Escaping the festive season in Cambridge...

What can you do to escape the horror? If you live in the Cambridge region, here are a few ideas…

Monday 6th: The Buzzcocks + The Rakes + Neville Staple at the Junction. £12.50 A mixture of classic and still energetic punk with new and rather good Jam-esque nail-gun punk from The Rakes, plus ex-Specials man Neville Staples. All this for but a little more than a tenner.

Thursday 9th: Samurai Seven + Tommy Twist + 9 Fold Punch + Logan at the Portland Arms Tonight’s theme is tuneful, punchy pop. The first gig at the re-opened under new management Portland Arms, so a huge turnout would be helpful for proving how beneficial it would be for the new owners to continue to host live music… Plus, it’ll be a good night.

Friday 17th: Miss Black America + The Dawn Parade + Antihero + The Fashion at the Man on the Moon. Miss Black America and The Dawn Parade and Antihero on the same bill? Yes, please. And then afterwards, why not head down to…

Friday 17th: PopArt at the Junction. Cambridge’s new indie clubnight sees Steve Lamacq guest DJ this month, so booking in advance might be wise… Expect an eclectic mix of songs old and new twinned with some really rather wonderful visuals.

Saturday 18th: Chris TT + Cosy Cosy + AD/HD at the Portland Arms R*E*P*E*A*T Fanzine’s Christmas Party features the stars of their recent double A-side split single playing upbeat and edgy/warm and human pop songs. Supported comes from a dubious covers band…

Wednesday 29th: Ramones Tribute Night at the Portland Arms in support of Love Music, Hate Racism and Leukaemia Research R*E*P*E*A*T’s far more traditional Anti-Christmas party will mainly consist of a large number of bands old and new playing Ramones covers in a variety of weird, wonderful and twisted ways. Should be fun – last year’s Kurt Cobain night was a blast.

Not enough? For more Cambridge-based happenings this December, check out repeatfanzine.co.uk, greenmind.tk, manonthemoon.freeserve.co.uk, junction.co.uk and theportland.co.uk.