Tim Hughes takes his pick of the best gigs and shows at which to see in 2016

NEW Year’s Eve. It is either the most exciting night or the dampest squib of the year – according to your taste and tolerance of crowds and forced bonhomie.

But even if the inflated prices, random drunks and sharp-elbowed scrums at the bar leave you hankering for a night in front of the box watching Jools Holland getting overexcited about another singer you’ve never heard of, there is still fun to be had on the last night of the year.

So avoid the crowds of George Street, and check out our pick of the best places to see out 2015 in style.

And whatever you do - make sure it's a good one.

ACES OF BASS

Shy FX and more

2016 gets off to a banging start at the O2 Academy tonight, with the party poppers and streamers being launched to a soundtrack of thumping dance.

Headlining are drum & bass stars Shy FX and Stamina MC. They are joined by D Double E, SYV, Lazcru, and Oxford’s dapper party-starter and all-round gentleman of the decks, Count Skylarkin’. There is more action with Donaeo, Maxwell D, Versatile, JAG 1 Sound, Platinum, DJ Shy & DJ Ko, Tony Nanton, Spex and Kinchy.

TURN THE CLOCK BACK

The Dreaming Spires

Jump in the time machine and travel back 50 years to a time when suits were sharp, and the ladies’ boots were knee-high.

For their annual New Year’ Eve stand at the Rusty Bicycle, country-rock band The Dreaming Spires, pictured, go back to 1965, for a night of retro fun.

Expect tunes by The Beatles, Stones, Kinks and some sweet US soul. And when they run out of other people’s songs, they may even throw in a few of their own, if you’re lucky.

“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!”

  • Rusty Bicycle, Oxford
  • Entrance free

Gangster swing

The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band

Jericho is transformed into a 1920s Chicago speakeasy tonight, as it sees off 2015, Prohibition-style. Providing a suitably sleazy soundtrack to the moonshine-swilling are Oxford's sharpest group of lads - The Original Rabbit Foot Spasm Band. Expect raucous jump-blues and dancefloor fireworks.

"This will be our last gig before we go back into the studio," says dynamic frontman Stuart Macbeth. "So expect carnage!"

Oxford Mail:

Chief Rabbit Foot: Frontman Stuart Macbeth

Fryer's Delight

The Mighty Redox and Pete Fryer Band

Can there really be a better way of seeing in the new year, than dancing around to space-rock, blues, funk, ska and rock & roll, as served up by Oxford party veterans The Mighty Redox? Probably not.

Oxford Mail:

Good times: The Pete Fryer Band

Having recovered from the excesses of their Boxing Day gig, brothers Pete and Phil Fryer reconvene for more of the same fun tonight – playing sets with The Mighty Redox as well as their own Pete Fryer Band. Music also comes from Cherokee and Des Barkus and friends.

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

Start the new year with a grin.

  • The Wheatsheaf, Oxford
  • Tickets on the door

ABBEY NEW YEAR

Strauss Gala

​It would be hard to think of a more serene start to the new year than by settling into a pew at Dorchester Abbey for a night of music inspired by the Viennese golden age.

Oxford Mail:

Rousing songs: soprano Sophie Pullen

It’s not all contemplation though, with a gala bill bursting with Strauss waltzes and polkas, as well as songs by Strauss and Lehar with acclaimed soprano Sophie Pullen.

Sophie is 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!”

Oxford Mail:

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 very rousing!” says Sophie.