The air will soon waft with the melodies of Christmas carols, but what about all the other festive music shows? From jazz to cabaret to soul, we've rounded up the best Christmas gigs in London this season. However you like your Crimbo choons, there's something for you here.
Old Dirty Brasstards, various venues/dates: Like a Salvation Army Band who've added something seriously funky to their mulled wine, Old Dirty Brasstards bring the party to various venues across London this Christmas, with their room-shaking/swaying takes on standards like Stay Another Day and All I Want for Christmas. Info and tickets for their Omeara shows in Borough here, and for their Between the Bridges show here
That'll Be The Day! Christmas Show 2023, Churchill Theatre Bromley (19 November) and Croydon Fairfield Halls (30 November): If, like Granny, you think the old songs are the best, this nostalgic medley show will be top of your wish list this Christmas. A 'rollercoaster sleigh ride through the golden age of rock and pop' is promised... plus it looks like they might have Wombles. Info and tickets
Scala Radio presents Classics at Christmas, Palladium (25 November): Emeli Sandé, Rick Astley, Simply Red, Texas... the Palladium is bringing out the big guns for this yuletide singalong — and there are more acts tbc. Info and tickets
Lady Lloyd's Camp Christmas Cracker!, Between the Bridges (25 November, 2, 9, 16 December): The Soho drag icon's four-hour extravaganza at Between the Bridges — a riverside playground for adults — drips with DJing, dancing, and death dropping — a sleigh-load of festive songs, natch. Info and tickets
Gary Williams: A Swingin' Christmas!, Crazy Coqs (6 December): The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The Twelve Days of Christmas, Let It Snow... if you like your Christmas croony (and with superb cocktails served up from the bar), this party in Brasserie Zedel's classy cabaret room has got your name on it. Info and tickets
Massaoke - Christmas Live, Electric Ballroom (8 December): Camden will shake with the sound of hundreds of revellers singing along to Slade and Mariah — ably assisted by a full live band. Even if karaoke isn't usually your thing, 'tis the season to sing at the top of your lungs. Info and tickets
100 Club Christmas Party, 100 Club (8 December): The legendary Oxford Street gig venue goes festive, with tunes from Fat Dog, O., Miss Tiny and Borough Council — plus a very special late night guest. Info and tickets
Jamie Cullum: The Pianoman At Christmas, Royal Albert Hall (8 December): Recasting himself as a bit of a Buble, everyone's favourite piano top slapper Jamie Cullum plays hits from his snow-dusted 2020 album, which features Hang Your Lights, the Jolly Fat Man, and Christmas Never Gets Old. Info and tickets
In Comes I: a Winter Celebration, MOTH Club (11 December): Here's something a little different from your usual jig along to Wham! — Hackney's marvellous MOTH Club presents Owen Spafford's festive folk opera In Comes I: a Winter Celebration, the composer backed by Alice Zawadzki and Sam Lee. Info and tickets
Kim Wilde - Wilde Winter Acoustic, Union Chapel (12 December): Well known for its annual blockbuster carol concert, the atmospheric Union Chapel also provides a chance to catch another kind of festive music, thanks to a stripped back set from Kim Wilde (of Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree with Mel Smith fame). Info and tickets
Miss Hope Springs: Christmas Agogo!, Brasserie Zedel (14 December): 'Recovering showgirl' Hope Springs rattles off some, er, lesser known seasonal songs (Santa is a Woman, Paper Snow, er, Bagels) in this reprise of her 1971 Granada TV special... TL;DR: if you're after a riotous Christmas chuckle, you've just found it. Info and tickets
The Rat Pack at Christmas, Cadogan Hall (16 December): We've had the pleasure of watching these guys a few times before now, and their set — sprinkled liberally with A-1 Christmassy crooning — is the closest you'll get to seeing Frank, Deano and Sammy these days. There's a matinee and evening show. Info and tickets
Mari Wilson: A Very Mari Christmas Party, Bush Hall (17 December): 'Sackfuls of merry harmonies and soul-stirring tidings of joy' are on the cards from Mari Wilson and her eight-piece band The New Wilsations, at this Christmas cracker of a show in this stunning Shepherd's Bush venue. Support is from Mike Flowers... yes THAT Mike Flowers. Info and tickets
Myra DuBois: We Wish You A Myra Christmas, Clapham Grand (18 December): OK, so technically there will be carols at this show, but trust us, you've never heard them sung the way Myra Dubois belts them out... the self-declared siren from South Yorkshire has been doing this show seven years now, so she knows what she's doing... doesn't she? Info and tickets
Trevor Nelson's Soul Christmas, Royal Albert Hall (18 December): Like your festive hits smooth and soulful? This annual Albert Hall blowout stars Lemar, Kimberly Davis and the Kingdom Choir this year; here's hoping for Santa Claus Go Straight to the Ghetto and What Christmas Means to Me. Info and tickets
Tim Edey's Celtic Christmas, Kings Place (20 December): Renowned guitarist and melodeon player Tim Edey lets loose on the strings, with a set of soul stirring Christmas folk songs. Info and tickets
Deptford Dub Club: Reggae Christmas, Fox & Firkin (24 December): Things will most certainly not be as quiet as a mouse in Deptford this Christmas Eve, because Deptford Dub Club are in the house, stirring up a festively-flavoured mix of tracks. Info and tickets
Liane Carroll's Cold Turkey!, Ronnie Scott's (26 December): While tickets for Ronnie Scott's All-Stars Christmas Lunch have already been snapped up, you can still nurse your Boxing Day hangover with Liane Carroll's show, which features jazzed up Christmas Fayre, and apparently some Tom Waits-esque black humour to boot. Info and tickets
