Simon ParkinSeven performers will make for a packed special Christmas show at the Acoustic and Eclectic night at Olives, at the bottom of Elm Hill, tonight (8.15-11.Simon Parkin

Unusually for the pre-Christmas weekend, big names are thinner on the ground than Christmas tree needles this year. Two who are sure to get the festive party started however are Goldie Lookin' Chain (pictured), who bring their Office Party Tour to the Waterfront on December 20. Meanwhile at the Open Youth venue they continue their already impressive ability to attract top talent when Swedish chart-topper Basshunter returns to the city on December 22 to perform a DJ set.

Seven performers will make for a packed special Christmas show at the Acoustic and Eclectic night at Olives, at the bottom of Elm Hill, tonight (8.15-11.15pm). Jasper Taylor, Ed Harkness, and Ruth Gordon from the highly-acclaimed Cakes and Ale will be performing solo sets: Jasper mixing his own wistful and subtle solo material, Ruth featuring songs from her debut, Songs For the Sea, while Ed - aka Tender Lion - will be playing offbeat songs inspired by such diverse topics as the British Railway system and outdated coinage. Also appearing will be harpist/singer The Dim Goddess, Swedish songwriter and harmonium player Lilith, Shane O'Linski, playing solo as Monolinski, and a piano-based set from Laurie Bennett of The Winter Visitors, who creates understated, mildly melancholic gentle gems. Entry �2 on the door.

Some of Norfolk's finest purveyors of rockin' roots music come together for The Midwinter Moonshine at Norwich Arts Centre on December 21. The triple bill of country, roots and swing features The Vagaband, The Loose Leaf Drifters and The Henry Brothers. The Vagaband play roots music with elements of country, folk, rock, soul and swing filtering through the sound. The Loose Leaf Drifters play 'traditional untraditional' country played off the cuff by a wandering line-up of multi-instrumentalists, led by Ben Grizzly. The Henry Brothers feature sophisticated vocal harmony arrangements. Tickets �6adv/�7door.

More festive frolics are promised at the Howlback Hum Christmas Party which takes place at the Arts Centre on December 22. The interesting line-up features the full line-up of Norwich nu-folk innovators Cakes and Ale (pictured), who impressed all who've seen them this year, Charlotte Morris, melodramatic acoustic types The Middle Ones, down-tempo experimentalists Lethargic Pigeon and The Gore Vidals. The caf�/bar will feature performances from Sunday Music, The Raw and the Cooked, Twa Corbies and Sebastiana. www.myspace.com/howlbackhumfeatmummywheresthemilkman

Norwich Rocks!, who've run a series a excellent live shows, parties, late night club nights and acoustic sessions this year, will be rounding 2009 off with a special New Year's Eve Party at the Rivergarden, on Yarmouth Road, Norwich. They've put together a bill of local music talent that includes Four Days in May, Killamonjambo, Ame Just Sing, Dumbfoundus, Hemingway, The Delaney and The Acoustics. There will also be a series of Norwich Rocks DJ sets to make sure the party continues. Tickets are �10 in advance from the Rivergarden or on the ticket hotline 0844 8700000. www.norwichrocks.com