Go Away! To Aberdeen's Winter Festival

Ah Christmas. Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost indulging your foot fetish, and, eh, Lemmy screaming Killed By Death all up in ya face. Or so it goes in Aberdeen, where hard rocking Motörhead feature on the line-up of Aberdeen's Winter Festival on 8 Nov, taking place in the Silver City from late October all the way through to the beginning of 2011.

Formally kicking off with a fireworks spectacular on Aberdeen beach (5 Nov), the festival encompasses a wide range of activites. Following (gingerly) in Motörhead's footsteps will be The Hollies (10 Nov), Jools Holland's Rhythm and Blues Orchestra (featuring Alison Moyet, 18 Nov) and the Modfather himself, Paul Weller on 5 Dec.

With ceilidhs and carol-singing aplenty some of the stand-out spectacles promise to be that of the ominously titled Danse Macabre (6 Nov for some wholesome fun, honest) and Aberdeen's Singing Chorus Concert (24 Nov) whose theme this year is 'Pop Go The Classics'.

Multi award-winning comic creation The Pub Landlord (Al Murray) brings his delightful strain of Xenophobia to town on 28 Nov and fairytale afficionados are spoilt for choice with both Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella going toe-to-toe from 4 Dec. Our money's on the conscious one.

A parade full of entertaining characters (Aberdonians, mostly) heralds the switching on of the lights on 21 Nov and the organisers have teamed up with www.aberdeenhotels.org to offer great deals on accomodation to any out-of-towner who wants to join in the festivities. [Paul Mitchell]