Alabama 3 play The Forum [Brixton Blackham Images]

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IF you have time to take a break from shopping, working and everything else and have a moment to take in some music to nourish the soul, let off some steam or air out those lungs, we have the ultimate selection for you – from thrash metal to mass karaoke to soothing soul and everything in between. Support the live music industry, feed the endorphins and have a proper night out!

• Get nostalgic as Queens of Lovers Rock Janet Kay and Carroll Thompson bring their  Annual Christmas Shows to The Forge (Dec 13-14).

• Now that his big Libertines tour shows are done, Peter Doherty is playing a special show – with friends – at Islington Assembly Hall on Dec 13 in aid of Hope Not Hate. In keeping with the spirit of the night, gig-goers are encouraged, if able, to donate a non-perishable item for a local food bank to be collected on the night.

• Also in keeping with the charitable season, East 17’s Tony Mortimer and music therapy charity Nordoff Robbins have teamed up to produce a charity Christmas card and limited-edition mini-figurine bauble (featuring a Lego version of the band in the white outfits from their 1994 Christmas hit Stay Another Day). There will also be two special limited edition 7” vinyl releases on Dec 13 to mark the single’s 30th anniversary – and to raise funds for the charity.

• One to look forward to in the new year, Live Odyssey, a unique music experience is due to open in Camden Stables Market next year. Taking visitors on an immersive two-and-a-half hour journey through British music’s rich history combining holograms with live performances, curated set lists, exclusive memorabilia, previously unseen live footage, and photography, each room will be dedicated to a specific era. A portion of ticket sales will also go to support Music Venue Trust’s mission to support grassroots music venues.

• Seasoned irreverent thrash metallers Lawnmower Deth terrorise The Underworld on Dec 14 with help from Raised By Owls and Evil Scarecrow (DJ).

• Marking the 25th anniversary of Woke Up This Morning becoming the iconic soundtrack to The Sopranos, Alabama 3 will be celebrating their first two albums Exile On Coldharbour Lane (the tour for which was interrupted by the Covid pandemic) and La Peste, which both feature the track, at The Forum on Dec 14 where the band will also be playing a selection of their greatest hits.

• Head to Koko on Dec 15 for an old school Christmas soul night with a star-studded line-up of seasoned singers in support of Macmillan, Teenage Cancer Trust and Cancer Research UK. Headlined by Omar, the night also features R&B star Shola Ama, powerhouse vocalist Louise Marshall, soul maestro Kevin Leo, and Adeniké, star of the Whitney tribute Queen of the Night, all backed by the 80-strong London Soul Choir and a 12-piece band plus DJ Fitzroy.

• Get ready to sing your lungs out to the festive classics at Massaoke’s Christmas live at Electric Ballroom on Dec 20 – you know what to do.

• Old Dirty Brasstards take up three nights with their Big Brass Xmas Bash at Lafayette on  Dec 13-14 + 21.

• There will be music in Camden Market with North Yard Nights ft Tom James, Matt Ryan + Ozma (Dec 13 + 15) and Carols around the Christmas tree (Dec 15, 21, 22).

• Aussie punks The Chats are braving the British weather for a three-night stint at Electric Ballroom (Dec 13-15) bringing The Prize and Rifle for support.

• Seven-piece all-singing, all-cello-playing band Massive Violins play their festive favourites, pop classics and maybe a Christmas carol or two at their Christmas Concert at Cecil Sharp House on Dec 17.

• More upcoming gigs:

Dec 13: Skinny Lister + Ben Brown, Scala; The Magic Numbers, Union Chapel; My Life Story + Eskimo Disco, Dingwalls;

Dec 13-15: Fat Freddy’s Drop + Louis Baker, Roundhouse;

Dec 14: Broomdasher, Green Note; Club de Fromage Christmas Party, Islington Academy; Constant Follower, Kings Place; Shan and The Shine + Rusty Halo + Kim Quasi + Gözde, The Fiddlers Elbow;

Dec 15: The Men Who Knew Too Much, The Camden Club; Cats In Space, Islington Assembly Hall; Rock N Roll Rescue 10th Anniversary gig + Dread Messiah + Healthy Junkies + Flesh Tetris + Polly pickpockez + Oliver Shaw Experience + Knox + more, The Dublin Castle; Water Chorus, The Water Rats;

Dec 16: The All Night Chemist, Green Note; Black Eyed Sons, The Lexington; Haymanot Tesfa, The Basement Bar, Green Note; Dec 17 – Rick Astley’s Swinging Christmas, Royal Albert Hall: Mica Paris, Jazz Cafe;

Dec 18: The Wurzels Christmas Show, The Garage; Aurie Styla, The Forum; Willie J Healey, 100 Club; The Wonder Stuff, Islington Academy;

Dec 18-19: The Damned + The Fleshtones + Doctor & The Medics, Roundhouse;

Dec 19: Tom Meighan + Annabel Allum, The Forum;

Dec 19: Awake Arise, Cecil Sharp House; The Molotovs, Dingwalls; The Twang, Electric Ballroom; Weston Loney + Neckbreakers, Camden Assembly; Punkvert Yuletide Party + Miss Roberts & The Rude Mechanicals + anarchistwood + The Crippens, The Dublin Castle; James Taylor Quartet + Speedometer + DJ Snowboy, 229;

Dec 19-20: Elephant Tree + Troy The Band (Dec 19) + Steak (Dec 20), The Black Heart;

Dec 20: The Rifles Christmas Show, Lafayette; Dub Pistols, Jazz Cafe; Gengahr + The Family Battenberg, 100 Club;

Dec 20-21: The Amy Winehouse Band, Koko – Amy Winehouse’s original band live in concert, led by her long term Musical Director, bass player & close friend Dale Davis. Come together to celebrate her music, life and legacy;

Dec 21: Marquee Nites, The Camden Club; Bad Manners + Max Splodge, Electric Ballroom; Mike Lindup (Level 42), Union Chapel;

Dec 23: Aswad, Jazz Cafe.