What's On Scotland 17-24 Dec: Roddy Woomble

Each week The Skinny team hand pick a selection of the best events from the Northwest cultural calendar to provide you with this here 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 beyond every Thursday morning.

Roddy Woomble's Christmas Hootenanny
The Hug and Pint, Glasgow. 22 & 23 Dec, 8pm

That fine upstanding chap Roddy Woomble (of Idlewild) takes to intimate Glasgow gig haven The Hug and Pint for a two-night Christmas takeover – under the banner Roddy Woomble's Christmas Hootenanny, obv – playing a selection of solo songs, plus Idlewild classics, and, as is the law at this time of year, a few Christmas favourites, joined by Idlewild's Andrew Wasylyk (22 December) and folk guitarist Sorren MacLean (23 December).

The Edinburgh Christmas Lectures
The Stand, Edinburgh. 19 Dec, 4.30pm

If you missed the earlier December lectures because, y'know, it was TOO EARLY TO THINK ABOUT CHRISTMAS, then comedy champ Andrew Learmonth presents the final in the series of The Edinburgh Christmas Lectures, at which a bumper batch of local comedians – amongst 'em Susan Morrison, Jay Lafferty, Neil Bratchpiece, and Eleanor Morton (pictured) – will descend on The Stand to discuss what the festive season means to them. Read our full preview here.

Flourish House Christmas Benefit
The Hug and Pint, Glasgow. 18 Dec, 7.30pm

Making our second stop-off at The Hug and Pint this week (see also pick one), mental health charity Flourish House pitches up for a one-off festive fundraiser – raising pennies for the members to have Christmas dinner together – with guest acts including sonic boomer Jonnie Common and Conquering Animal Sound's Jamie Scott's collab project CARBS (pictured), plus folk-pop melody merchants Randolph's Leap, a DJ set from Franz Ferdinand's Paul Thomson, and more.

Let Your Elf Go
Sub Club, Glasgow. 23 Dec, 11pm

Again winning the festive pun points, Let Your Elf Go returns for 2015 – charged with brightening the 23rd of December for some seven years now – inviting club scene favourites Sensu, i AM (pictured), Sub Rosa, and more, to share the Subbie decks for the evening, with profits going to Yorkhill Children's Hospital. And the best bit? By the time y'all roll out the door it'll officially be Christmas Eve. Happy-nearly-Christmas, folks!

Green Door Studio's 8th Birthday
The Old Hairdressers, Glasgow. 18 Dec, 7pm

DIY Glasgow recording space Green Door Studios celebrates its 8th birthday this weekend, marking the occasion by holding a special fundraiser event – attempting to raise the final 30% needed to help Tafi Atome village in Ghana build its own recording studio – with live stints from Happy Meals (pictured), Junto Club, Seconds, Sweaty Palms, and Mary Column, plus DJ 'Disco Dale' of The Amazing Snakeheads, and a free 'Best of 2015' mix CD for all attendees.

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Jelly and Gin: Mean Girls
Filmhouse, Edinburgh. 17 Dec, 8.45pm

Following a trio of sell-out festive cinema pop-ups last year, foodie funsters Jelly and Gin return for one special 2016 outing – taking to the Filmhouse for an interactive screening of Mean Girls, for which punters will be furnished with myriad numbered packages of bite-sized food and drink to be consumed at certain points during the film, corresponding to what's happening on-screen at that moment (FYI, it'll involve not one, not two, but three bespoke cocktails, hic).

Midwinter Woodland's Christmas Party Night
Summerhall, Edinburgh. 19 Dec, 8.30pm

Following last week's opening show, experiential event Midwinter Woodland again transforms Summerhall's versatile Dissection Room space into a mystical winter woodland – but this time they're in full-on Christmas party mode. For it, punters will be greeted by various mythical creatures, before enjoying storytelling from Daniel Allison, being fed with homemade winter pie and watered with mulled cider, plus added live music and DJs until late.

The Banana Sessions' Christmas Party
The Pleasance, Edinburgh. 20 Dec, 8pm

Homegrown experimental pop trio The Banana Sessions get in Christmas party mode in celebration of their tenth anniversary (and the coming of Santa), launching their second LP, Be Bold and Brilliant, on the night. On top of that, there will be surprise live guests, the now traditional (and lethal) Buckfast punch, a Christmas jumper competition, and some promised festive sing-a-longs. They then de-camp to Paradise Palms for the after-bash/to continue the Buckfast-drinking.

Edinburgh Printmakers' Christmas Shoppers' Weekend
Edinburgh Printmakers, Edinburgh. 19 & 20 Dec, 10am-6pm

Following its annual Christmas market earlier in the month, Edinburgh Printmakers dons the tinsel for its first ever Christmas Shoppers' Weekend, selling a selection of artwork at bargain prices, plus craft workshops, storytelling, face-painting for the little 'uns, the opportunity to meet the studio artists in situ, and some promised 'tasty Christmas treats' (aka mulled wine, mince pies, and Christmas tunes on't stereo).

Black Christmas
Grosvenor Cinema, Glasgow. 19 Dec, 11.30pm

Sick of the good-bloody-cheer yet? If you prefer your Christmas dark and gory, the Grosvenor dig out 1974 horror gem Black Christmas for a late night airing, in which a sorority house is terrorised by a killer during Christmas break, screening from 35mm print specially sourced by Faith in Film. The screening will be preceded by the UK premiere of Slasher Studios' Dismembering Christmas.

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