Things are pretty quiet over the week of Christmas – even musicians and promoters might need a break to eat mince pies and down a few cheeky glasses of sherry – but if you’re so inclined you can celebrate ‘A Reggae Christmas’ on Monday 24 December. An event of that name, at O2 Academy Oxford, is billing itself as “the merriest dancehall ding dong in all of christendom”, and includes performances and DJ sets from Makating, DJ Wrongtom, Pieman as well as host Count Skylarkin’.

Cheese your way into 2013, Take That fans, by popping down to the New Theatre in Oxford on 31 December where Gary Barlow will be entertaining “music” “fans” young and old with his wide selection of schmaltz-drenched balladry. He’s friends with the Queen, doncha know?

The first gig in the calendar for 2013 – so far, at least – is on Saturday 5 January. It’s the latest showcase (number six) from the Bear On A Bicycle music and creativity collective, and a pretty darned decent line-up of talent will be playing sets at The Cellar in Oxford. Matt Midgley, Jordan O’Shea, Sier Pin Sky and Cries Wolf are down to appear, and maybe this is a nice way to check out some names that we’ll be hearing more of in 2013?

Full details of these and loads more gigs can be found in the events calendar.

Tell us about gigs you’ll be checking out in the next two weeks in the comments!