The Charlatans play The Roundhouse [Cat Stevens]

CAROLS by Candlelight, Christmas Classics, Festive Wassailing, Daytime Parties, an Afro-Futuristic Winter Wonderland brought to life; Christmas Concerts from Pixie Lott, Rob Bryden, Rebecca Ferguson and the West Country’s finest The Wurzels, the seasonal programme is packed. If you’re feeling festive, there’s a selection below, as well as our picks of the rest – it’s still possible to go out and avoid the festive cheer if you try hard enough…

• Union Chapel can always be trusted to make the most of its enchanting setting with a full Christmas programme, opening with Rebecca Ferguson accompanied by piano with support from Tom Speight (on Dec 2) featuring Christmas classics and highlights from her five solo albums; Celebrated organist Thomas Trotter plays the Chapel’s first Christmas organ recital in four years following the organ’s repair (Dec 3); Eliza Carthy and Jon Boden’s Wassail inspired by historic English festive traditions – seasonal songs and storytelling performed among illuminated trees (Dec 12);  The BIG Christmas London Sing – a 150-strong choir will lead an evening of popular Christmas songs and gospel-influenced arrangements, with audiences encouraged to join in (Dec 13); Cara Dillon: Upon A Winter’s Night – performing traditional carols and contemporary seasonal songs (Dec 16); Pixie Lott presents her first dedicated Christmas concert (Dec 17); Actor and musician Ben Barnes performs original material alongside Christmas songs (Dec 20); Carols By Candlelight service featuring traditional and contemporary carols, songs, choral music, spoken word, and prayer – music complemented by Union Chapel Voices, Union Chapel Community Singers (Dec 21).

• Actor and comedian Rob Brydon brings his Festive Night Of Songs & Laughter Tour accompanied by an eight-piece band with promises of songs, stories and an impression or two to the Lyceum Theatre on Dec 1.

• Vicky McClure and friends’ over-30s day party Day Fever has been renamed Sleigh Fever for Dec 6 so get ready for some Christmas clubbing to festive classics and be tucked up in bed before night falls. Also on Dec 6, Club De Fromage’s Christmas Party takes place at Islington Academy.

• For those who prefer a more folk twist, head to Cecil Sharp House on Dec 7 for its Festive Gathering, an  annual yuletide celebration filled with song, dance, music, and good cheer where this year the House Choir is joined by guest choir Sounds like Home, and The Wilderness Yet band plus folk dance performances from Baila Peru, seasonal storytelling from Matthew Crampton, and a chance to join in with singing.

• Over at Kings Place, Mwenso and The Shakes, led by Michael Mwenso and featuring an exceptional line-up of musicians from New York and London, promise to bring to life an Afro-Futuristic Winter Wonderland and the second year of Michael’s soulful funky Christmas. See Kings Place’s website for its full festive programme (Dec 7-21).

• Join Sophie Lejava, Oliver Poole and friends Christmas Magic – Songs at The Camden Club for a night of songs around the piano on Dec 10.

• And a brief selection of the best of the not so festive but joyous in their own way rest… Queen of Ska Pauline Black and original drummer Charley “Aitch” Bembridge bring The Selecter to Koko on Nov 28 in celebration of debut Too Much Pressure’s 45th Anniversary. Support from The Hempolics.

• Actor and musician Max Beesley plays Ronnie Scott’s on Nov 28-29. The multi-instrumentalist, who has worked with Stevie Wonder, Chaka Khan, James Brown and George Benson among others, performs two nights with his live band at the revered Soho venue playing tracks from acclaimed jazz / funk / soul album Zeus.

• The Charlatans stop off at The Roundhouse on Dec 10, following the release of their 14th studio album We Are Love after enjoying an eight year gap between albums.

• Following his sold-out 2023 Koko debut, Hak Baker returns to headline Koko Amplify on Nov 30, to champion rising artists,with a full day of exciting acts including Iyamah, Lovelle, Jay Lewyn, Ashaine White, SRF, Obi Franky, Rosa Cecilia, Kianja and Sarah Isabella. Note this one starts early – doors 5.30pm!

• Roundhouse Studios continues its excellent programme for 18- to 25-year-olds interested in the music – this time, it’s a chance to participate in a 15-session workshop on Curating an exhibition: Music and Youth Culture (Dec 3-17) where participants will cover zine-making, music photography and other skills, culminating in a public exhibition in 2026.

• Seize the chance to see Bill Ryder Jones in a rare guitar and cello duo at Cecil Sharp House on Dec 4.

• Olly Murs, more used to playing huge venues to high-pitched fans, is playing an underplay at The Forum on Dec 8 following the recent release of album Knees Up.

More upcoming gigs

Nov 28 – Goodnight Louisa + Hamish Hawk, Islington Assembly Hall; Seb Lowe, Heaven; Brògeal, The Garage; Carlos Alomar and George Murray, Barbican; Jared James Nichols, Blues Guitar Masterclass, Gibson Garage London; Armand Van Helden, Koko; Hamish Hawk, Islington Asembly Hall;

Nov 29 – Spiritual Cramp, Alexandra Palace; Jayda G, Outernet; Declan O’Rourke, Union Chapel; The Horrors + Bande á Part, The Forum; Joy Orbison, Roundhouse; Rogér Fakhr + Charif Megarbane, Islington Assembly Hall;

Nov 30 – Juliet’s Not Dead, The Grace; RUTS DC, The Garage; Chris Cleverley Band + Awake Mother, Water Rats; Third Wave Folk Festival Esme White + Dead Pages + Ann Liu Cannon, The Camden Assembly;

Nov 30-Dec 1 – Buzzcocks + Desperate Measures, 100 Club;

Dec 1 – Judy Collins, Union Chapel; Onyx + CLBRKS + D.Vyzor, Jazz Cafe; Porridge Radio, Koko;

Dec 3 – GoGo Penguin, Barbican; Sudan Archives + Coucou Chloe + Cleo, Roundhouse; Fuzz Lightyear, The Lexington; Balthvs + Sons of Sevilla, Scala; Carolyn Robson and Moira Craig, Cecil Sharp House;

Dec 3-4 – Casisdead, 100 Club; Kingfishr, The Forum;

Dec 4 – Still Blank, The Social; Sunflower Bean + Ain’t, The Dome; Georgio, Jazz Cafe;

Dec 5 –  ist ist, 229; Katatonia + Evergrey + Klogr, Electric Ballroom; Cautious Clay, Jazz Cafe; Rain of Animals, Green Note; Erin Lecount, Koko; The Twang + The Bracknall + Pack of Animals, Islington Academy; Neil Cowley Trio, Kings Place; Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Ella Hunt, Chris Brain, Victoria Canal with Lockeland Strings, Union Chapel; My Life Story, Dingwalls; DRS + Dogger + Evabee + Verbz & Zar, Jazz Cafe; Die Twice, The Camden Assembly; The Rifles Christmas Show, 100 Club;

Dec 6 – Marco Mengoni, The Forum; The Slow Readers Club, Islington Assembly Hall; Electric Six, The Forum; Jared James Nichols, Underworld; The Slow Readers’ Club, Islington Assembly Hall;

Dec 7 – Caribou, HERE at Outernet; The Commoners + Candar; Tiago Bettencourt, Jazz Cafe;

Dec 8 – Dr Robert and Matt Deighton, 229; Primal Scream, Roundhouse; The Raveonettes, Islington Academy; Rubik and the Cuboids + Lonesome Boy + Carina Stainforth + Blake Rascals, The Fiddler’s Elbow; Gino J, Islington Assembly Hall; Jacob Alon, Koko; Heartworms + Jaques + Funhaus, Scala;

Dec 9 – Mew, Roundhouse; Last Hounds + Tarmac, The Black Heart; Janice Burns + Jon Doran: Festive Show, Cecil Sharp House; Max McKnown, The Forum;

Dec 10 – Rachel Croft, Green Note; The Charlatans, Roundhouse; Raw Milk Conspiracy + Karibou + DJ Joei Supernova, The Dublin Castle;

Dec 11 – John Kirkpatrick, Cecil Sharp House; The Wildhearts; Smokie – The Legacy Tour 2025, The Forum.