IT'S the most wonderful time of the year and there are loads of great shows and gigs on across the region this week.
From Britpop hero Richard Ashcroft to classical music legend Andre Rieu, there is something for everyone.
Here's our guide to the best of what's on...
GIGS
THE TWANG — Manchester Ritz, Thursday, December 20
ORBITAL — Manchester Apollo, Thursday, December 20
808 STATE — Manchester Academy, Friday, December 21
JOOLS HOLLAND AND HIS RHYTHM AND BLUES ORCHESTRA — Manchester Apollo, Friday, December 21
SKA FACE — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Saturday, December 22
MACC LADS — Manchester Ritz, Saturday, December 22
SLADE — Manchester Academy, Saturday, December 22
RICHARD ASHCROFT — Albert Hall, Manchester, Sunday, December 23
SHOWADDYWADDY — Albert Halls, Bolton, Saturday, January 5
EDWINA HAYES — Bury Met, Friday, January 11
IQ — Bury Met, Saturday, January 12
CHRIS SMITHER — Bury Met, Thursday, January 17
THE HUNNA — Manchester Academy, Wednesday, January 16 to Friday, January 18
MERRY HELL — Darwen Library Theatre, Friday, January 18
THE SKIDS and BIG COUNTRY — Preston Guild Hall, Saturday, January 19
NATHANIEL RATELIFF AND THE NIGHTSWEATS — Manchester Academy, Saturday, January 19
SKID ROW — Manchester Ritz, Tuesday, January 22
YOUNG FATHERS — Albert Hall, Manchester, Wednesday, January 23
THE 1975 — Manchester Arena, Thursday, January 24
AZEALIA BANKS — Manchester Ritz, Thursday, January 24
DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE — Albert Hall, Manchester, Friday, January 25
ULTIMATE POWER — Manchester Ritz, Friday, January 25
MAT WALKLATE — Bury Met, Friday, January 25
VISHTEN — Bury Met, Friday, January 25
THE VACCINES — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Monday, January 28
MASSIVE ATTACK — Manchester Arena, Tuesday, January 29
SNOW PATROL — Manchester Arena, Wednesday, January 30
KAISER CHIEFS — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Thursday, January 31
THE DANDY WARHOLS — Albert Hall, Manchester, Thursday, January 31
THE DELINES — Bury Met, Friday, February 1
GORGO CITY — Albert Hall, Manchester, Friday, February 1
BOYZONE — Manchester Arena, Saturday, February 2
DODGY — Manchester Ritz, Saturday, February 2
RICHARD HAWLEY — Bury Met, Saturday, February 2 and Sunday, February 3
THE SEARCHERS — Albert Halls, Bolton, Sunday, February 3
THE CHURCHFITTERS — Darwen Library Theatre, Sunday, February 3
ENTER SHIKARI — Manchester Academy, Sunday, February 3
OZZY OSBOURNE — Manchester Arena, Sunday, February 3
BUCKCHERRY — Manchester Ritz, Tuesday, February 5
FM —Preston Live, Friday, February 8
RED SKY COVEN — Bury Met, Friday, February 8
BEHEMOTH — Manchester Ritz, Saturday, February 9
JACKIE OATES — Bury Met, Saturday, February 9
JOHN GRANT — Albert Hall, Manchester, Sunday, February 10
THE LEMONHEADS — Manchester Ritz, Tuesday, February 12
RUTS DC — Manchester Ritz, Wednesday, February 13
BARBARA DICKSON — Albert Halls, Bolton, Wednesday, February 13
NENEH CHERRY — Albert Hall, Manchester, Wednesday, February 13
BETH ROWLEY — Bury Met, Thursday, February 14
WHITE DENIM — Albert Hall, Manchester, Friday, February 15
COMEDY
LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY CLUB — Albert Halls, Bolton, Monday, December 31
GEORGE’S COMEDY CLUB — King George’s Hall, Blackburn, Friday, January 4
COMEDY CLUB — Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, January 5
OUR RITA’S COMEDY ROADSHOW — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Friday, January 11
LOL COMEDY CLUB — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Saturday, January 12
LOVE LETTERS FROM BLACKPOOL — Bury Met, Thursday, January 24
COMEDY CLUB — Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, February 2
THEATRE
THE PRODUCERS — Royal Exchange Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday, January 26
NT LIVE: ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA — Darwen Library Theatre, Saturday, January 12
RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE — Albert Halls, Bolton, Thursday, January 24 to Saturday, February 2
TRIAL BY LAUGHTER — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Tuesday, January 29 to Saturday, February 2
BALLET
THE NUTCRACKER — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Tuesday, Wednesday, January 2 and Thursday, January 3
MOSCOW CITY BALLET — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Thursday, January 17 to Saturday, January 19
CLASSICAL
ANDRE RIEU — Manchester Arena, Thursday, December 20
HALLE YOUTH ORCHESTRA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Saturday, December 22
HALLE: ABBA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday, December 30
NEW YEAR’S EVE CHAMPAGNE CONCERT — Blackburn Cathedral, Monday, December 31
NEW YEAR’ S EVE AT THE MOVIES — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Monday, December 31
NEW YEAR’S DAY VIENNESE GALA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Tuesday, January 1
HALLE NEW YEAR IN VIENNA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Saturday, January 5
DANCE
STRICTLY COME DANCING LIVE — Manchester Arena, Saturday, January 26 and Sunday, January 27
FAMILY
STICK MAN — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Sunday, January 6
LILY AND THE CHRISTMAS SNOW BEAR — Bury Met, Thursday, December 20
LITTLE GIFT — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Monday, December 31
BING LIVE — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Saturday, January 12 and Sunday, January 13
BILLIONAIRE BOY: THE MUSICAL — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Thursday, February 14 to Sunday, February 17
FESTIVE
CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Thursday, December 20
HALLE CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Friday, December 21
HALLE CAROL CONCERT — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Sunday, December 23
CHRISTMAS CAROL SINGALONG — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Monday, December 24
LAST NIGHT OF THE CHRISTMAS PROMS — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Wednesday, December 26
MUSICALS
WICKED — Palace Theatre, Manchester, until Saturday, January 5
DOCTOR DOLITTLE THE MUSICAL — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Saturday, January 5
ROCKY HORROR SHOW — Manchester Opera House, Wednesday, January 9 to Saturday, January 26
THE BAND — the Lowry, Salford Quays, Wednesday, January 16 to Saturday, January 26
SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Tuesday, January 22 to Saturday, January 26
JERSEY BOYS — Palace Theatre, Manchester, Tuesday, January 29 to Saturday, February 16
PANTOMIME
CINDERELLA — Oldham Coliseum, Saturday, until Saturday, January 12
SHOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS — Albert Halls, Bolton, until Sunday, December 30
CINDERELLA — Manchester Opera House until Sunday, December 30
SLEEPING BEAUTY — King George’s Hall, Blackburn until Monday, December 31
JACK AND THE BEANSTALK — Darwen Library Theatre, until Monday, December 24
ALADDIN — Dancehouse, Manchester, Friday, December 14 to Monday, December 31
TRIBUTE
DEFINITELY MIGHTBE — Manchester Ritz, Friday, December 21
PIANO LEGENDS — Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Thursday, December 27
ELO EXPERIENCE — Albert Halls, Bolton,Thursday, January 10
BOWIE CELEBRATION — Manchester Ritz, Friday, January 11
GAGA — Bury Met, Friday, January 18
SONGS OF LEONARD COHEN — Bury Met, Saturday, January 19
VARIETY
ERIC AND ERN AT CHRISTMAS — the Lowry, Salford Quays, until Sunday, January 6
ADULT PANTO: JACK AND HIS GIANT BEANSTALK — Albert Halls, Bolton, Friday, January 18 and Saturday, January 19
JEAN GENIE — Bury Met, Saturday, January 26
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