Now, we all love a good Christmas classic, but with one night to go before the big day, the combined efforts of Slade, Wizzard and even The Pogues can start to wear thin.

For a respite from the festive cheese, head to Cowley Road, where, for as long as we can remember, Christmas Eve has been celebrated with the unlikely sounds of reggae.

Starting back when Oxford legends Makating ruled the roost, these Reggae Christmas bashes have attracted a lively bunch of proper locals, music scene faces, returning Oxfordians and anyone who loves the thump of a good bassline.

These days that dapper chap Aidan Larkin – aka Count Skylarkin – is the master of ceremonies, his sharp suits, natty ‘titfer’ and bottomless bottle of rum heralding the start of the best night of Yuletide, now in a new venue: The Bullingdon.

This year he is joined by bass-heavy seven-piece Laid Blak, a DJ set by the band’s DJ Bunjy & MC Joe Peng, Daniel Norland and the Destination DJs, John Dash and Keith Ulett, and the Count himself.

Laid Blak are no strangers to Oxford, and are a particular favourite on this most wonderful night of the year.

Since being set up by Bunjy and Joe more than a decade ago, the Bristol crew have conquered dancefloors and festivals with their irresistibly smooth urban sound which crosses genres, appealing to lovers of dancehall, garage, drum and bass – or anything else with a killer tune and phat beat.

“We do play reggae but we don’t see ourselves as a reggae band,” says Bunjy. “That is the common thread that runs through our music though.”

As well as Bunjy (who is half-Jamaican) and Joe (who is half Afro-Caribbean and half-Traveller), the side also boasts vocalist Flex (remarkable for being probably the only black man in a band to wear a kilt), bass man ‘Lupo’ Lewi, drummer Stacy, Neil Solman on keys, Tim Waddington on lead guitar and, occasionally, guitarist James ‘Bar’ Barlow. Together, they have electrified venues way beyond their native West Country; tracks such as Red – a tune about the smoking of intoxicating herb (“it’s about where we come from, in the ghetto” he says), and Bristol Love – a musical tribute to the grittier side of their hometown, striking a chord with audiences and leading to rousing sing-alongs.

Don’t be surprised to find Santa himself skanking at the back after an excess of brandy and mince pies.

Skylarkin Soundsystem’s Reggae Christmas
The Bullingdon, Oxford Christmas Eve
Tickets £8 in advance from ticketweb.co.uk

Here we come a carolling… Another opportunity to attend this traditional service of carols and readings in one of Oxford’s most glorious settings. Admission is free, but booking is essential. This is a popular event, so it is advisable to turn up in good time to ensure a decent seat.

Nine lessons and Carols
Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford
Today, 3pm
Tickets: 01865 305305 or ticketsoxford.com

Fancy rocking around the Christmas tree?

If you are one of those people (and aren’t we all) who are afflicted by cabin fever come Boxing Day, help is at hand in the shape of one of Oxford’s best live acts – the Pete Fryer Band.

The lads, featuring Pete and his brother Phil, have been helping us shed Yuletide calories for years, with their December 26 show at the Seacourt Bridge established as a festive tradition.

“It’s a very homely, community thing,” says Phil. “It’s as much a party for the band as well as everyone else.”

Like all the best fraternal band pairings – Liam and Noel Gallagher, Ray and Dave Davies, the Beach Boys’ Wilson bros – the Fryers have been no strangers to a bit of strife, but the now the only axes being brandished are the six-stringed variety.

Oxford Mail:

“We had all our fireworks 40 years ago,” says Phil. “Now it’s all about the rock & roll and having really good fun. As for why we are still doing this, well, it’s like what Keith Richards said recently, when someone asked him why The Rolling Stones were still together; it’s because the band are still getting better.

“The only things to get murdered now are the songs we play.”

Expect a mix of rock and punk classics given the Fryer treatment.

“We are a punk band masquerading as a covers band,” he says. “So there will be plenty of Clash, Sex Pistols, Hendrix, Stevie Winwood, soul and blues covers – but whatever we play sounds like us. We are nothing like a tribute band. And everyone is guaranteed to have a good time.”

Pete Fryer Band
Seacourt Bridge, Botley Road, Oxford
Boxing Day, 8pm
Entrance is free

Just as Christmas Eve is all about the reggae, New Year’s Eve in East Oxford is inextricably linked with Americana and vintage rock & roll.

This is down to the efforts of brothers Robin and Joe Bennett and their band The Dreaming Spires, who bring a party flavour to the cosy (for which read ‘rammed’) surrounds of the Rusty Bicycle. This year the band will be donning sharp suits and toasting the British Invasion with a night themed on 1965 – 50 years ago.

“It’s a fun night of music and dancing – some of it on the tables!” says Robin, who used to live around the corner from the pub, but is now at home in Dorchester.

“It’s not a serious gig, it’s a laugh and there’s always a really good vibe. It’ll be a night of covers from 1965 with a few of our own songs thrown in. So expect great songs from The Beatles, The Kinks, the Small Faces and the rest. Also some cool soul tunes. And if we run out of songs, we might get a bit random and just throw in a few of our favourites from the rest of the 60s.”

He adds: “We even take requests. It doesn’t matter if we can’t play it, we’ll give it a try anyway!”

Oxford Mail:

The Dreaming Spires
Rusty Bicycle, Oxford New Year’s Eve
Entrance is free

How about waltzing into the New Year?

New Year’s Eve is all about over-priced clubs, pushy crowds and gratuitous drunkenness, right? Well it can be, but it certainly doesn’t have to be.

For a serene, yet fun, end to 2015 head to pretty Dorchester Abbey which once again hosts a New Year’s Eve Gala presided over by the Orchestra of St John and guest soprano Sophie Pullen.

The concert is a repeat of one to be performed earlier that day at St John’s Smith Square, London, and will see Sophie, one of our finest operatic singers, serving up arias from Strauss and Léhar operettas – including the famous Laughing Song from Die Fledermaus and Vilja’s Lied from The Merry Widow.

The second offers a salutary tale for New Year revellers. Sophie explains: “The character Hanna Glawari is telling the story of Vilja, a wood nymph who seduces and destroys the minds of the men she draws into her lair. So it’s a warming to all those men out there to stay away from beautiful-looking ladies who are up to no good!”

There is more flirtatiousness from the seductive Meine lippen sie küssen so heiss, sung by the title character in Léhar’s Giuditta.

“She’s a gypsy queen dancer, and is one of those dangerous women you should stay away from, but it’s unlikely you’ll to be able to,” says Sophie. “She’s very seductive and cunning; a very visceral sort of lover.”

The concert ends with a selection of popular Strauss waltzes and polkas “They’re really rousing, finale-type numbers,” says Sophie.

OSJ: Strauss Gala
Dorchester Abbey
New Year’s Eve, 7pm
Tickets from 07775 904626 or orchestra@osj.org.uk

It’s all about that bass, ‘bout that bass...drum & bass Those masters of lowdown and dirty beats and rhymes Shy FX and Stamina MC arrive, decks and mic in hand, to keep you dancing right through to 2016. They are joined by an impressive bill featuring D Double E, SYV, the aforementioned Count Skylarkin, and Lazcru. There is more action upstairs courtesy of Donaeo, Maxwell D, Versatile, JAG 1 Sound, Platinum, and DJ Shy & DJ Ko. A third room sees Tony Nanton spinning tunes with Spex and Kinchy.

If dance is your thing, there’s no place better to see in the New Year.

Shy FX
O2 Academy Oxford
New Year’s Eve
Tickets £15+fee from ticketweb.co.uk

Having strutted their stuff on Boxing Day, brothers Pete and Phil are back in action on New Year’s Eve with a night of scorching rock at The Wheatsheaf.

The night sees sets from The Mighty Redox, Pete Fryer Band, Cherokee, and Des Barkus with Friends. Party tunes come from BB Dreadzone Disco.

Together, they’ll be serving up fun grooves and funked-up punk, rock and reggae until the party poppers go flying. And then a bit more.

“It’ll be party music you can dance to,” says Phil. “And we are all looking forward to it. See you there!”

The Mighty Redox
The Wheatsheaf
New Year’s Eve, from 8pm
Tickets on the door