So here it is, Merry (12 gigs of) Christmas!

PEOPLE want to make the most of their socialising over Christmas, so we’ve compiled a list of 12 gigs worth catching in different Cork venues that support the live music scene all year round. We’ve omitted ones that are already sold out, but have put together a nice, broad range of options. In a positive move for the wallet, the majority of them are also free. If you can’t make these particular events, check out the venue’s social media for anything upcoming over Christmas and into 2025

We’ll start with two options tomorrow, one in the city and one down east. The Poor Relation on Parnell Place will be hosting a mini rock festival from 9pm, with four bands playing. Love ’n’ Dirtt and Stanton’s Grave are appearing along with Big Boy Foolish, a post-punk duo made up of Liam Heffernan and Ricky Dineen, and The Revolt, an explosive punk quartet. The two latter bands both feature former members of Leeside legends Five Go Down To The Sea, so you can be sure of a great night of Cork music. The Revolt released their latest single, ‘Fla Boi’, two weeks ago, and, circularly, the music video happened to be filmed in The Poor Relation.

A more sedate, but equally stimulating, evening will be taking place in the Sirius Arts Centre in Cobh, when Cormac Ó Caoimh (8pm; €15) continues his ‘A Gig A Month Forever’ tour with his brilliant mix of insightful lyrics, catchy melodies, and sophisticated guitar playing to present a consistently brilliant concert experience. Joining him will be Eavan O’Leary. Cormac’s wit at his gigs, as well as on his social-media posts, is another reason to catch his appearance here, or at some point next year.

On Sunday, December 22, at 5pm up at Live At Saint Luke’s, the St Luke’s Male Voice Choir will be performing their annual concert of much-loved Christmas carols and classic songs. The choir are approaching their 20th year and this Christmas event — which follows a full day of busking around the city — is always a great fundraiser for Marymount Hospice, and, as is the tradition, they will be joined by the Jingle Belles, a group of Cork-based women.

Both of those groups will be conducted by Anth Kaley, who also happens to be the musical director of the Christmas panto in the Everyman!

Much later that evening, and raising the tempo, will be another great night from Mockie Ah (11.30pm; €12/€16) and their Camp Christmas Cabaret in The Pavilion, hosted by Candy Warhol and featuring 12 queens from across Ireland. It will be a night of burlesque, comedy, dance, and live music, plus prizes for best-dressed and giveaways. The nights that Mockie Ah put on have become a real destination event in Cork, with the gang consistently pushing both the production values and the entertainment for the audience.

On Monday, December 23, after a very successful year of seemingly non-stop gigging and making serious inroads internationally with their rocking psychedelic sound, hometown heroes The Love Buzz (7pm; €15) will be playing an end-of-year show in Cyprus Avenue, with Rua Rí and Babyrat both supporting. The Love Buzz released an EP in October titled No Different, and, hopefully, next year will be ‘no different’ for them and their success will continue.

While Christmas Eve is relatively quiet around the city, I’d like to suggest as entertainment the increasing number of buskers performing on our streets. ‘John’ from The Beatless, Cork’s best three-piece Beatles tribute band, was a standout for me last year and, this year, he will be playing another set, with the money raised going to charity.

Charlie’s on Union Quay, is the setting for what is dubbed ‘the last gig in Cork City before Christmas’, when Hank Wedel and Ray Barron host their legendary ‘Monday Night Session’ (which celebrated 30 years in 2024) at 7pm, on a rare Tuesday! Both have released albums this year and have plenty to celebrate, and you never know who will pop in on the night. The evening was encapsulated in a lovely song by Hank called ‘Charlie’s On A Cold Christmas Eve’.

The same spot on Union Quay is also where I suggest enjoying Stephen’s Night when the legendary Lynch Mob will be playing from 9pm. While the world’s most famous white-bearded man is putting his feet up, Cork’s most famous white-bearded man, Ricky Lynch, will bring his big bag of songs and rock the room, ably assisted by his band. One of the most sophisticated interpreters of the Bob Dylan canon, Ricky also has original songs that are equal to the great Mr Zimmerman.

One of the greatest voices to ever come out of this country will be in The Roundy on Friday, December 27, when Ger Wolfe (7pm; €15) plays what will surely be a night of

beautiful folk music.

The great Christy Moore himself has said, “Ger Wolfe’s songs always raise my spirits.”

Ger has absorbed so many types of music, and he is equally adept at Sean-nós singing as with a full band. Many people have remarked that his song ‘The Victory Of Forgiveness’ (which was released 20 years ago) is perhaps the finest Reggae song ever to come from Ireland.

The Briery Gap in Macroom, the newest arts venue in Cork, opened in September and in those few short months has made quite an impression. On Saturday, December 28, they will be holding their last concert of the year when Leevy (8pm; €18) bring their unique blend of folk-rock poetry, raucous punk, and traditional Irish music to their stage.

The five-piece from the Múscraí Gaeltacht, led by their songwriter Amhlaoibh McSweeney, show great promise for 2025.

On Sunday, December 28, as it is throughout the Christmas period, there are so many options, but one gig that really stands out is Joe Mac at 6pm in Canty’s on Pembroke St, his regular session there having been a long-standing gem in the entertainment landscape. But at Christmas week his session will have a real celebration to it, with plenty of ex-pats and families having a great time.

Much later that night, next door in The Crane Lane will be one of the best Cork live bands in recent years: The Tan Jackets will be playing at 11.50pm. They play a great rock band live show, mixing some originals with pulsating performances of traditional blues, punk, garage, and rock and roll songs.

They claim that they are the soundtrack to ‘Dirty Dancing for Dirty Dancers.’

For New Year’s Eve, I’d like to point you to Dwyer’s on Washington St, who have booked Code Of Behaviour, a brass band that many people will have seen all over the city during the Cork Jazz Festival as they played the parade and around the street trail.

As a final point: If you’d prefer to start 2025 listening to three different DJs playing great party music, maybe consider Coughlans on Douglas St, where they will be hosting one of their much-loved Silent Discos.

Please check each venue’s social media in advance, as all events are subject to change.