Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat… Yes, believe it or not, that time of year is almost upon us once more – time to start getting stressed out about what you’re going to get everyone for Christmas this year. Fortunately, it’s not all bad, as the 2011 gig calendar has been nice enough to keep our stocking full right up until Kasabian’s massive New Year’s Eve show.
In addition to the usual end-of-year tours, there are also a few proper Christmas events, such as Soulwaxmas and the XFM Winter Wonderland, to keep things suitably festive. Here goes…
COLPLAY
After a couple of well-received headlining performances at this year’s Glastonbury and T In The Park, Chris Martin and co have opted to round-off 2011 with a handful of arena shows as an early warm-up for next June’s stadium concerts. Love ‘em or hate ‘em, there’s no denying that Coldplay still appear to be doing something right. Just one month after its release, their fifth album ‘Mylo Xyloto’ is already heading in the same direction as some of its more recent predecessors, having topped the charts in 11 countries – including the US – and having already been certified Platinum at home. It seems there’s just no stopping them, so for those of you too impatient to wait until June, Coldplay’s arena shows are not to be missed.
GALLOWS
Can you imagine what Gallows will sound like without their inimitable frontman Frank Carter? No? Well, imagine no more, as December marks the return of the Watford quintet in their latest incarnation, joined by new vocalist Wade MacNeil. The former Alexisonfire guitarist will be making his debut with the band, not only on the new suitably-titled EP ‘Death is Birth’, but also at Gallows’ comeback show in London’s XOYO on Tuesday 13th December. So, if you’re keen to check out their new songs or simply intrigued to find out what the old songs are going to sound like without Frank, you’re not going to want to miss this gig. In the meantime, here’s a very quick taster…
KASABIAN
This week sees the start of Kasabian’s massive arena tour, which will take the chart-topping rockers right up to mid-December for their two-night residency at London’s O2 Arena. Then, if that wasn’t enough, the band will be back just a couple of weeks later to end the year on a high with a third date at the venue for a huge New Year’s Eve gig. The Leicester quintet will be joined at the show by support act Chase and Status, and there will even be a DJ set from Radio 1’s Zane Lowe. Not a bad way to see in 2012.
MACHINE HEAD
Following the release of their critically-acclaimed seventh album ‘Unto the Locust’ earlier this year, Californian metallers Machine Head will be returning to the UK in December for some of their biggest shows here to date. After the widespread praise that the band received for their last album, 2007’s ‘The Blackening’, Machine Head have exceeded all expectations with their latest offering. Since its release in September, ‘Unto the Locust’ has earned the band some of their most favourable reviews to date, once again setting them apart from many of their peers. While many other metal legends seem unable to surpass their own former glories, Machine Head have continued to improve with age, raising the bar with every new release. You can almost certainly expect to see them high up on next year’s Sonisphere or Download line-ups, but to witness the true Machine Head live experience is to catch them at one of their own shows.
MANIC STREET PREACHERS
In December, the Manics will be marking the end of their 25th year as a band with a modest show at London’s massive O2 Arena. The gig follows the release of their recent compilation ‘National Treasures – The Complete Singles’, which entered the Top 10 of the UK Albums Chart last month. The album chronicles all of the Manic Street Preachers’ commercial releases from ‘Motown Junk’, which originally saw the light of day 20 years ago, through to the title track of their 2010 album ‘Postcards from a Young Man’. Anyone hoping to see the band at their London date can no doubt expect a similar Greatest Hits collection from the band’s setlist.
PAUL MCCARTNEY
Paul McCartney will be drawing 2011 to a close this December with several homecoming dates on his current On The Run Tour. Earlier this year, McCartney won his 14th Grammy Award for a live version of The Beatles’ ‘Helter Skelter’, which was included on his 2009 album ‘Good Evening New York City’. We probably don’t need to tell you what to expect from Macca’s latest tour – Beatles classics, Wings classics and plenty more to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth.
SOULWAXMAS
The first of this year’s festive events to make Stereoboard’s December Top 10 is Soulwaxmas. That’s right, Belgian rockers Soulwax and their mashup-making counterparts 2manydjs will be returning to London for their annual winter shindig. Now in its fifth year, Soulwaxmas will descend on the capital’s O2 Academy Brixton once again for two night-long festivities to get you nicely warmed up for this year’s party season. Expect enough musical mayhem to provide a whole evening’s worth of entertainment at either of these pre-Christmas celebrations. And if that’s not enough reason to head along, check out the band’s film of last year’s event…
STAND UP AND ROCK – CRISIS AT CHRISTMAS
Next on the list is Stand Up And Rock, an evening of music and comedy in aid of homeless charity Crisis at London’s HMV Hammersmith Apollo on Tuesday 20th December. Comedian Ross Noble will host a line-up that also includes Paul Weller, Tim Minchin, Graham Coxon and Jo Brand, to help the charity celebrate the 40th anniversary of its Crisis At Christmas event. All proceeds from the gig will go towards the charity’s life-changing services. To find out more about Crisis At Christmas, watch the following video…
STEREOPHONICS
Next year will not only see the Stereophonics celebrating the 15th anniversary of their debut album ‘Word Gets Around’, but also the release of their eighth album. Although few details have been confirmed so far, the band recently announced that they have been busy working on the follow-up to 2009’s ‘Keep Calm and Carry On’. Anyone hoping to catch the ‘Phonics at any of their pre-Christmas Three Night Stand shows in London – or the preceding warm-up date in Bournemouth – may soon find themselves privy to some exciting new information.
XFM WINTER WONDERLAND
Completing this month’s Top 10, as well as our pick of 2011’s seasonal gigs, are XFM’s annual Winter Wonderland shows in London and Manchester. Providing the entertainment in the capital this year are Kaiser Chiefs, The Maccabees, The Horrors, Band of Skulls and newcomers We Are Augustines among others. Then up North, they’ve got Chase and Status, Nero and Ed Sheeran to name just a few. A veritable Christmas feast in either location, it seems. So get down to your nearest Winter Wonderland this December and let’s hear your biggest festive cheer…
We don't run any advertising! Our editorial content is solely funded by lovely people like yourself using Stereoboard's listings when buying tickets for live events. To keep supporting us, next time you're looking for concert, festival, sport or theatre tickets, please search for "Stereoboard". It costs you nothing, you may find a better price than the usual outlets, and save yourself from waiting in an endless queue on Friday mornings as we list ALL available sellers!
