Hit The North: Yule be glad you went

Christmas throws up all manner of difficult choices. We’re here to help.
If, for example, you’re worried that your Christmas house party will run on a little longer than you’d like, go out and buy a copy of A Lifetime Of Midnights, the debut album from Robyn G Shiels, and keep it close at hand.
Take my word for it – five minutes of this baby and the festive spirit will make a panicked dash for the door without even waiting for a taxi.
Mr Shiels, one imagines, would make a very bad Santa. But for those who are not seduced by the season’s unrelenting good cheer, he could prove an ideal companion to shout humbug with. Check out www.nodancing.co.uk for further info.
Granny may not appreciate a copy of Islands by Tracer AMC, but if you have a cool little indie brother or sister, they could well end up digging it like a ditch.
Be warned, though. The wardrobe they will inevitably pass through could lead them into a world of Slint-obsessions, fanzine-reading, and names on their school-bags that are so obscure the members of the bands themselves don’t even recognise them. Could you live with the guilt?
Perhaps it would be better to encourage the little ones outside. If so, there are all manner of shows worthy of a head-round-the-door. The very great Delaware, for a start, will be playing a number of shows throughout the month (www.delawareband.com).
Present buying can wait, the office do can remain undone – this lot genuinely have it in them to be gracing much larger stages in the not too distant future
Why deny yourself the opportunity of getting up all close and personal before they disappear into a world of separate limos and snow-damaged ‘come down’ records?
Do you like the Band, Neil Young and The Byrds? Of course you do. Then go see this crowd. They share your record collection.
If you’d prefer a noisier shindig, then I’d suggest you head to Sandino’s, Belfast, on December 15th for home-town heroes, Fighting With Wire’s co-headliner with the equally loud Lafaro.
One of 2006’s big hopes, The Fast Emperor’s, meanwhile, will take to The Empire’s stage on the 22nd, for the Christmas Gifted showcase.
If big budget blockbusters are more your scene, then your luck is in. The big boys have decided to check in for Advent.
As I never gave a toot, first time round, whether Sally could wait or not, I was shocked to discover how much I liked the new Oasis album, Don’t Believe The Truth.
Will that encourage me to don my battle armour and venture to The Odyssey on December 19th, for one of their rare jaunts to Belfast? Probably not – their last gig here had all the communal goodwill of a Linfield/Glentoran match, and I’m getting much too old for that kind of carry on.
Go, however, with my best wishes. And be sure to tell me if it’s good or not.
No such worries with the other set of mega stars due on our doorstep.
Every time I’ve seen Coldplay live, Chris Martin has informed the crowd that they’re the best ever, the greatest, the top of the pops. Which has invariably set my teeth on edge and led me to the carpark, calling down plagues on the poor man’s head.
Is he a sinister snake-oil salesman, or merely a happy-clappy, rictus-grinning lunatic? The choice is yours on December 22nd.
For the forward thinking amongst you, why not treat that special someone to a few tickets for one of the fine upcoming early year gigs?
The always marvellous, Belle and Sebastian will be making an appearance at The Ulster Hall on February 7th, by which time we will all hopefully have become acquainted with their newie, The Life Pursuit.
Van Morrison is also due at the same venue on the 2nd of that month. Last year, he put on a storming hometown show. If Johnny Rogan’s provocative biography of the man, No Surrender winds up in your stocking, this could prove unmissable.
But before all that, why not take the opportunity to wave a fond farewell to one of Belfast’s most lovable club nights?
Yes, after three years of interesting haircuts and messing with the consensus, Howl draws to a close with a mega beano on 2nd December at The Pavilion.
We’ll miss them when they’re gone. So let’s enjoy it while we still can. Have a laugh – start this season as you mean to go on.