As British as the weather (and as consistent), Status Quo are one of the most familiar, important and long-running bands this country has produced, and yes I am including the Beatles in that statement. After nearly a decade in the wilderness (formerly as the Spectres), their fortunes improved in 1972 when Vertigo, home of oodles of subsequent rock-acts including Thin Lizzy, Metallica and Black Sabbath, inked a deal that remained in place for a couple of decades and scored them streams of hits.

Quo are back with, get this, their 29th album (as yet to be announced) which is due later this year. Swift detective work can deduce that it will be around November, once their festival appearances at Summer Pops, Guilfest, Cropredy and the Forestry event in Gloucester are over and the next leg of world domination starts. Well, the UK anyhow.

After the festivals comes the big 'The Quid Pro Quo' tour starting in Southend on the 9th November and continuing to too many places to list but includes Brentwood (10th), Croydon (15th), Plymouth (21st), Preston (26th) and ending in Llandudno for a pair of big Welsh dates on 30th November and 1st December.

Tickets are on sale now and cost around £35 plus fees, depending on location.

Tonight, lead singer and guitarist Francis Rossi heads-out on his first ever solo tour, starting in Edinburgh, moving on to Birmingham tomorrow, then Manchester, London, Sheffield and finally Cardiff on the 18th May. Tickets cost around £19.50, available now (tickets for tonight's gig will be available on the door at this late stage in proceedings).