WE are well and truly in festive mood here at The Guide, looking forward to filling a few stockings and toasting the season of goodwill with some of our editor’s egg nog. But while the city’s venues get quieter in the run-up to Christmas, thoughts have already turned to possibly the night of the year – New Year’s Eve. If you’re anything like us, the decision of where to see in the new year is a minefield. Of course, we would advise seeing out 2010 in musical style – and, to help you make up your mind, suggest a mixed bag of the city’s biggest and brashest NYE bashes.

THE hottest shin-dig this NYE looks like being the O2 Academy, which promises to see in the new year in a blaze of glory, with a full-scale fiery carnival.

Fire breathers, acrobats and jugglers will spice up the bill for the night hosted by the venue’s Propaganda collective, right.

Creator DJ Dan bills the party as a “multi-sensory extravaganza”.

“Oxford’s best loved party will roll into town with all the fun of the fair and a fiesta of stunning treats,” he says.

And get ready to pucker-up. He adds: “For one night only the venue will be transformed into a Mardi Gras of epic proportions… and the legendary Propaganda love will be in true effect as Big Ben’s bells chime in 2011!”

As well as indie classics in the main room, Trashy will be spinning kitsch, glam pop and guilty pleasures upstairs, while the Room 101 Freak Show do their thing with rock, metal and punk anthems in the front bar.

Oh… and as if that isn’t enough, the club is offering recession-busting £2 drinks concessions.

And to banish away the January blues, all New Year’s Eve ticket holders will also get a wristband for free entry into any Propaganda club night in the country throughout the whole of next month. Bargain!

In the same neck of the woods, but offering something that bit different, are those gorgeous people from Queen of Clubs cabaret who will see the year out over the road at Baby Simple – with a Butterfly Ball.

The night is themed as an alternative masked New Year’s Eve ball, and will see revellers donning fabulous insect and hedgerow-themed costumes.

But while there will be human creepy-crawlies aplenty, don’t expect any ugly bugs. This will attract a discerning and good-looking crowd. If you don’t feel you are dressed-up enough, there will be masks and face painting courtesy of the luscious Lapis Lizard.

There is also a prize for the best outfit.

Music comes from electro-swing maestros Dutty Moonshine; East Oxford party legends Inflatable Buddha; art-rockers The Goggenheim; and piano cabaret star Matt Winkworth aka ‘the human bumblebee’.

(The Butterly Ball takes place at Baby Simple, Cowley Road, from 8pm-5am. Free glass of fizz for every guest) If you’d rather see in 2011 in a lather of sweat, head to ravers paradise The Coven.

The club’s Lucid NYE party features sounds from deck-botherers Blind Roller and Hedflux, and is the perfect place to celebrate the big night illuminated by strobes, UV lighting and glow-sticks.

“It has been three years since we hosted NYE at the Coven, and our events are among the highlights of the Oxford clubbing scene,” says a member of the Lucid crew.

“To mark our return, we are pulling out all the stops to throw a no-holds barred frenzy of a psychedelic party. Expect thunderous psychedelic and progressive trance, chunky techno electro, funky breaks and non-stop bass lines until 5am.”

Blind Roller is a collaboration between two of the most respected names in psy-trance: Mood Deluxe and Tron.

The Liquid Records duo have a reputation for cutting-edge production and edgy splicing and dicing.

Hedflux, meanwhile, plays cerebral tech-funk, and is best-known for his debut Music Is My Weapon. Expect a fusion of deep, driving bass grooves, thumping drops and intricate synth-play. They will be joined by Lucid residents Earthmonkey, ZZBing, Coretec, LSDave, Krusada, Nervous Interface, Juicy, Danimal and The Phonographist.

Perks include free chai, biscuits and fruit.

To step into the new year in soulful style, join the area’s biggest urban party, up at The Regal. The lavishly refurbished former cinema is holding another of its legendary r&b nights, appropriately called Urban Goodies.

The line-up reads like an urban telephone directory, but includes Ras Kwame and Mistajam from BBC Radio1; and 1Xtra djs Seani B, Target, Robbo Ranx, Ronnie Herel, and Cameo. They will be ably supported by Varchez & DJ Dee and 2Xclusive – with a surprise Live PA and more names to be announced.

There will be a Champagne reception, free CDs, whistles and horns… and surprises at midnight.

* Propaganda runs from 10.30pm– 4am at the Oxford O2 Academy, Cowley Road.

Tickets are £10 in advance from ticketweb.co.uk The Butterfly Ball takes place at Baby Simple, Cowley Road, from 8pm-5am. Free glass of fizz for every guest * Lucid takes place at The Coven, Oxpens Road, from 10pm – 5am. Tickets are a tenner in advance from wegottickets.com Urban Goodies takes place at The Regal, Cowley Road, from 9pm-5am. Tickets are £15 in advance.

Go to regal.com