Bitter Blossoms play Green Note on Dec 18

WINDING down and looking for entertainment as the year draws to a close? There’s a little bit of everything over the next couple of weeks – folk punk from Skinny Lister, pop bangers from Lips Choir, an Elvis-fronted Nirvana tribute band, a reggae Christmas Lovers Rock special, a musical murder mystery, celebrations of lost friends and nostalgic anniversaries of celebrated albums plus countless Christmas parties of varying themes – take your pick…

• Musician friends gather at the Roundhouse on Dec 15 for A Celebration of Simon Emmerson, the late musician and Grammy-nominated producer, to showcase music from his many bands and projects and raise funds for charity. Afro Celt Sound System, The Imagined Village, Working Week, Billy Bragg, Martin & Eliza Carthy, The Copper Family, Gilles Peterson, Snowboy and DJ Chris Tofu are among the artists due to appear.

• Amy Winehouse’s original band led by her long-term musical director / bass player and close friend Dale Davis, celebrate her music, life and legacy at Koko on Dec 16 and 22.

• Expect Lips Choir’s pop repertoire to be at its best at their Lipsmas: Can’t Hold Us Down gig at Islington Assembly Hall on Dec 16.

• Folk punk outfit Skinny Lister end their UK /Ireland tour at Lafayette on Dec 16 in celebration of their recently released album Shanty Punk.

• Turn to something a little more bizarre with a rock ‘n roll / grunge mashup from Elvis-fronted Nirvana tribute act Elvana at Roundhouse on Dec 16 with support from Oh My God! It’s The Church.

• The annual Social Christmas gathering looks a bit different this year. There’s no market but, with The Social opening from noon (Dec 16), expect live music from Oscar Browne and guests, DJs Moof Magazine and Fracas DJs plus poetry from Canon Fodder Poetry featuring Lily Backsell, Ella Frears and Mark Waldron plus a raffle for War Child.

• Delve into a festive musical murder mystery at Murder at The Grange with songwriter Robb Johnson & The Xmas Irregulars at The Camden Club on Dec 17 – a Christmas murder mystery in the style of a BBC radio drama with original festive songs, an evening of music, suspense and comedy with mince pies and mistletoe.

• Vocal trio Bitter Blossoms perform in London for the first time with Yarrow & Pine, a storytelling, musical performance of gathered songs interwoven with stories and poems related to winter and its traditions in English, Scandinavian and Bulgarian folk culture, drawing on the folklore of their home countries. See them at Green Note on Dec 18.

• Turin Brakes celebrate the 20th anniversary of their second album Ether Song at Islington Assembly Hall on Dec 15. Also marking the 20th anniversary of album Ego War, Audio Bullys play Koko on the same night.

• Talent is Timeless shine a light on songwriters over 50 at their TisT-Mas Christmas Concert at The Camden Club on Dec 15.

• Get down to The Fiddler’s Elbow on Dec 15 for Crawdaddy! Christmas knees-up with Gary, Lucienne and Danny, plus special guests mighty Alan Handscombe and 100 Club DJ Tom Romark, playing the finest northern soul, mod, Motown, vintage R&B, Two Tone, ska and rocksteady, all on vinyl.

• Level 42’s Mike Lindup presents his latest album, Changes 2, at a special one-off show with special guests at Jazz Café on Dec 16.

• Christmas hats for all at The Camden Club’s Christmas Cracker with live performances from host Tony Moore, Susan Black, Cat Stevens’ nephew Bob Gordon, Mighty Heartache and the Dave Stark Five (Dec 19).

• Experience the music of La La Land brought to life by 16-piece orchestra at NÜWA at Jazz Café on Dec 23.

• This is Lovers Rock return to Jazz Café on Dec 27-28 with a Reggae Christmas Lovers Rock special featuring some of the most prestigious artists on the scene; Mike Anthony, Vivian Jones, Barry Boom, Simplicity and Roger Robin all backed by The Zain Band.

More upcoming gigs:

Dec 15 – Matilda Mann + Eloise + Hohnen Ford + Lydia Luce with Lockeland Strings, Union Chapel; Old Dirty Brasstards Big Brass Xmas Bash, Lafayette; The House of Love ft David Gedge (The Wedding Present), Electric Ballroom; Club de Fromage Rollerscape, Wembley;

Dec 15-16 – Camden Rocks Club Xmas Bash, The Underworld; The James Taylor Quartet present the annual JTQ Xmas Shows, The Forge;

Dec 16 – Punky Reggae Party – The Jam Vs The Clash and DJs We Got Killers, The Dublin Castle; Propaganda Xmas Party, Camden Assembly; Leftfield, The Forum; The Blockheads, Dingwalls; Club de Fromage Christmas Party + Not Another Indie Disco, Islington Academy; Bad Manners, Electric Ballroom; Foy Vance + Bonnie Bishop, Union Chapel; Rachel Stamp + Thrill City, The Underworld; Penny Skint + Tizane + Ini Lowe, The Camden Club; The Gardeners + Raisin Brain + Monday’s Monsoon + What On Earth, The Camden Assembly; Danko Jones + Los Pepes, The Garage;

Dec 17 – Peyman Salmi, The Social; The Magic Numbers, Lafayette; Zeljko Bebek & The Band, Scala; Bop-A-Lenas Christmas Ball, Electric Ballroom; Carols at Roundhouse;

Dec 17-18 – DMA’s Here @ Outernet;

Dec 17-19 – Don Broco, Koko;

Dec 18 – The Damned, Roundhouse;

Dec 18-19 – The Blackbyrds, Jazz Café;

Dec 19 – Cara Dillon, Upon A Winter’s Night, Union Chapel; Extreme, Living Colour, The Forum;

Dec 20 – Noomy + Left On Read + Dust Speaks + SIVNA, The Dublin Castle; Katey Brooks, Green Note;

Dec 20-21 – The Wave Pictures, The Lexington; Dec 21 – Tuskmass Xmas party ft Tuskar + Burner + Acid Throne + Scum Yard, The Black Heart; SWEET, Islington Assembly Hall; Chris Murphy and Ella Spencer, Green Note; The Rifles, Lafayette; Kings Voices, Kingly Court, Carnaby;

Dec 22 – The Darkness + Bad Nerves, Roundhouse;

Dec 23 – Jesus Jones, 100 Club;

Dec 28 – Down For The Count Orchestra, Cadogan Hall.