Belvedere, Weymouth)

Billy Solo (Wellington, Weymouth)

Tripod (Golden Lion, Weymouth)