Christmas crackers!

(To be sung in a Dean Martin voice to the tune of ‘Let It Snow’...)

So the atmosphere inside is frightful
To get out would be delightful
Where the hell are we gonna go?
To a show, to a show, to a show!!!

If you’re after pints by the fire
Or if rock’s you’re heart’s desire
Or to dance and get out of your tree
So do we, so do we, so do we!

So here’s hotpress.com’s solution
Cause we know about bodily pollution
There’s a lot of going out to be done
So have fun, so have fun, so have fun!

What follows is hotpress.com's very best going-out suggestions for this holiday season. Just decide what kind of form you're in, then consult the list below that suits your mood...

Happy Christmas!

CHILLAX From the laid-back to the cosy to the huge'n'magical

Damien Rice @ De Barras, Clonakilty, Cork – December 17
Damien Rice @ Garter Lane, Waterford – December21
Martin Finke @ Whelan’s, Dublin – December 17
Irish Anti War Movement @ TBMC, Dublin – December 18
Rodrigo Y Gabriela @ Dolan’s Warehouse, Limerick – December 18
Katell Keineg @ Spirit Store, Dundalk, Louth – December 20
Colm Quearney @ Half Moon, Cork – December 21
The Frames @ Town Hall Theatre, Galway – December 21
David Kitt @ Vicar St, Dublin – December 23
Mundy @ Olympia, Dublin – December 28

ROCKOUTS Music to go absolutely spare to

Dalek @ Half Moon, Cork – December 18
+ TBMC, Dublin w/ Creative Controle – December 19
The Foggy Notions Tour feat. The Chalets, The Last Post + neosupervital @ AMC, Limerick – December 19
Woodstar @ Dolan’s Warehouse – December 19
Stiff Little Fingers @ TBMC, Dublin – December 21
Turn @ Spirit Store, Dundalk, Louth – December 21
Melaton @ Whelan’s, Dublin – December 22
Mods And Rockers Christmas Ball @ TBMC, Dublin – December 27
Cyclefly @ Half Moon - December 29
Tom Dunne's Best of Irish Live feat. Something Happens, An Emotional Fish, Aslan, Blotooth, Turn, Steve Wall, The Ray Harmon Allstars, Simon Carmody, Nick Kelly, Ger Whelan @ Olympia, Dublin – December 23
Shane McGowan & The Popes @ The Savoy, Cork – December 27

CLUB IT Christmas frolics for the beat generation

2FM sessions tour presents: Slam, Ron’s Mobile Disco, Warren K @ Tivoli, Dublin - 26th December
Mauro Picotto, M.I.K.E., Ricky Effe @ Temple Theatre - Dec 21st
Influx Christmas Party: David Holmes, Johnny Moy, Redsettaz, Philth @ Tivoli – December 28th

NEW YEAR'S EVE 2003, hey ho, let's go

The Frames [support TBC] @ Cork Opera House
Turn + Sack + The Voyeurs @ TBMC, Dublin
Shane MacGowan + Maria Doyle-Kennedy + Kieran Kennedy + more @ Newmarket Sq, Dublin
Jeff Mills @ POD
Hip Hip Hooray [feat. The Redneck Manifesto & David O'Doherty [live], David Kitt & Poppy [DJ set], Leagues & Kool Drool [DJ set] @ Dakota Bar, Dublin