* You know that time, between Christmas and New Year, when you’ve had your fill of turkey, chocolate, booze, TV and relatives.

What you need is an inbetween pick-me-up, and the Quod brasserie in Oxford’s High Street has come up with the perfect remedy.

On Sunday, December 28, take the family and settle in to enjoy some special festive jazz with the soothing tones of singer Atila, pianist Graham Harvey and Tim Dawes on double bass.

Atila has been described as the new Frank Sinatra, combining an extraordinary voice with great showmanship.

The gig takes place from 5-7.30pm, admission is free.

* Enjoy some beautiful music while supporting a great cause at the PinDrop Christmas Party on Saturday.

The night features sets from captivating East Oxford singer-songwriter Bethany Weimers, Winchester trio Provincials and blues-soaked country-rockers Swindlestock.

There will also be tunes from artists Richard Neuberg, Matt Sage, James Bell, Julia Meijer, Huck Astley, The August List and Trio Copacabana.

Organiser Sebastian Reynolds says: “The Gatehouse offers a daily drop-in service for those sleeping rough or in vulnerable housing. It is an essential support network for those in need, and deserves as much support and investment as we can raise for them.”

The PinDrop Christmas Party takes place at St Giles Parish Rooms, Woodstock Road, Oxford, from 6.30-10pm.

* Strange as it may seem, reggae has always been a bit of an Oxford festive tradition, with the annual Christmas Eve party at the O2 Academy (and the Zodiac before it), ushering in the big day with a healthy dose of dub.

That tradition lives on in the shape of the Skylarkin’ Soundsystem’s Reggae Christmas. This Christmas Eve it features tunes from Dub Mafia, Constant Jammin, Desta*Nation DJs and the host himself – County Limerick’s rum-dispensing answer to Santa Claus: ‘Count’ Aidan Skylarkin.

Early bird tickets are just £6 + fee (standard tickets £8) from ticketweb.co.uk

* He's still best known for his role as the curry-loving homesick Scouser Lister in Red Dwarf (and more recently Coronation Street and, for a short while, I’m A Celebrity). But Craig Charles is also something of a musical aficionado –a hugely popular DJ and radio presenter specialising in soul and funk.

Tomorrow he brings his box of discs to the O2 Academy Oxford for The Craig Charles Funk & Soul Club.

The night also features a live set from Temple Funk Collective, Tony ‘Naked’ Nanton, Fajita Funk and the aforementioned Count Skylarkin’.

Tickets are £16 from ticketweb.co.uk

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.