TRIBUTE act Nearly Dan will be "Reelin' In The Years" in Worcester this month as they trawl through a selection of their icon's hits in the city.

American legends Steely Dan began when members Donald Fagen and Walter Becker met in 1967 and discovered common interests in jazz, blues, popular music and contemporary literature.

They begin collaborating on songs, which they performed in various pickup bands, and eventually Steely Dan was born in 1971.

From there they had a number of hits throughout the decades, including top 20 track Haitian Divorce in December 1976 and the tune FM (No Static At All) in July 1978.

And tribute act Nearly Dan - which formed in 1997 - came about after pianist Gary Davies first heard the band's recordings and fell in love with the tunes.

The group has since been performing in theatres and live music venues across the country, building up a loyal following.

One of Steely Dan's more memorable songs was Reelin' In The Years and the band pulled off a successful "comeback" album - Two Against Nature, their first in 20 years - in February 2000.

Audiences can expect to re-live the band's character tunes when the 10-piece tribute act - hailing from the Stoke-on-Trent area - hit Worcester's Huntingdon Hall at 8pm on Saturday, January 15.

The band is expected to play a lively two hour tune-packed performance from Steely Dan's Can't Buy Me A Thrill to their 2003 release Everything Must Go.

The line-up comprises Steve Hayes on vocals and guitar, Rob Rolph on lead guitar, Gary Davies on piano, Anne Hansen on alto sax, Chris Davies on tenor sax, Paul Bennett on trumpet, Diane Davies and Kate Robertson on vocals and percussion, Pete Bacanin on bass and Ray Prince on drums.

Tracks such as Peg, Babylon Sisters, Deacon Blues, Kid Charlemagne, Ricki Don't Lose That Number, Josie and Cousin Dupree are also likely to feature on the set list.

"This is the third time we've been to Worcester and it's a lovely venue," said pianist Gary.

"We always get a nice reception so we're really looking forward to it."

Tickets for the Worcester show are priced £14 (concessions £13) and are available by calling the theatre box office on 01905 611427.

Polish band will be a good Krakow

THE sound of Poland will be coming to England's shores next month as the Warsaw Village Band put on a concert.

The group, winners of BBC Radio 3's Best Newcomer Award for World Music, are putting on a gig at Hellens in Much Marcle, near Ledbury, on Saturday, February 5.

The event is being held as part of the Arts Alive Rural Touring Programme.

The band - which plays folk dances, ballads and rural traditionals, was founded in 1997 by six young musicians who were wishing to preserve traditional Polish music.

While travelling the Polish countryside, they rediscovered lost forms of traditional music and, performing in a style described as 'hardcore folk' or 'bio techno', they treasure the memories of their ethnic roots, connecting tradition to new modern aesthetics.

They use traditional instruments handed down through the generations, such as the suka, an ancient Polish fiddle, played with fingernails.

Concert tickets are £12, and are available by calling The Courtyard Box Office on 0870 1122 330.

Will this trio be up your alley?

Reels, jigs and hornpipes will be taking place on the dancefloor this month when Malthouse Passage come to Colwall.

The band - named after an London alleyway that features in 1960s film The Plan - will be playing the next ceilidh at Colwall village hall, on Saturday, January 29.

The performance starts at 7.30pm and the group will play a variety of continental, UK and Scandinavian traditional music, as well as pieces composed in these traditions.

The group consists of Dave Young on melodeon, Cathy Rollo on clarinet and bass clarinet and Lisa Warburton on hammered dulcimer and assorted percussion.

Lisa herself sings with Vital Spark, west Malvern's Gallery Choir and the women's a cappella band Wompsters.

Tickets are £10 (£5 concession) and are available by calling 01684 540366.

For more information,

e-mail Adrian Mealing at:

adrian@uktouring.org.uk