Santastic time to be had over Christmas with these picks for gigs around Oxford

Rocking around the Christmas tree

More hells bells than sleigh bells, The Darkness are one of the big name acts to play the city over Christmas. A notoriously rocking live unit, the Suffolk quartet mastered their craft lugging PA gear around the pub circuit for years, before signing to Atlantic Records. Number One LP Permission to Land followed, alongside, accolades including a BRIT Award for Best Band, and a 2004 Ivor Novello for Best Songwriters.

A decade on, their best tunes have weathered into party classics. Featuring front man in Justin Hawkins, the original line up will play songs from new album Last of our Kind, and new Christmas single, I Am Santa. But anthems such as I Believe In A Thing Called Love and Love Is Only A Feeling can be expected to raise the roof. The Darkness play the O2 Academy Oxford on Saturday, December 19 with support from These Raven Skies, The River 68’s, doors 6.30pm.

Tickets £25.00 from ticketweb.co.uk

Back to the future with chap-hop

“This is hip hop, not an Elvis night” raps Professor Elemental on his Youtube smash Fighting Trousers.

It’s one of a handful of tunes which have led the quintessentially English rapper down the garden path to chap-hop stardom. Expect rhymes about cream teas, garden parties and croquet. And if that isn’t up your alley then Captain KuppaT and his Zeppelin Crew open proceedings at 8.30pm.

The acapella trio will present an eclectic mix of covers such as the Eurythmics’ Sweet Dreams and Queen’s Fat Bottom Girls, with a mix of barber shop harmonies and beatbox “delivered direct from Santa’s sack”.

Families are welcome earlier in the day with a Steampunk art and comic gallery in the back room from, and Professor Elemental’s chap hop workshop from 4pm suitable for ages 7 to 77. Steampunk VIII: The Clockwork Grotto at the Gardeners Arms, Plantation Road in Jericho from 3pm on Saturday, December 19.

Evening tickets £10 from facebook.com/gardenersarmssteampunk.

It’s all about that bass!

Fluid’s fourth annual Christmas bash at the Cellar promises the very best in bass, UK garage and grime. DJ founder Masp, who has played alongside the likes of Disclosure, Chase and Status and Rudimental, promises to deck the venue up in tinsel and baubles.

Although in some ways, Christmas is just an excuse to hear phenomenal headliner Murlo, a much applauded figure on the UK grime scene, whose new EP Odyssey draws influence from film soundtracks and pounding Afro Caribbean rhythms. Astounding through club speakers, catch the DJ and Producer while you can, in the quality company of Masp himself, tearing up the decks alongside Deep Cover heavyweights Zyklon Sound, VLVT & Wissla. Fluid’s Christmas Part is at the Cellar from 11pm to 3am on Saturday, December 19.

Tickets £5 from wegottickets.com

A seasonal feast of folk

Named after a ruler of ancient of Babylon, Belshazzar’s Feast play the kind of folk music that makes you want to get up and dance – or at least raise your tankard and grin.

Formed by fiddle and oboe player Paul Sartin and accordionist Paul Hutchinson, their festive show at Nettlebed Folk Club is something of a tradition.

“It’s very light hearted,” laughs Paul, who is perhaps better known as a member of folk supergroup Bellowhead, who have been playing a farewell tour, culminating at Oxford Town Hall on May1 .

“We draw on traditional music, but not exactly. There are some serious numbers, but we make it as entertaining as possible.

“No one wants to be preached at with folk music; they want to have a fun night out.”

Belshazzar’s Feast play Nettlebed Village Club on Monday, December 21.

Call 01628 636 620 or go to nettlebedfolkclub.co.uk

• Belshazzar’s Feast

Have a skanking Christmas Eve

Now pounding into its second decade, Oxford’s Reggae Christmas continues to go off with a bang. If Yuletide music gets any better than the roots, rocksteady and reggae provided by DJs like Destination and Bunjy, carol singing may have to be outlawed altogether.

In fact, gathering for an atmospheric Christmas Eve of roots, rocksteady, reggae and dancehall should be a must for any punter who doesn’t have to worry about their offspring waking up to meet Santa at 3am. I applaud the decision to move venues to the Bullingdon, which boasts a snazzy new sound system. If other venues leave you feeling like you’re skanking in Primark, this is probably the premiere spot in East Oxford for a large crowd to witness the likes of Bristol seven-piece Laid Blak.

The group perform live after enjoying a stellar year, during which they’ve smudged their name in the mud everywhere from Glastonbury to Boomtown. Talking them into it, was none other than Cowley Road’s own Count Skylarkin’. Skylarkin’ has been been variously described as a Luddite, a party starter, a storyteller and a maniac. But behind the well-pressed suit and cheeky smile lies an exemplary promoter. His eagerness to go the extra mile to make his club night sparkle will keep audiences, and name acts such as Ska Cubano, coming back for more. He knows he has to be good, because Santa himself is likely to be squeezing into the Hi-Lo for an after-hours nightcap.

Skylarkin’ Reggae Christmas 2015 takes place on Christmas Eve at the Bullingdon Arms from 9pm until very late.

Advance tickets £8 from wegottickets.com or on the door.

• Count Skylarkin’ 

Fryer’s Christmas delight

Rock & roll history is packed with feuding siblings. But before Oasis, the Kings of Leon, and even the Jackson Five, came the terrible two. I refer of course Pete and Phil Fryer, mainstays of the Pete Friar Band. Formed in Oxford back in 1965, they’re still a ferociously good live act, at the peak of their collective talents. Although rarely seen jumping off speakers these days, Pete remains the best frontman in town. Widely considered a living legend, he retains an uncanny knack for playing the songs people want to hear, picking rock classics by the dozen from the pockets of his expanding leather trousers. Although beware of getting out your autograph book. He may think you’re trying to write him a cheque.

There is possibly no better way of spending Boxing Day evening than hearing this band in action, performing their traditional post Christmas gig at the Seacourt Bridge on Botley Road. Classic tunes, sparkling with Phil’s immense guitar solos, have the power to send you spiralling across the floor of Botley’s number one boozer. Fling off your festive jumper, and dance like a loon. The Peter Fryer band play at the Seacourt Bridge, Botley on Boxing Day from 8pm.

Entrance is free of charge.

Pop your cork for New Year’s Eve

“We’re neighbourhood pubs who put on nights to bring neighbourhoods together” landlord Leo Johnson told me recently about his plans for New Year’s Eve. The scrawny 27-year-old publican runs both the Rickety Press in Jericho and the Rusty Bike on Magdalen Road. His words about neighbourhood spirit ring true however. Both pubs bustle.

He explains: “We rarely make money out of the events. It’s all about community. This year, we have a ‘party like its 1965’ at the Rusty, hosted by the Dreaming Spires. At the Rickety we have a ‘party like it’s 1955’ sort of thing with fancy dress and a band. We want everyone involved. We’ll be going straight into the New Year with a party.”

Tickets from both pubs via thericketypress.com

Events start from 9pm. Get in quickly though.