Ho. Ho. Hoe. No, we haven’t suddenly developed a case of Dr. Dre Tourette’s, it’s Christmas time! So wrap up tight, throw on some extra woolly y-fronts and prepare for the inevitable million excuses to plough your way through various Christmas dinners – the work “do”, the big day itself – the fact that it’s 11.42 on a Wednesday and you’re just happening to pass a pub serving the full works for just £5.75… It’s a dangerous world. But we’re here to distract you from eating yourself into an early grave with a festive list of places we’d love to visit if we didn’t spend so much time eating cream cheese and watching Home Alone… Merry Christmas you filthy animals. And a Happy New Year!
MOVEMBER SHAVE OFF.
1st DECEMBER / CLOSED SHOP / FREE.
After a month of prickly tash growing in the name of awareness, the Sheffield University Aerosoc are celebrating in style, shaving those bad mos! Luckily, this also coincides with the Closed Shop’s Sunday Quiz – where we are informed there is booze-a-plenty to be won. LINK
MUNGO’S HI FI.
6th DECEMBER/ SECRET WAREHOUSE LOCATION / £10.
The Roots team have pulled in a massive name here – Mungo’s Hi Fi are always hugely entertaining. Support from Akid, Will Tee, Deadbeat, Dr Cryptic and Grimaz. LINK
ESMERINE.
7th DECEMBER / SHEFFIELD CATHEDRAL / £13.
Canadian classical collective interviewed in last month’s mag come to town for a special show at the Cathedral, supported by local acoustic trio Woolly Mammoth. Not to be missed. LINK
SHARROW FESTIVAL XMAS PARTY.
7th DECEMBER / YELLOW ARCH STUDIOS / £7.
Preparations for the enormously popular Sharrow Festival are already underway. Why not show your support by hitting up their final fundraiser of 2013? Baghdaddies, Truly Apparent, The Unscene, Mighty Vipers, Man Bites Fridge and Tim “You Heard” Walker are all on the line-up. LINK
STI.
7th DECEMBER / SECRET WAREHOUSE LOCATION / £10.
It’s been a while since the last STI and boy they haven’t disappointed with this line up. Objekt & Call Super have being acquired to lay down a special 5 hour long back to back extravaganza. LINK
LOOM.
8th DECEMBER / RIVERSIDE / FREE.
Following a spectacular show for at this year’s Tramlines Festival, Loom are welcomed back to The Riverside’s tiny, sweaty, cramped upstairs room. Looks like this could be a wild one – note: no rhinos allowed. LINK
GOOD MORNING RAVE.
11th DECEMBER / HYPE DANCE STUDIOS / £5.
Shake up and wake up aided and abeited by the naughty DJ Dishevel. He’ll be dragging himself out of bed to play a full brekkie of funky beats from hip hop, house, world and with a side order of warm drum and bass – if you’re hungry that is. Oh and it kicks off at 7AM! LINK
DJ SHEPDOG.
13th DECEMBER/ HARLEY / £3.
The man behind the popular NICE UP! label and club night, responsible for some of the biggest reggae mash-ups of the last few years. With a mission statement of “righteous party vibes”, Shepdog has earnt a reputation for rocking any dance. LINK
BANANA HILL.
14th DECEMBER / DLS BASEMENT / £6.
Like bananas? Like hills? Like tropical parties? Then this one certainly ticks all ya boxes. Alexander Nut (Rinse FM, Eglo Records) and Esa (Highlife, Sub Club) are leading the way with this bad boy. LINK
THE SUNDAY SWING THING.
15th DECEMBER / BUNGALOWS & BEARS / FREE.
Festive edition of the head nodding, toe tapping, finger clicking & hip twisting Swing, Jazz & R’n’B rhythms party! T-Funk goes from vintage to all the way up to electro. Also joined by Lindy Hop dancers – Ho Ho Ho! LINK
HOT SOLES.
20th DECEMBER / PLUG / £3.
Jet-setting, high-octane rock’n’roll duo Hot Soles are heading to Plug for a rowdy homecoming show. Support not yet confirmed, but to be fair these two put on such a performance that all support immediately becomes redundant. LINK
KID CONVENTIONAL & FRIENDS.
21st DECEMBER / SHEFFIELD CATHEDRAL / £5.
A unique Christmas triple headline concert featuring David J Roch, See Emily Play and Kid Conventional. Three top local musicians, one incredible venue and a more than reasonable ticket fee – sorted! LINK
NYE @ CADS.
31st DECEMBER/ CADS / £15-20.
Massive line-up of ravey NYE goodness, featuring Squire of Gothos, Autograff, Reuben G, Phatworld, Jackie Murda, Junglist Alliance, Kid Lib and more. Roll on 2014. LINK
That’s it for this year. You all better take care now. Also, improve your life vastly by hitting up the Now Then website here. Content researched and presented by Chris “Santa Jaws” Arnold & Jimmy “Father Wristmas” May.
