Age Against the Machine will be at Dingwalls on New Year’s Eve

JANUARY gigs are a little thin on the ground – everyone needs a break at some time – but, if you seek, you shall find. But before the year ends, there’s an intriguing mixed reality concert at the Roundhouse, some Mississippi swing dancing, Gilles Peterson’s vast collection and an LGBTQ+ emo night to bring the year to a close plus a whole lot of New Year’s Eve parties, some live music, plenty of DJs and confetti for all. Then ease into 2024 with some smooth songs from the one and only Luther Vandross and our gig diary is back on track!

• Experience a groundbreaking mixed reality concert event created by late composer/musician Ryuichi Sakamoto in collaboration by Tin Drum. The novel KAGAMI concert fuses moving photography with the real world to bring to life the virtual Sakamoto performing on piano alongside dimensional art in surround sound – aided by wearable tech – suitable for audiences aged 14+ (Roundhouse, Dec 29-Jan 21).

• Prepare for NYE with a Mississippi Swing dance night accompanied by New Orleans-tinged r’n’b and swinging tunes plus DJ Baroness Jo Jo bringing the beats, at 100 Club on Dec 29.

• Broadcaster, DJ, producer and label head Gilles Peterson presents All Night Long at Jazz Cafe playing eclectic sounds from his extensive collection (Dec 30).

• Feeling sentimental for some old school beats? Room 187’s end-of-year old school r’n’b game show and karaoke special takes place at Islington Assembly Hall on Dec 30, followed by an after party at Lafayette taking you into the early hours of NYE.

• Emos Assemble! At the Scala, Face Down presents a pre-NYE night of pop punk, metal and emo – girls, gays and theys club takeover ft Delilah Bon + On Wednesdays We Wear Black + DJ Feral Witch with an after-party hosted by Luna Tune from 4am to 6am with drag karaoke, balloons, confetti and more.

New Year’s Eve

• Be one of the lucky 100 to join an intimate celebration of disco at Spiritland King’s Cross with Oli Keens taking over the soundsystem.

• Award-winning comedian Romesh Ranganathan presents Hip Hop Saved My NYE with Martin 2 Smoove – the ultimate hip hop fancy dress party (dressing up optional) – stemming from Romesh’s podcast of the same name – a night for anyone who loves hip hop, running through the classic eras at Islington Academy). Pop Queen spins up the best in pop princesses, r’n’b queens, pop, disco and divas in Room 2.

• The Estimators bring their finest Jamaican ska vibes to The Dublin Castle when they headline the ultimate vintage ska and reggae party – plus DJ Dixon, DJs We Got Killers + DJ Fuzz spinning rocksteady, reggae and ska until the early hours.

• White Heat takes over the whole of The Lexington with a night of indie, new wave and post-punk plus some 80s hits until 4am.

• The Old Queen’s Head party plays the best hip hop, r’n’b and afrobeats bangers from the 90s, 00s and today across two floors (age 20 + only, bring ID).

• The Monster Queen’s Gala brings together kindred spirits to usher in the New Year with an eclectic line-up featuring Skelesys, The Tower, JXN Coco, Lais Pattak, Lewis G Burton, Parma Ham, Nanzhen Yang, Black Sanctum, and many more at Camden Assembly.

• New Year’s Eve at Jazz Cafe combines live music and DJs until 4am so pace yourselves – ft Wayne Snow + MiNNA + Baque Luar.

• Celebrate from the stunning surrounds of Decimo atop The Standard hotel with incredible views over London with live music from double Grammy Award-winning Soul II Soul, DJs TBA – curfew 3am.

• KOKO has your NYE and New Year’s Day sorted, with So Fresh So Clean ringing in 2023 with a night of r’n’b, hip-hop and afrobeats at Cafe KOKO and electronic KOKO ft Horse Meat Disco + special guests, both on NYE plus an electronic special from Appetite on New Year’s Day from 4pm.

• Bid farewell to the old with a double headliner of live music at The Fiddler’s Elbow with The Molotovs and Laurie Wright Band playing original sets before combining at midnight to form a covers supergroup playing massive hits.

• Here’s one for the oldies – Age Against The Machine, the party night for the over-30s, brings the finest in pop, rock, indie, soul, disco, ska and more to their party at Dingwalls – in a non-judgmental space ready for all the best dad dance moves. Expect confetti cannons at midnight.

• FAMALAY returns for an end of year party at Kentish Town Forum featuring DJ Chuckie, DJ Donch and Jukes playing the biggest r’n’b, hip-hop, afrobeats and amapiano anthems plus indoor pyros, CO2 cannons and confetti for the countdown – curfew 3am.

• Glitterfest counts down the New Year in style with sparkles, glitter, confetti, circus acts and six hours of non-stop raving to r’n’b, hip hop, bashment & UK at Electric Ballroom – until 3am (last entry 1am), dress code sparkle!

• Deptford Northern Soul Club bring their Northern Soul vibes to The Garage on NYE ft Noble & Heath + Raissa Pardini + Rose Todd, playing the finest tunes over two floors.

• The Social kick off their 25th anniversary celebrations with a party across two floors – the basement headlined by Hogmanay heroes Glasgow’s JD Twitch and JG Wilkes aka Optimo (Espacio), plus a stunning line-up of DJs and friends including Tia Cousins, Princess P, Ally Tropical, Rosie Ama, Matt Cowell, Fracas DJs, Carl & Gareth, DC FSLMan & Shauna McGowan and more.

• And to begin the new year with some more live music, here’s a selection of what’s to come:

JAN 4: The Animals, The Forge
JAN 4-6: Alexander O’Neal, Jazz Cafe
JAN 5: The Dirt Road Band, The Forge; JAN 6: Jo Harman, The Forge
JAN 7: Billy Walton Band + Virgil & The Accelerators, The Forge
JAN 11: Jeru The Damaja, Jazz Cafe.