DECEMBER | LIVE MUSIC LISTINGS

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TUESDAY 1

Acoustic Tuesday South Riverside Community Development Centre, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2030 4400. Regular event led by pioneering local musicians and singers.

Capital City Jazz Orchestra Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Cardiff Metropolitan Cathedral Choir St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £4.76-£6.75. Info 029 2087 8444.

Chamber Tuesdays Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 6-8pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391. Come and hear RWCMD chamber ensembles showcasing their work for free.

Christmas Celebration Concert Llandaff Cathedral, Cardiff. 7.15pm, £10/£5 aisle seats. Info www.meningitisnow.org. Annual charity concert offering traditional Christmas carols and festive musical entertainment.

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info [email protected]. Every Tuesday.

Marion’s Festive Songs Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 1-3pm, £6. Info 01633 868239.

The East Pointers Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. Free. Info 029 2063 6464. Folk band from Canada’s Prince Edward Island.

The Memphis Six Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

The Story So Far Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union. 7pm, £14 adv. Info 029 2078 1458.

The Vaccines + Palma Violets + The Big Moon Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £25 adv. Info 029 2022 4488. “Fantastic, The Vaccines are my very favourite band!” said no-one ever. “They’ve got a few songs I quite like, what the heck I’ll get a ticket,” said thousands of people.

The Wytches + Traams + Black Honey Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Moderately noisy/experimental indie rock, not bad.

WEDNESDAY 2

Alex Haines, Alex Munk & Nick Jurd Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253. Jazz guitar trio.

Bandaoke Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info [email protected]. “Sing with a fully rehearsed band and become the Popstar you always dreamed of being.” In Aberystwyth on Fri 4, as a one-off.

Blackhawk Big Band Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8. Info [email protected]. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Britten: A Ceremony Of Carols Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 1.15pm, £8/£6 adv. Info 029 2039 1391.

Circe’s Diner + Bear & The Woods + The Fireside Family + Rob Reece Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. A Folk In The Owl’s Nest night.

Garth Mountain Boys Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club showcase night.

Jackson Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £16.50-£20.50. Info 01792 475715. M Jackson tribute show, headed by someone who is just called Ben. No surname.

Nevsky Perspective The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

#Notjustjazz Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026. New weekly night (here every Wednesday), titled on account of its music policy.

Olivia Gomez + Ben Pinnow The Riverfront, Newport. 1pm, £5.50/£4.50. Info 01633 656757. First Wednesday classical recital.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863. Every Wednesday.

Royal Northern Sinfonia St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7.50-£39.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Featuring crack classical guitarist Miloš Karadaglic.

The Alan Barnes Octet: A Jazz Christmas Carol Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm, £14. Info 07802 912789.

Theatre Of Hate + Spizzenergi Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £17. Info 029 2023 2199. Spizzenergi… bloody hell. As Alex Ferguson might say.

The Cabeytu Brothers The Gate, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2048 3344. These guys are from Argentina and “sing, dance and play 15 different instruments in their fantastic show packed with rock, pop, country, Celtic and rock’n’roll music”. Hope whoever’s doing the sound for this gig is getting paid double, sounds like a pain in the arse.

The Zombies The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 07590 471888. Has there ever been a football chant that uses Time Of The Season by The Zombies as its basis? Feel like it’s there waiting to be grabbed, but maybe lacks a bit of popular appeal.

Tom Auton + Charles Hendrie + Jewels NosDa, Cardiff. 8.30pm, pay by donation. Info 029 2037 8866. Live broadcast session presented by U&I Radio.

Yak + Swedish Death Candy Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7. Info 029 2023 2199.

THURSDAY 3

Alt-J + The Horrors + Ghostpoet Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £29 adv. Info 029 2022 4488. Smoothly modish indie band embark on their first arena tour, with creditable support acts.

Andy Lewis Duo The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Band Open Mic Night The Radyr Court, Danescourt, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2056 7961.

Birdcage + Crystal Balloon + Moonlight Drive Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £5. Info 029 2023 2199.

Cardiff Carols Cardiff Arms Park. 6.30-7.30pm, £4/£2 under-12s. Info www.cardiffcarols.com. Large community carol event in the rugby stadium, also featuring readings and a talk.

Don Broco + Coasts + Arcane Roots + Symmetry Tramshed, Cardiff. 7pm, £15 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

Estrons + Homes + Wasters The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info [email protected]. EP launch gig for Estrons. Said EP has garnered a clutch of plaudits in this very issue.

Finley Quaye Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 7.30pm, £12-£15. Info 01970 623232. Answering the question, “what would Bob Marley have been like if he’d been 8 Ace from Viz?” since 1996, it’s Finley.

Forever Cult + The Moon Birds The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 7pm, £5. Info 07969 671379. Headliners play noisy rock of some description and are in Newport tomorrow.

Hackensack Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £5-£10. Info 029 2038 7026. Cardiff Jazz Society gig. Pricing system is essentially on a charitable basis, ie if you pay a tenner you’re giving an extra fiver to the group’s upkeep, if that makes sense.

Jazz Jam Night Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info [email protected]. Presented by Dan Messore.

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. Every Thursday. This week’s guest band is The James Clode Band.

Kodaline Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union. 7pm, £18.50 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. Sold out. Go on, sing me one of their songs. Can’t, can you.

*Moss Lime + Whitebelt + Roundheels Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5 adv. Info 029 2023 9253. Synthy indie punky bands presented by The Joy Collective.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm. Info 01633 858636. Every Thursday except when there’s a guest on.

Planet Rockstock Trecco Bay, Porthcawl. 5pm, £130 weekend/£150 weekend gold/£10 today only. Info www.planetrock.com/rockstock. Previewed in November’s issue, this is the preamble (open to Gold ticket holders only) to the main Planet Rockstock weekender from Fri 4-Sun 6. Today features Toseland, Colour Of Noise and The Wild Lies. (Until Sun 6)

Pretty Vicious + Frontiers + The Vestals Riverside Suite, Newport Centre. 7.30pm, £8. Info 01633 656757. Featuring 12 bouts in total, including Cardiff’s Craig Kennedy v Benki Mwakalebela and Cwmbran’s Jamie Arthur v Andy Harris.

Silent Screams The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9 adv. Info 07590 471888. This band are from Coventry and have over 100,000 fans on Facebook. Let’s hope they don’t all try and get into the venue at once!

Soul Legends Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £22.50. Info 01792 475715. They’re not actually soul legends themselves, they just sing songs by people who are, or were.

The Bootleg Beatles St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 8pm, £28.50. Info 029 2087 8444. Bootlegging is not only illegal but also immoral and it appals me that this band tacitly endorse it via their name.

The Marks Cartel Undertone, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2022 8883.

Uumar + Breichiau Hir + Ben Maggs Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Presented by Juxtaposed and Xpress Radio.

FRIDAY 4

5ive Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Boyband of a late-90s vintage, currently trading as a three-piece. Hey, Neil Young never changed his name to Neil Old either.

Acapela Soul Club Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £7.50 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Live soul bands TBC.

Amser Jazz Time Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 5.30-7pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391. Every Friday until Dec 11.

Ange Hardy & The Barefoot Band + Tom Fitton West End Club, Barry. 7pm, £10/£8. Info 07561 143114.

A Night At The Movies St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£22. Info 029 2087 8444. With the Cardiff Philharmonic Orchestra.

Armonyte The Duke, Neath. 8pm, free. Info 01639 643892.

Aubrey Parsons Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info [email protected].

Bandaoke Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 9pm, free. Info 01970 623232.

Bella Collins & Gareth Evans The Cornwall, Grangetown, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2030 3947.

Bowie Experience The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888. That reminds me, I need to listen to his new thing I guess.

Brain Freeze Ebbw Vale Institute. £20 adv (two days). Info 01495 708022. Metal and hard rock festival. Today features The Graveltones, Henry’s Funeral Shoe, 4Brothers and The Mojo Sinners. On tomorrow also.

Built For Comfort Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Caro Emerald Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 6.30pm, from £25 adv. Info 029 2022 4488.

ChapterLive Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. Presented by Jealous Lovers Club, with acts TBC. Also on Fri 18.

Christmas With The Royal Welsh College Brass Band St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 1pm, £4.75-£6.75. Info 029 2087 8444.

CubAfrobeat – Adriano & Carolina Adewale Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7-8.45pm, £8/£6/free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816. A performance exploring sounds translated into movement, rhythms expressed through the body and musical pieces based on themes from traditional Brazilian music.

Forever Cult + Birdcage + Falling Under Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £4. Info 01633 221477.

Handel’s Messiah Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £25/£12.50 under-30s. Info 029 2039 1391. Performed by Cantemus, Elin Manahan Thomas and Réjouissance in front of an audience of rapt bargain-loving 29-year-olds.

Harri Davies Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £5/£4 adv. Info 029 2023 9253.

Iron Eye The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected].

John Mills, Kate Price & Jonathan Perry St Fagans Village Hall, Cardiff. Info 029 2023 2970. A Pentreffest Noz folk night.

Jordan Marks Blackweir Tavern, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2034 1405.

Leslie Howard Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £1-£14. Info 01239 621200. Piano recital presented by the Peter Gould Music Trust.

Live Acoustic Night The Pilot, Penarth. Free. Info 029 2071 0615. On the first Friday of each month.

Luna Rossa The Gate, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £17.50/£15 adv. Info 029 2048 3344. Piano/guitar/vocal duo, also in the band Panic Room.

Milk + Suns Of Thunder + The Kinky Wizzards + Soap The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4. Info [email protected]. Headline band are bluesy hard rock feat. members of Howl, who recently disbanded.

Open Night The Ivy Bush, Pontardawe. 8pm. Info [email protected]. A Valley Folk Club night.

Pearl Jam UK + A Tribute To Eddie Vedder Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 01792 468892. Tribute acts. Seems a bit odd having both these acts on one bill.

Planet Rockstock Trecco Bay, Porthcawl. 5pm, £130 weekend/£150 weekend gold/£35 today only. Info www.planetrock.com/rockstock. Today features main stage sets from FM, The Dead Daisies, Dan Pattlansky, John Coghlan’s Quo and Inglorious. The second stage running order is TBC but will feature these over three days: Buffalo Summer, Cairo Son, Cherry White, City Of Thieves, Curran, Dirty Thrills, Fire Red Empress, Fireroad, Ghost Community, Nonpoint, Quartz, Redline, Sumo Cyco, The Fallen State, The Mojo Sinners and We Are The Catalyst. (Until Sun 6)

Ria Jones Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £18/£16. Info 01792 475715.

Rocket Joe Joe And The Oldtime Bangers + Alun Elliot Williams The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

S.E.X. Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm. Info [email protected].

Sounds Of Motown Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Shola Kaye sings the hits while you guzzle one of three Christmas menus.

Street Cardinals Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Plastercines Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. 8pm, £3. Info 01443 491424.

Whiskey Lies + Local Enemy + Hang 11 The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 8.30pm, £2. Info [email protected].

Yws Gwynnedd + Y Cledrau + Y Galw Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2023 2199.

SATURDAY 5

182 + Offspin + Who Saves the Hero? Sin City, Swansea. 7pm, £7 adv. Info 01792 468892. Tributes to Blink 182 and (The) Offspring.

360 Degrees Dolman Theatre, Newport. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01633 263670.

Akala Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. UK rapper who was splashed over our Upfront section last month.

Brain Freeze Ebbw Vale Institute. £20 adv (two days). Info 01495 708022. Today features longstanding US stoner rock mainstays The Atomic Bitchwax, RavenEye Featuring Oli Brown), Dead Shed Jokers, The Heavy Flames, Lifer and Tradish.

Cakehole Presley + The Moonbirds The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10/£8 adv. Info 07590 471888. Newsoundwales present a gig that’s part Christmas bash, part tribute show for Mark Humphries (Cakehole Presley member and Cardiff busker of note), who died recently.

Cancer Research Wales Charity Album Launch Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff. 7pm. Info 029 2022 8221.

Cardiff University Chamber Choir All Saints Church, Swansea. 7-8.45pm, £5/free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816.

Carnifex + Within The Ruins + Fallujah + The Last Ten Seconds Of Life CF10, Cardiff University Students Union. 7.30pm, £12/£10 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. Death metal/deathcore.

Christmas With Elvis Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £12. Info 01873 850805. With Keith Davies.

Commander Boom + The Attix + Anger  The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 8.45pm, £2. Info [email protected].

Fat Barry’s Soul Band Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.30pm, £11. Info 0300 3656677.

Good Vibrations Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Beach Boys tribute band sing for your supper.

Grey Skulls The Patriot, Crumlin. 7pm, free. Info 01495 247178.

John Nicholas The Pick & Shovel, Pontypridd. 9pm, free. Info 01443 404632.

Jumpin’ Jimmy & The Nice Guys Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info [email protected]. A 12-piece soul band whose songs are all about how girls won’t give them a chance, just because they don’t have big muscles or a motorbike. Also here on Sat 30 Jan.

Junior Conservatoire Junior Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 5pm, £7/£3. Info 029 2039 1391.

Kizzy Crawford Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £10/£8 adv. Info 029 2023 9253. Performing with a full band.

Lacertilia + Pizzatramp + Radioactive Bones + Akb’al Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £4. Info [email protected]. Psych, punk and metal.

Lock & Key + Create To Inspire Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7.30pm, free. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com.

London Calling + Greazy Ratz The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info [email protected]. Headline band are a Clash tribute act.

Luna Rossa The Chattery, Swansea. 7.30pm, £14. Info 01792 473276. New project from acoustic folk types Anne-Marie Helder and Jonathan Edwards.

Manushka The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected].

Markham Band Miners’ Institute, Blackwood. 7.30pm, £8/£7. Info 01495 227206.

Mumford & Sons + Jack Garratt Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 6.30pm, £37.50/£25. Info 029 2022 4488. “This next song is dedicated to Annabel and her friends, who are going on holiday to India” – Mumford & Sons, live in Cardiff, 2008. “Mumford & Sons are great, I enjoyed this gig” – some of you who know who you are, 2008.

Mutya Buena Mary’s, Cardiff. £4 after 7pm. Info [email protected]. It’s Mutya from the Sugababes, look alive! She might just be doing a live PA, or just sitting at the bar chatting, but whatever happens isn’t my fault. Mary’s is a new gay/drag bar on St Mary Street which opens on Thurs 3 Dec, by the way.

Newtown Silver Band Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.30pm, £8/£6. Info 01686 614555.

Philomusica Of Aberystwyth Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £2-£9.50. Info 01970 623232. Performing an Elgar cello concerto.

Planet Rockstock Trecco Bay, Porthcawl. 5pm, £130 weekend/£150 weekend gold/£50 today only. Info www.planetrock.com/rockstock. Today features main stage sets from Rival Sons, Joanne Shaw Taylor, Heavens Basement and Gun Metal Gray. Day tickets sold out. (Until Sun 6)

Salvation Army Concert The Met, Abertillery. 7pm, £5. Info 01495 355800.

Shân Cothi All Saints Church, Penarth. 7pm, £10-£20. Info 029 2070 3170. Welsh soprano, whom we interviewed in the Sept issue of Buzz, with the penultimate date of her Welsh tour. She’s also in Aberaeron on Sun 20.

Showaddywaddy Grand Theatre, Swansea. 7.30pm, £19/£17. Info 01792 475715.

Tattsyrup + Ben Huws The Yard, Cardiff. 9.30pm, free. Info 029 2022 7577.

The Marks Cartel + The Riff + Local Enemy + Sean Penhale The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 7pm, £4 adv. Info 07969 671379. First birthday show for this venue.

The Pollen Count Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Promise Of Christmas St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 3 + 7.30pm, £13/£11. Info 029 2087 8444. With Cambrensis Choir & Orchestra, the St David’s Praise Choir and the Promise Of Christmas Youth Choir.

The V.U. The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm. Info 029 2021 2509. This appears to be a Velvet Underground tribute band from Cardiff, performing songs “as near to the originals as is humanly possible”. Lots of VU songs have several, very different ‘originals’, don’t they. Sounds fun though.

TiTS Up + The Frights + Deadly Light Shade Cellar Bar, Cardigan. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 07818 056599. Headliners “deliver a raw, female-driven punk surf rock sound with a little twisted country for good measure”. I kind of don’t want to listen to this because I’m concerned it won’t deliver on that description. (After typing that I listened to the one song they had online and it was good. Just FYI.)

Ultimate Floyd Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 7.30pm, £7/£5 adv. Info 07512 237983. Pink Floyd tribute band.

Undercover Hippy + Alex Valentine The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £10/£9 adv. Info 01497 821762. Is he pretending to be a hippy as a cover for something else, like that copper who was back in the news the other day, or is he an actual hippy who dresses as (e.g.) a businessman in a suit and tie? We need to be told.

Winter Death Fest 2015 The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. Free. Info 01685 387925. Alldayer featuring these bands: Warlord UK, Kataleptic, Sodomized Cadaver, Daemona, Laid Wasted, Democratus, Extinction and Vile Inscription.

Yws Gwynedd + Ysgol Sul + Adwaith + Jaffro The Parrot, Carmarthen. 8pm, £8/£7 adv. Info 01267 231012.

SUNDAY 6

A Fanfare Of Strumpets Sunflower&I, Cardiff Bay. 5.30pm, £10 adv. Info 029 2048 4211. Four-woman a capella quartet play teatime set.

Andy Lewis The Pontygwindy, Caerphilly. 2pm, free. Info 029 2088 4321. Live music every Sunday (allowing for Christmas/NYE etc getting in the way).

Blake Gwyn Hall, Neath. 6pm, £19. Info 0300 3656677. I’ve got a copy of Blake’s new Christmas album here. I’m not going to listen to it, but I’m also not going to give it to anyone else. Just thought I’d let you know.

Christmas Snowsongs Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391. Sang around the Christmas tree in the foyer. (Until Tue 8)

City Voices Cardiff St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 4pm, £5-£20. Info 029 2087 8444. Choral performance in aid of Ty Hapus.

Dan James The Queens Head, Monmouth. 8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

Hay Community Choir Christmas Concert The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01497 821762.

Jazz Jam Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm. Info 029 2039 7933. Hosted by Cardiff University Jazz Society.

Johnny Deathshadow + Lupen Tooth The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm. Info 01495 213300. Presented by Savage Monster. Headliners are German and call themselves ‘death rock’ but are not the early 80s kind of death rock that I like.

Kataleptic + Sodomized Cadaver + Dread Bolt + Kryophere + Agrona + Democratus Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £5 adv. Info [email protected].

Keith James Browns Hotel, Laugharne. 3pm. Info 01994 427688. Performing the songs of John Martyn and Nick Drake.

Locus Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 3pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464. Live work-in-progress musical collaboration between Angharad Van Rijswijk and Richard James, who will be doing this here for four months. It’s also on Sun 13 and Sun 20 this month.

Lunchtime Concert National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 1pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951. With students from the Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama.

Planet Rockstock Trecco Bay, Porthcawl. 5pm, £130 weekend/£150 weekend gold/£35 today only. Info www.planetrock.com/rockstock. Today features main stage sets from The Darkness, Fozzy, Danko Jones, Crobot and Scorpion Child. (Finishes today)

Sean McGowan + Gecko + Owen Hackett Le Pub, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 221477. Headliner has reputedly toured with the likes of Get Cape. Wear Cape. Fly, The Rifles, Beans On Toast and Frank Turner. Thanks for letting me know!

Sylvia Strand & Andy Mulligan Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 2.30-4.30pm, free. Info 01656 815995. Jazzy Christmas numbers.

The Overtones Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7pm, £38.50/£21.50. Info 01792 475715.

MONDAY 7

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026. Every Monday.

Cardiff University Contemporary Music Group Cardiff University Concert Hall. 6.15-9.30pm, £5/free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816.

Christmas Snow Songs Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391. (Until Tue 8)

Eric Hodges Competition Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2039 1391.

Glamorgan Federation Of Women’s Institutes Carol Festival Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7.30pm, £13.50. Info 01792 475715.

Grown Up Music The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected]. Jam session presented by Pi & Hash.

Hazel O’Connor Glee Club, Cardiff Bay. 6.30pm, £22 adv. Info 0871 4720400. Acoustic set, film and Q&A, all tied in to the 35th anniversary of her ‘Breaking Glass’ album.

Siobhan McCrudden + Kirk Morgan + Albatross Archive Porter’s, Cardiff. 9-11pm. Info [email protected]. Weekly nights (Christmas and New Year notwithstanding) presented by U&I Radio.

The Rifles The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Embarking on a special acoustic tour for some reason. The attendant tour poster is absolutely minging and spells Tunbridge Wells wrong.

Tommy Harris Quartet Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360. Live jazz acts here every Monday.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509. Every Monday, with The Plucking Fourstrings.

TUESDAY 8

Belshazzar’s Feast Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm. Info 01646 651725.

Black Ocean The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm. Info 07730 432166. Presented by Dammit.

Christmas Snowsongs Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 2pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391. (Finishes today)

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info [email protected].

Huw Warren Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Jeffrey Lewis & Los Bolts + Threatmantics + My Name Is Ian Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £8 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. NYC folk fella returns to Cardiff with his umpteenth new backing band.

Messiah St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15-£35. Info 029 2087 8444. Handel, as performed by BBC NOW & Chorus Of Wales.

*Project Instrumental Cardiff University Concert Hall. 7-8.45pm, £8/£6/free NUS. Info 029 2087 4816. Live electronics meets modern classical, performing works by Arvo Pärt, Robert Fokkens and Shostakovich. This sounds really good.

*Status Quo + The Wilko Johnson Band Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £45. Info 029 2022 4488. Legit thinking of going to this. Only partly for Wilko Johnson.

The Usk Valley Blue Blowers Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

WEDNESDAY 9

CCVG Music Service Christmas Showcase St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £6-£10. Info 029 2087 8444.

Chepstow Community Big Band Swingopation Christmas Show Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8. Info [email protected]. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Chunk! No, Captain Chunk! + Trash Boat + Boston Manor The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9 adv. Info 07590 471888. Parisian rock band, often found in lazily assembled ‘worst band names’ lists alongside We Butter The Bread With Butter and various goregrind combos, headline.

Christmas Carol Concert Ararat Baptist Church, Cardiff. 7-9pm, £5 adv. Info [email protected]. A George Thomas Hospice Care fundraising event.

Christmas Coffee Morning Concert The Met, Abertillery. 11am, £4. Info 01495 355800.

Euan Burton Quartet Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Georgia Paterson Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026. A #Notjustjazz night.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509. Every Wednesday. Expect to hear jazz, blues, rock or ska here.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

St Fagans Christmas Songsheet National History Museum, St Fagans. 6 + 7.30pm, £5.50. Info 029 2057 3500. Carol singing in the chapel conducted by Alun Guy with organist Leighton Sault-Jones. (Until Fri 11)

The Charlatans Tramshed, Cardiff. 7pm, £25 adv. Info 0117 9259273. Sold out sorry.

The Mavron Quartet The Gate, Cardiff. 7pm, £7/£6. Info 029 2048 3344. Christmas concert.

Winter Opera Gala Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £14/£12. Info 029 2039 1391.

Xavier Le Maistre Harp Masterclass Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 10am, free. Info 029 2039 1391.

THURSDAY 10

Ben Thomas Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

Christmas At The Mamsion House Mansion House, Richmond Road, Cardiff. 7-9pm, £10 adv. Info [email protected]. Songs from opera and musical theatre. A George Thomas Hospice Care fundraising event.

CLIC / Sargent Christmas Concert St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £9-£14. Info 029 2087 8444.

Continents + Forevermore + When We Were Wolves Exit 7, Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6 adv. Info 029 2022 4488. South Wales metalcore band play the Motorpoint’s new mini-venue as part of a UK tour.

From The Jam Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

Hark! A Shark! + Brightr + Led By Lions + Blackjack Zero The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £3. Info [email protected].

Hot Barbecue The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509. Jazz.

It’s Christmas Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 6pm, £8 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Brass bands and other live entertainment.

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. Every Thursday. This week’s guest band is The Smokestack Lightnin’.

Mass Collective Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info [email protected]. Unsigned local acts. Also on Thurs 14 Jan.

Pardone Madame The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Paul Nicholas & Phil Jones The Open Hearth, Sebastopol, Pontypool. 7.30pm. Info 01495 763752. This month’s edition of the Open Hearth Acoustic night, on the second Thursday of every month.

Richard & Adam Princess Royal Theatre, Port Talbot. 7.30pm, £18 adv. Info 01639 763214.

Robin & Bina Williamson Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 8pm, £12 adv. Info 029 2030 4400. Songs, stories and music from the large musical-and-folklore arsenal of this married couple.

Roy Orbison & Friends Christmas Special Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 7.30pm, £18.50. Info 01633 868239.

Steamy Windows Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Tina Turner tribute.

St Fagans Christmas Songsheet National History Museum, St Fagans. 6 + 7.30pm, £5.50. Info 029 2057 3500. (Until Fri 11)

The Harry Browns Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 858636. A Lyceum Folk Club Christmas party night.

The Mouse Outfit Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. British hip-hop sorts.

Treorchy Male Voice Choir Paget Rooms, Penarth. 7.30pm, £13-£16. Info 029 2070 0721.

Whiskey River Dempseys, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8/£7 adv. Info 029 2023 9253. A Cardiff Folk Club gig.

FRIDAY 11

ACAB Old Cross Inn, Llanrumney, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2065 0021.

Acoustic Oasis The Cornwall, Grangetown, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2030 3947.

Ags Connolly + 2 String Slim + Chi Lameo & The Beery Swines Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £3. Info 01633 221477. Country, Americana type fare. Also a benefit for Newport Food Bank.

Al Lewis + Lewis & Leigh + The Gentle Good + Jodie Marie St John’s Church, Canton, Cardiff. 7pm, £14/£12 adv. Info [email protected]. See Music.

Amser Jazz Time Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 5.30-7pm, free. Info 029 2039 1391.

Annual Carol Concert Burnett’s Hill Chapel, Martletwy, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm. Info 01646 651725.

Ben Huws Blackweir Tavern, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2034 1405.

Black Moon Larking G39, Cardiff. 6pm. Info 029 2047 3633. A night of experimental sound, music, noise and live art, featuring Top Nice DJs , Longmeg, Serena Korda & The Jug Choir, Phil-Wilson Perkin and Samantha Taylor, Tim Bromage and Helen Sharp.

Buffalo Summer + Beyond The Break + Marshland Massacre + Static Fires The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Catrin Finch Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £7.50 adv/kids free. Info 029 2089 0862.

Christmas Carols With Barry Brass Band Victoria Park, Cadoxton, Barry. 6-8pm. Info 01446 700111.

Christmas With Gershwin & Ellington Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 2pm, £10-£12. Info 029 2063 6464. Performed by BBC NOW and conducted by Thomas Søndergård.

Ciders And Carols Clwb Y Bont, Pontypridd. Info 01443 491424.

City Sirens Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 029 2087 7959. All-female a capella group.

Climbing Trees Snails Deli, Rhiwbina, Cardiff. 7pm, £18 inc buffet. Info 029 2062 0415. Bluesy acoustic guy and member of Del Amitri.

Dansette Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Plu + Platform 1 Pontardawe Inn. 8.30pm, free. Info 01792 864949. A Gigs Y Gwach night.

Florence Black + Forever Vendetta + Beth Blade & The Beautiful Disasters + Beautiful Strangers + Psycho Kiss Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £6/£4 adv. Info [email protected].

Mydy Rabycad Queens Hall, Narberth. 8pm, £6-£12. Info 01834 869323. Electroswing band from Prague.

Old Strafford The Ivy Bush, Pontardawe. 8pm. Info

[email protected]. Valley Folk Club night.

Royal Welsh College Chamber Orchestra Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7.45pm, £14/£12. Info 029 2039 1391. Performing Bach’s Christmas Oratorio Parts 1, 2 & 3.

Scott Alexander Congress Theatre, Cwmbran. 1pm, £6. Info 01633 868239.

Skalet The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 07590 471888. Cardiff group who are like a ska band, but smaller.

St Fagans Christmas Songsheet National History Museum, St Fagans. 6 + 7.30pm, £5.50. Info 029 2057 3500. (Finishes today)

Swinging 60s To The Sizzling 70s Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. A game of two halves – 60s female vocalists and 70s disco sirens – and, of course, five courses of food.

The Happy Creatures Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Jazz Boys Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info [email protected].

The Sixteen St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5-£22.50. Info 029 2087 8444.

The Spokes Band + Leighton & Kate The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Vicki Swan & Jonny Dyer Redwick Village Hall, nr Magor. 7.30pm. Info 07561 240728.

White Fright The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected].

SATURDAY 12

Abergavenny Borough Band Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £8/£6. Info 01873 850805.

Aberystwyth Choral Society: Messiah Aberystwyth Arts Centre. 8pm, £2-£12. Info 01970 623232.

Antonio Forcione St Donats Arts Centre, Vale Of Glamorgan. 7.30pm, £15/£14. Info 01446 799100. Guitarist.

Ben Huws The Hollybush, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2025 5042.

Bloodwise Christmas Concert Royal Welsh College Of Music & Drama, Cardiff. 7pm, £12. Info 029 2039 1391. Blood cancer charity Choral benefit.

Cardiff & Vale Music Service The Gate, Cardiff. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2048 3344. Carols.

Carthy, Oates, Farrell & Young The Welfare, Ystradgynlais. 8pm, £14/£12. Info 01639 843163. See Music.

Côr Meibion Llanelli Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7pm, £12. Info 0845 2263510.

Dub War + The Dirty Youth The Scene Club, Swansea. 7pm, £12 adv. Info 07730 432166.

Euros Childs + Oh Peas! Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £11 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Idiosyncratic Welsh indie, likely to involve keyboard playing of some kind, from not one but both artists on this bill.

Grace Hartrey NosDa, Cardiff. 8.30pm. Info 029 2037 8866.

Grass Snakes The Chattery, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10. Info 01792 473276. Bluegrass.

Jon Langford’s Men Of Gwent Le Pub, Newport. 8pm. Info 01633 221477. Newport-raised ex-Mekons member with his countryish project, which has an album out this month.

Juice The Heath, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8. Info 029 2039 4207. A RUFF Ceilidh night, also featuring caller Dave Parsons.

Laurence Cottle All Star Band Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm, £22. Info 07802 912789. Band of no fewer than 17 members pay tribute to Jaco Pastorius. Have you heard of Jaco Pastorius? SO HAVE I!

Leighton Jones & Kate Gibson The Pick & Shovel, Pontypridd. 9pm, free. Info 01443 404632.

Lonesome Stampede The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, £7. Info 01497 821762.

Love Spuds Face 11, Cathays, Cardiff. 8.30pm. Info 029 2022 8221.

Micky’s Annual Xmas Jam The Garage, Swansea. 8pm, £15/£12.50 adv. Info 01792 475147.

Miss May & The Magic + Chris Kelly The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Musichoir Scotland Gwyn Hall, Neath. 7.30pm, £10. Info 0300 3656677.

Not Since The Accident The Moon Club, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info [email protected]. Headlining the Punk Rock Bowling Christmas party.

Only Men Aloud St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30am, £26. Info 029 2087 8444.

Phil Campbell’s All Starr Band + Celtic Pride + The Mojo Sinners Theatr Soar, Merthyr Tydfil. 7.30pm, £12/£10. Info 01685 722176.

Scouting For Girls Great Hall, Cardiff University Students Union. 7pm, £22.50 adv. Info 029 2078 1458.

Sigiriya+ The Groundnuts & Independents Mozarts, Swansea. 7pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 01792 649984. Hobos Christmas party gig with heavy stoner and skatey punk action.

Soul Lotta Funk Porter’s, Cardiff. 9pm. Info [email protected].

Soul Sensation Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. With Nat Augustin doing various soul hits. There is tons of stuff here this month. Christmas, innit.

Stereophonics Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £39.50. Info 029 2022 4488. On tomorrow also but both sold out I believe. Heck, we even said so last month when ya boys were on the cover.

Thank You For The Music Workmen’s Hall, Caerphilly. 7.30pm, £12.50/£10 adv. Info 07512 237983. Abba tribute band.

The Andy Lewis Band Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Don Fox Scandal Band The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected].

The Eggmen Duo The Pontygwindy, Caerphilly. 9pm, free. Info 029 2088 4321.

The Last Of Us Hobo’s, Bridgend. 7pm. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com. Benefit show for the RNLI.

The Special Brew Ex Servicemens Club, Taffs Well, nr Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6. Info 029 2025 0731. Local Bad Manners/2-Tone tribute band.

Tim Cronin The Admiral Napier, Canton, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2030 3945.

Whitfest Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2023 9253. Six bands play presumably short sets to toast the 30th birthday of Adam Whitmore, who books gigs as Fizzi Events. We’re No Heroes, Homes, Hundred Seventy Split, The Echo & The Always, Dominic Griffin and John Mouse are the participants.

Will Wilde New Panteg Rugby Club, New Inn, Pontypool. 7.30pm, £10/£8 members. Info 01633 483238. A Borough Blues Club gig.

UB40 Experience The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Zion Road Gwdihw, Cardiff. 9pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Reggae covers band playing as part of the Fat City night.

SUNDAY 13

 

Bandicoot + The Scrotes + Apathy + Migs Buff The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 7pm, £3 adv. Info 07969 671379.

Baublewrap Collective’s Christmas Jamboree Dempseys, Cardiff. 4pm, £10/£7 adv. Info 029 2023 9253. Baublewrap are really called Bubblewwrap, it’s a sort of Christmassy pun. That aside, they’ll be serving up live sets from Little Arrow, Quiet Marauder, My Name Is Ian, The Gentle Good, Ivan Moult and Barefoot Dance Of The Sea.

BBC Wales: Carols For Christmas St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 3pm, £5. Info 029 2087 8444.

Chapter Four Jazz Quartet Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400. Jazz in the bar.

Christmas With The Stars City Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £26/£25. Info 029 2063 6464. Presented by the Wales Millennium Centre, in aid of Welsh Hearts and starring Paul Potts, with a younger supporting cast.

Diamond Head + Revival The Patriot, Crumlin. 7pm, £7 adv. Info 01495 247178. NWOBHM champs.

Folk Music & Song Session Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells. 4pm. Info 07477 627267. Also on Sun 20.

Halfpenny Folk Club Xmas Party The Greyhound Inn, Oldwalls, Gower, Swansea. 8.30pm. Info 01792 850803.

Heavy Quartet The Queens Head, Monmouth. 8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

Hot Club Swing Café Jazz, Cardiff. 6-9pm, £5/£3 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026. Featuring a jam session from 6-7.15pm and a set by Django Dragons from 7.45-9.

John Adams The Pontygwindy, Caerphilly. 2pm, free. Info 029 2088 4321.

Locus Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 3pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464.

Music For Inner Peace Concert Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 4.30pm, free. Info 029 2087 7959. A journey into the mystic beauty, power and vastness of Sri Chinmoy’s musical compositions, apparently.

Quen Kwong + Loom The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 07590 471888. Headliners are an indie band from LA who appear to feature Wes Borland from Limp Bizkit in their lineup. I don’t know if he’s in the touring band and frankly I don’t think you should be basing your decision to go, or not, on that factor.

Stereophonics Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £39.50. Info 029 2022 4488.

The Wonderful World Of Christmas Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2030 4400. Songs from the Affinity Female Voice Choir.

MONDAY 14

Ash + Asylums + The Amorettes Y Plas, Cardiff University Students Union. 7.30pm, £17 adv. Info 029 2078 1458. Downpatrick rockers (the only reason I know Downpatrick exists is because of Ash) visit Cardiff for the first time in a few years.

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Ceredigion School Orchestras Aberystwyth Arts Centre. Info 01970 623232.

Dominic Norcross Quartet Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360.

Gareth Malone St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £25-£99. Info 029 2087 8444. Televisual choirmaster. The £99 ticket gets you a meet, a greet and a good seat.

Jaws + Nai Harvest Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

The Collective Big Band Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Tom Auton + Emi McDade + Lydia Kate Howells Porter’s, Cardiff. 9-11pm. Info [email protected]. Presented by U&I Radio.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 15

Ashley John Long Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Astroid Boys + Mind Control + Manga + The Northaze Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. EOY show by Cardiff rock/grime/whatever crossover act Astroid Boys. That’s Manga the Roll Deep MC, in case you were wondering.

AYDMS Christmas Concert The Met, Abertillery. 7pm, £6. Info 01495

355800. Trad festive tunes, musical theatre songs etc. On tomorrow also.

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info [email protected].

John Paul Gard & Bella Collins Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 8pm, £7. Info 01874 611622. Brecon Jazz Club night.

Songbook Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Monthly night presented by Folk In The Owl’s Nest. Also on Tue 19 Jan.

The Preservation Rhythm Kings Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Will And The People The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi: Sioe Nadolig 2015 Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 10am, £5. Info 01239 621200. Music and song from infant school kids. On tomorrow also.

WEDNESDAY 16

AYDMS Christmas Concert The Met, Abertillery. 7pm, £6. Info 01495 355800.

Blues Brothers Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Tribute act hailing from Birmingham.

Christmas Bandaoke Special Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info [email protected]. Belt out some Christmas classics while trying not to be unnerved that David Coverdale from Whitesnake is less than 100 yards away from you.

Def Leppard + Whitesnake + Black Star Riders Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 6.45pm, £45. Info 029 2022 4488. Totally sold out, even if you’re willing to “go (again) on [your] own” (Here I Go Again is a popular hard rock song from the 1980s).

Dutch Uncles The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 07590 471888. See Music.

*Hark + Spider Kitten + Estuary Blacks Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Hark and EB are in Swansea tomorrow.

Into The Ark + Hana + Alex Stacey Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £6 adv. Info 029 2023 2199. Newport pop-rock duo headline.

Joe Northwood Trio Dempseys, Cardiff. 8pm, £7/£5. Info 029 2023 9253.

Liberty Big Band Christmas Show Whiteheads Sports & Social Club, Bassaleg, Newport. 8pm, £8. Info [email protected]. South Wales Big Band Society gig.

Mock Thee Knot & Dale Williams Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 8pm, £9. Info 01656 815995. MTK do classic rock hits in an Anglo-Celtic style, whatever that may mean.

#Notjustjazz Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Rapsquillion Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £8/£5 members. Info 01443 226892. A Llantrisant Folk Club Christmas party night – there’s another one on Wed 23.

Red Tongued Dogs Undertone, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2022 8883. Good grief, what an awful band name that is.

Simon Allen with The Dave Cottle Trio Jazzland, Swansea. 8.30-11pm,

£14. Info 07802 912789.

Ysgol Gynradd Aberteifi: Sioe Nadolig 2015 Theatr Mwldan, Cardigan. 10am, £5. Info 01239 621200.

THURSDAY 17

Afternoon In Paris The Dingle Hotel, Narberth. 8pm, £8/£7. Info 01834 869323. A Spanjazz night.

Café Manouche Grand Pavilion, Porthcawl. 8pm, £9. Info 01656 815995. Jazz Club night.

Caramel + Birdcage + Parcs + Sous Les Paves Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3 adv. Info 029 2039 7933. Presented by All My Friends. Some experts are predicting the headliners will change their name to Carolmel for the evening, while others reckon the politically correct war on Christmas will scupper this idea.

Carols At The Museum National Museum & Gallery, Cardiff. 3pm, free. Info 029 2039 7951.

Carols By Candlelight Norwegian Church Arts Centre, Cardiff Bay. 7pm, £8/£6. Info 029 2087 7959. With Cor Canna.

Christmas Celebrations St David’s Hall, Cardiff. 7pm, £15-£35. Info 029 2087 8444.

Elvis Legacy Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. With Mark Summers as Elvis.

Hark + Suns Of Thunder + Estuary Blacks The Garage, Swansea. 7.30pm, £8 adv. Info 01792 475147.

Idle Hands + Vicious Cycle + Pizzatramp + Failed State Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £6. Info [email protected].

Jimjam Open Mic Session The Claude Hotel, Albany Road, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 07557 505123. Every Thursday. This week’s guest band is RiffRaff.

Kristopher Roe + Gaz Brookfield Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12 adv. Info 01792 468892. Kris Roe, the singer from American pop-punk band The Ataris, does an Andrew Cole-style name switcheroo.

Lee Jones Trio Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £6/£5. Info 029 2038 7026.

Open Mic Night Lyceum Tavern, Newport. 8.30pm. Info 01633 858636.

Red Room Therapy + New Revival + Chroma Redhouse, Merthyr Tydfil. 7pm, £5. Info 01685 384111.

Talon Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £20. Info 01873 850805. Eagles tribute band. On tomorrow also.

The 4th Kind The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

The Bellagio Boys Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale. 8pm, £12/£10. Info 01495 355800. Swing and big band sounds.

The Shimmer Band Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £7 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

Welsh Chamber Orchestra Theatr Hafren, Newtown. 7.45pm, £14/£12. Info 01686 614555.

FRIDAY 18

Acapela Unsigned Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2089 0862.

Andy Lewis Duo The Cornwall, Grangetown, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2030 3947.

BBC NOW: Christmas Celebrations Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7.30pm, £12.50-£18. Info 01792 475715.

Beatles For Sale Paget Rooms, Penarth. 8.30pm, £13.50. Info 029 2070 0721.

Black Angus + Children Of The Gravy Hobo’s, Bridgend. 8pm, £5 adv. Info www.hobosmusicvenue.com. Tribute to AC/DC (good name) and Black Sabbath.

ChapterLive Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2030 4400.

Christmas Open Mic Special The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm, free. Info 01497 821762.

Cider & Carols The Gate, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2048 3344.

Climbing Trees + The Minerals + Matthew Frederick Globetrotters Bar, Pontypridd. 7pm, £7/£5 adv. Info 01443 407744. Headliners are on the last date of their Welsh tour here. Also features a DJ sets after the bands from Bennetton.

Fireroad + RkOS The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 8.30pm, £5. Info [email protected]. Headliners are playing an unplugged set.

George Whitfield Rhys Pritchard Hall, Llandovery. 7.30pm, £5. Info 01550 750232. Festive folk dancing and music session.

Green Haze Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £7 adv. Info 01792 468892. Green Day tribute band.

Helena May Harrison Trio Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info [email protected].

Houdini Dax + Steed + Homes Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

Mamma Mia Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Abba tribute. On tomorrow also.

Manalishi Café Jazz, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2038 7026. Blues.

Mike Dennis The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected].

Planet 70s Ebbw Vale Institute. 7pm, £11 adv. Info 01495 708022. Decade-appropriate tribute band.

Rocket Joe Joe & The Old Time Bangers + Thoby Davis The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Secret Affair + Future Sailors The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. Late-70s mod revival band headline. They play here quite often.

Simon Spillett With The Martin Fisher Trio The Open Hearth, Sebastopol, Pontypool. 8.30pm. Info 01495 763752. Monthly jazz night.

Talon Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £20. Info 01873 850805.

The Happenings Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Sick Livers + The Lash + Not Since The Accident Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £5 adv. Info 01633 221477. Local garage, punk and rock’n’roll bands light up Winterval. This sold out very quickly but you can see The Sick Livers in Cardiff tomorrow.

Triaxis + Endeavour + Insuna Fuel Bar, Cardiff. 7pm, £5 adv. Info [email protected].

Ushti Baba Small World Theatre, Cardigan. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 01239 615952. A Christmas party gig of gypsy jungle and turbo folkstep, wouldn’t ya just know it.

SATURDAY 19

A Band Apart + Two Piece Sweet The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Alex Hutchins & John Paul Gard The Queens Head, Monmouth. 8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

Aubrey Parsons Blanco’s Hotel, Port Talbot. 9pm, free. Info 01639 864500.

Ben Huws The Pick & Shovel, Pontypridd. 9pm, free. Info 01443 404632.

Brutality Will Prevail + Outrage CC + Interrogation Undertone, Cardiff. 6-10pm, £5. Info 029 2022 8883. Earlyish gig before a jungle night here, with a rare Cardiff show by downtuned valleys hardcore lads BWP plus mates.

Captain Accident & The Disasters + Junior Bill + Durkah Cathays Community Centre, Cardiff. 7pm. Info 029 2037 3144. Fundraising gig for this venue. Durkah were one of its flagship bands around the turn of the millennium, when it was all pop-punk and fields. They have come out of deep retirement for this show.

Christmas Ceilidh The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 7pm, £6/£5. Info 01497 821762.

Divine Chaos + Sodomized Cadaver + Helldown Crowleys Rock Bar, Swansea. 7pm, £5. Info 07981 684142. Metal. Headline band feature members of Vader.

Dodgy The Tabernacle, Talgarth. 7.30pm, £3 adv. Info [email protected]. A Creation Acoustic Sessions night.

Dunvant Male Choir St Mary’s Church, Swansea. 7pm, £10. Info 01792 468321. Annual Christmas concert.

Forever Vendetta + Zed Motel + Ink’d The Duke, Neath. 7pm, free. Info 01639 643892.

Handel’s Messiah Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7pm, £15 adv. Info 01792 475715. Featuring the Gower Chorale and the Festival Orchestra Of Wales.

Jools Holland & His Rhythm And Blues Orchestra Motorpoint Arena, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £41.50. Info 029 2022 4488. It’s kind of weird, if you think about it, how Jools ritually comes to Cardiff to play this venue on the last Saturday before Christmas, every year. Like how lots of people go for a drink in their old local with school friends. They don’t even think about why they’re doing it at this point.

Kamikaze Millionaires The Patriot, Crumlin. 9.30pm, free. Info 01495 247178.

Kookamunga Gwdihw, Cardiff. 9pm, £4. Info 029 2039 7933. Playing as part of the Mise En Bouche night.

Little Notes Christmas Concert The Gate, Cardiff. 11am, £7/£5. Info 029 2048 3344. Songs for kids of five and under.

Lucie Jones All Grown Up Christmas Special Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Actress of some sort, born in Cardiff, sings songs with the help of some people from the Louise Ryan Vocal School.

Mamma Mia Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391.

My Pet Shark The Full Moon, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info [email protected].

Queens Of The Clone Age The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 8pm, £6 adv. Info 07969 671379. Queens Of The Stone Age tribute. First one I’ve encountered, too.

Robyn Lyn & The Three Tenors Rhos Y Gilwen, Pembrokeshire. 7.30pm, £27.50. Info 01239 841387. Christmas concert. Not featuring those Three Tenors.

Rocket Joe Joe & The Old Time Bangers Porter’s, Cardiff. 8pm. Info [email protected].

Seann Miley Moore Mary’s, Cardiff. £5 after 8pm. Info [email protected]. X Factor contestant from this year.

The 4th Kind Kiwis, Cardiff. 10pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

The Big Christmas Fantasia Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 7.30pm. Info 0845 2263510. Hosted by the Hywel Girls’ Choir & Hywel Boy Singers. Sold out apparently.

The Oasis Experience The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 07590 471888.

The Oppressed The Roath Park, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £5. Info 029 2031 1049. Presented by Grassroots.

The Rezillos + The Sick Livers Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

The Stoned Roses The Garage, Swansea. 9pm, £7 adv. Info 01792 475147. Tribute band.

SUNDAY 20

Aubrey Parsons Atlantic Hotel, Porthcawl. 7pm, free. Info 01656 785011.

Aughisky The Queens Head, Monmouth. 8.45pm, free. Info 01600 712767.

Christmas By Candlelight Acapela, Pentyrch, Cardiff. 8pm, £15 adv. Info 029 2089 0862. Performed by the Chamber Orchestra of Wales introduced and conducted by Welsh television personality Alwyn Humphreys.

Christmas Crooners Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon. 7.30pm, £15/£14. Info 01874 611622.

Dodgy The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888.

Folk Music & Song Session Arvon Ale House, Llandrindod Wells. 4pm. Info 07477 627267.

House Of Hosts + Zed Motel + The Caspians The Lemon Factory, Swansea. 7pm, free. Info 07969 671379.

Locus Foyer, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff Bay. 3pm, free. Info 029 2063 6464

Naomi Rae Duo The Pontygwindy, Caerphilly. 2pm, free. Info 029 2088 4321.

Railroad Bill + Gaudy Orde + Junior Bill Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7pm, £5 adv. Info 029 2023 2199.

Salvation Army Christmas Concert Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 6pm, £5. Info 01792 475715.

Shân Cothi Holy Trinity Church, Aberaeron. 7pm, £10-£20. Info 01545 570433.

Sonia Hammond + The Castalia String Quartet + Tim Edwards The Tabernacle, Talgarth. 2.30pm. Info [email protected].

Stars In Their Eyes Le Pub, Newport. 8pm, £5. Info 01633 221477. Long running charity night of one-shot covers bands made up of local, non-covers bands.

Sundae Sessions Gwdihw, Cardiff. 4pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933. With sets by Anthony Lee Wickham, Nia Ann, Pik-C and more.

Tenors Of Rock Tramshed, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 0117 9259273.

The Happenings The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

The Village Quire: The Holly Bears The Crown The Globe At Hay, Hay-On-Wye. 8pm. Info 01497 821762. Folky storytelling.

Welcome To Christmas 2015 Borough Theatre, Abergavenny. 7.30pm, £8/£7. Info 01873 850805.

MONDAY 21

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Attic Folk Sessions 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £4/£3. Info 029 2022 8883.

Bad Manners The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £15 adv. Info 07590 471888. In Swansea tomorrow.

Blues & Jazz Club December Y Ffwrnes, Llanelli. 8pm, £8. Info 0845 2263510.

Jordan Marks The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

The Gents Noah’s Yard, Swansea. 8pm. Info 01792 447360. Christmas party jazz night.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

What’s New Pussycat? Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. Glen Leon is Tom Jones. After the five-course meal you can relax Tom style with ‘the four Cs’ – champagne, caviar, cognac and crisps.

TUESDAY 22

Bad Manners The Garage, Swansea. 7.30pm, £20 adv. Info 01792 475147. Q. Why does this gig cost £5 more than the Cardiff one the previous day? A. Because of the free market.

Geko Clwb Ifor Bach, Cardiff. 7.30pm. Info 029 2023 2199. Don’t know this guy at all but he seems to be a young rapper from Manchester, and this gig is sold out weeks in advance.

Gwd Jams Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £3/free for performers. Info 029 2039 7933. Monthly open jam session.

The Best Of Welsh Hamptons, Penarth. 7.30pm, £36. Info 029 2070 5391. An all-Welsh tribute set by Aubrey Parsons.

The Complete Stone Roses Sin City, Swansea. 7.30pm, £10 adv. Info 01792 468892. Tribute band.

The Wessex New Orleans Band Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm, £4.50/£4/£2 NUS. Info 029 2038 7026.

Tim Cronin The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

WEDNESDAY 23

Christmas By Candlelight Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. 7.30pm. Info 01792 475715. Featuring the Chamber Orchestra Of Wales, soprano Roz Evans and the Chamber Orchestra Of Wales Chorale.

Llantrisant Folk Club Christmas Party Night Pontyclun Institute Athletic Club. 7.30pm, £8/£5 members. Info 01443 226892.

#Notjustjazz Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Tarsiers Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £4. Info 029 2039 7933. Presented by Crosswire.

The Judas Cradle + Pizzatramp Crowleys Rock Bar, Swansea. 7pm. Info 07981 684142. With two more bands TBC.

THURSDAY 24

Aubrey Parsons Bar 44, Cowbridge. 2pm, free. Info 01446 776488.

Rock Factor Duo Kiwis, Cardiff. 6pm, free. Info 029 2039 8965.

SATURDAY 26

Chris Kelly The Hollybush, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2025 5042.

Philo Beddoe The Patriot, Crumlin. 7pm, free. Info 01495 247178.

Third Party The Full Moon, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info [email protected].

Who’s Next Ex Servicemens Club, Taffs Well, nr Cardiff. 7.20pm, £7 adv. Info 029 2025 0731. Who tribute band.

Z3 Top The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm, free. Info 01495 213300. ZZ Top tribute band.

SUNDAY 27

The Worried Men The Dolls House, Abertillery. 7pm, free. Info 01495 213300.

MONDAY 28

6 Songs 10 Feet Tall, Cardiff. 7pm, free. Info 029 2022 8883. Singer-songwriter showcase.

Atrium Live Music Night Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Gwd Mondays Open Mic Gwdihw, Cardiff. 7.30pm, free. Info 029 2039 7933. Also on Mon 25 Jan.

Ukulele Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8.30pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

TUESDAY 29

Community Samba Band – Practise Dates Westenders Hall, Llanfaes, Brecon. 6-8pm, £4/£2 under-16s. Info [email protected].

Pick N’ Mix Open Mic Gwdihw, Cardiff. 8pm, £3. Info 029 2039 7933. With Cwtch, Beth Jones and more.

Zervas & Pepper The Globe, Cardiff. 7.30pm, £13 adv. Info 07590 471888.

 

WEDNESDAY 30

Bryony Seir + Larah Jay + The Bakestones The New Crown Inn, Merthyr Tydfil. 8.30-10.30pm, £3. Info 01685 387925. Live broadcast from U&I Radio, who used to do monthly gigs here under the name Big Scott Radio.

Lonnie Donegan Jr The Riverfront, Newport. 7.30pm, £18/£16. Info 01633 656757. “Skiffle is also very much back in vogue with the younger generation, so a show to suit all ages.” Yeah, every time I get the bus these days it’s full of ruffneck youts rhythmically scraping metal washboards.

#Notjustjazz Café Jazz, Cardiff. 8pm. Info 029 2038 7026.

Open Jam Session The Andrew Buchan, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2021 2509.

Open Mic Market Street Club, Barry. 8pm. Info 01446 733863.

Open Mic Night NosDa, Cardiff. 8pm, free. Info 029 2037 8866. Free drink for performers. Last Wednesday of every month.

 

THURSDAY 31

A Night At The Oscars Hamptons, Penarth. 8pm, £85. Info 029 2070 5391. Samantha Link sings some songs in the middle of party games and some kind of tenuous sounding award ceremony.

Celtic Pride The Patriot, Crumlin. 7pm, £7 adv. Info 01495 247178.

Chapter New Year’s Eve 2015 Chapter Arts Centre, Cardiff. 7pm-2am, £25 adv. Info 029 2030 4400. The Vinyl Vendettas present live sets from Keith TOTP, The Blood Arm, Face + Heel and Jemma Roper, as well as a DJ set from themselves. Please take into account the free glass of Prosecco when pondering this event’s VFM factor.

Chris Kelly The Yard, Cardiff. Free. Info 029 2022 7577.

Chris Summerill Duo Old Cross Inn, Llanrumney, Cardiff. 9pm, free. Info 029 2065 0021.

It’s The End Of The Year And You Know It The Dragonffli, Pontypool. 6pm-12am, free. Info [email protected]. With live acts TBC, and a buffet. Book your place in advance please.

Salut The Depot, Cardiff. 8pm-2am, £15. Info 07989 970664. Soul cover band from London headline a night of street food and glitter.

*The John Lewis Trio Beaufort Theatre, Ebbw Vale. 7.30pm, £22.50 adv. Info 01495 355800. South Wales rockabilly revivalists with a special NYE set. This is almost certainly the best thing going on in Ebbw Vale tonight.

Ultimate Rock N Roll New Year’s Eve Extravaganza Memorial Hall, Newbridge. 7pm, £18. Info 01495 243252.