Stars In Their Eyes special
Song, By Toad’s Christmas party
Kid Canaveral’s Christmas Baubles
Death Disco’s XXXmas Party
Radio Magnetic’s Winter Rave
Mungo’s Hi-Fi/ Bill Wells’ Black Christmas

In a bygone olden, golden era – circa 1995 BC (Before Cowell) – Saturday nights were all about Matthew Kelly and Stars in their Eyes. Eagleowl were clearly fans of this proto-karaoke televisual phenomenon. Their festive bash is a Stars in their Eyes special at which Broken Records, Meursault, Jesus H Foxx and eagleowl will assume the identities of their pop heroes.
Pilrig St Paul’s Church Hall, Edinburgh, Fri 17 Dec, 7.30pm, £5.

If the thought of Bart Owl embracing Matthew Kelly is too much for your nervous system, then head along to Song, By Toad’s Christmas Party brouhaha, wherein you can party to balmy alt-pop and brambly indie from Yusuf Azak, Meursault, Inspector Tapehead, The Savings and Loan and Rob St John.
Queen Charlotte Rooms, Edinburgh, Thu 16 Dec, 7pm, £7.

Lovable melodists Kid Canaveral, meanwhile, are decking the halls with Christmas Baubles: their dulcet feast of Noël-themed treats features ballboy, King Creosote, Come on Gang!, The Last Battle and Gummi Bako.
The Lot, Edinburgh, Sat 18 Dec, 2pm—1am, £12.

The West Coast offers several similarly lavish jamborees: Death Disco’s XXXmas Party unleashes aural debauchery from Burns, Zombie Nation, Unicorn Kid and Wavy Graves (The Arches, Glasgow, Sat 18 Dec, 11pm–3am, £14/£7); while Radio Magnetic’s Winter Rave is spoiling us with FOUND, The Blessings, S-Type and Boom Monk Ben.
SWG3, Glasgow, Sat 18 Dec, 9pm–3am.

There’s also a yuletide dub hurrah courtesy of Mungo’s Hi-Fi – it’s their final fling at the Art School before relocating to Stereo.
The Art School, Glasgow, Sat 18 Dec, 11pm–3am, £8.

And finally, Stirling is well worth a visit for the wonderful Bill Wells’ Black Christmas. (Tolbooth, Stirling, Fri 17 Dec, £14, 8pm). Its stars include Aidan Moffat, Davie Scott and Benni Hemm Hemm – plus the National Jazz Trio of Scotland performing ‘off-kilter covers of Christmas classics’. What would Matthew Kelly make of that?