What's On North 15-22 Dec: 12 Gigs of Christmas
Along with 12 of the best gigs in Manchester, Leeds and Liverpool, coming up you've also got Liverpool Gin Festival, Reeves and Mortimer's Poignant Moments tour, OddBod Art Market and, er, eating cheese!
Each week The Skinny team hand-pick a selection of the best events from the North's cultural calendar to provide you with this 'ere top ten guide to the most exciting goings-on for the week ahead. From gigs, plays and exhibitions to spoken word, pop-up foodie events and one-off film screenings, we give you the insider's guide to things to do in Liverpool, Manchester and Leeds every Thursday morning.
The Skinny's Top 50 Albums of 2016
What a year, eh? Let's try and end on a high by focusing on the absolutely ace records 2016 has to show for itself – we've picked out a grand total of 50, including the latest outputs of everyone from Anna Meredith, Parquet Courts and Tacocat to Kanye West, Solange and, of course, the late David Bowie. But who's bagged that coveted number one spot? You'll just have to click here to find out.
All this talk of music getting those tastebuds tingling for some live tunes? Scroll down to see our 12 Gigs of Christmas...
On the agenda this week:
Liverpool Gin Festival
Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, Liverpool. Fri 16-Sun 18 Dec, times vary
Get some colour back into those cheeks of yours with a boozy trip to the Liverpool Gin Festival, where you'll find over 100 gins, masterclasses, food and all-round good times.
OddBod Art Markets
The Beagle & Common, Manchester. Sat 17 & Sun 18 Dec, times vary
The Northern Quarter's Common bar and its suburban sister The Beagle are teaming up with One of One and Colouring Club to bring you two OddBod Art Markets this weekend, featuring traders including Aliyah Hussain (jewellery pictured), Textbook Studio, Hannah Marshall and more.
25 Years of Reeves and Mortimer: The Poignant Moments
Echo Arena, Liverpool. Fri 16 Dec, 7.30pm
Britain's beloved comedy duo Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer look back on their career together, with well-known characters from their back catalogue alongside surreal new stuff. If you need more convincing, read our Comedy Editor's feature on why this is one nostalgia trip you should be taking here.
Eating cheese
Everywhere, all the time
'Tis the season for blissful overindulgence, we're told, so might as well at least do it properly with our DEFINITIVE guide to the cheeses that should be adorning your cheeseboard this Christmas, including everything from the stone-cold classics to a heart-shaped summat summat for your boo/beau/bae. Photo: Jordan Johnson
Christmas film screenings in the North
From It's a Wonderful Life at the Phil to an all-out rave based on Elf at Albert Hall, we've got you sorted for festive film screenings in Liverpool, Leeds and Manchester. Click here to see what's coming up over the next few weeks.
Celebrate Christmas with Topman
Topman have teamed up with The Skinny to offer one lucky reader the chance to win £100 of shopping vouchers (enter here) and organised a series of extra-special events to allow you to get the most out of the Christmas shopping trip.
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❄️ The 12 Gigs of Christmas ❄️
Best get your gig fix well and truly sorted before the new-year-lull kicks in, eh? We've picked out the 12 best ones coming your way in the next week or two – some Christmassy, some just reet good. Photo: Jack Kirwan
Indie Banquet
Bringing musical season's eatings through sets from Cowtown, Team Picture and more.
Fri 16 Dec, Wharf Chambers, Leeds, 6pm, £7.50
When in Manchester Festival
Another installment of the music festival with south-east surfery garage types The Orielles and others.
Sat 17 Dec, The Ruby Lounge, Manchester, 3pm, £12
INKbeat*
Sensory explosion INKbeat* returns to Kitchen Street to create a visceral interactive environment.
Thu 15 Dec, 24 Kitchen Street, 7.30pm, £4-£6
Gothmas
Embrace your inner goth child with an alt Christmas party ft. Rose and The Diamond Heart and more.
Sat 17 Dec, Gullivers,Manchester, 7pm, £4-£5
The Comet is Coming
Experimental cosmic funk inspired by everything from Sun Ra to the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.
Thu 15 Dec, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 7.30pm, £10
The Spirit of Christmas
The Phil's long-running and widely loved carol concert series returns with a full live orchestra.
Sat 17-Fri 23 Dec, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool, 7.30pm, £19-£45
The Manchester Festive Happening
Manchester Camerata play a festive selection, joined by trumpet virtuoso Tine Thing Helseth.
Sun 18 Dec, Albert Hall, Manchester, 3pm, £3-£35
James Yorkston
The Fife dweller and sometime Fence Collective dabbler heads our way.
Thu 15 Dec, The Magnet, Liverpool, 8pm, £13.50
Mi Mye Single Launch
The Wakefield folksters, fronted by Jamie Lockhart, launch new Christmas single I'm Dreaming Of A...
Sun 18 Dec, Brudenell Social Club, 2pm, £5
The Hallé: Christmas at the Movies
The Hallé raises the rafters with music from the films that make us feel Christmassy.
Fri 23 Dec, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, 7.30pm, £21-£43
Leeds Punk Rock Xmas
Get your punk rock on at the Brud with the likes of Johnny Moped, XSLF and Cyanide Pills.
Sat 17 Dec, Brudenell Social Club, Leeds, 2.30pm, £13
Baked A La Ska
The Manchester-based ska 11-piece present their take on Christmas cheer.
Thu 22 Dec, Band on the Wall, 7.30pm, £10-£14
Read more news from across the Northwest cultural scene at theskinny.co.uk/news
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