Boxing Day Bash: Free Triple Threat Party at the Hare and Hounds
What better way to recover from the ineffable feeding frenzy of Christmas day than spending Boxing day shaking your festive booties to three of Birmingham’s finest purveyors of vinyl hypnotic grooves. Love the Life versus Holiday versus MOHO, expect a glorious bout of genre defying sonic mayhem to keep your asses twitching until the early hours. It makes the over indulgence of the big day almost guilt free. Chow down, gain a waist size and then dance that gluttony away in a fuzz of sweaty limbs. The only gym you require is the dance floor of the Hare and Hounds.
Boxing Day 10pm at Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ www.facebook.com

Christmas Jumper Hangover at Cogs
It might be Boxing Day but there’s no need just yet to put your favourite hideous yuletide jumper at the bottom of the wardrobe for another year. The lovely steam punkers over at Cogs are pulling every last gasp out of the festive season with an evening of banging music and seasonal movie gems. DJ’s across two rooms, a screening of everyone’s favourite Christmas slapstick movie Home Alone and, best of all, anyone wearing a Christmas jumper will get a free shot. We quite like the idea of a packed dance floor wearing reindeer jumpers and giving it large to some classic House anthems.
Boxing Day 8pm at Cogs 61 Newhall Street, B3 3RB Birmingham www.facebook.com/

Fat Penguin Comedy Club at Patrick Kavanagh Bar
How these guys manage to gather together such a stunning array of comedy legends and put them on for nothing never ceases to amaze us. Long may it continue. For the Christmas special we have a real treat, Rich Wilson has been wowing audiences for years with his caustic observational comedy and is possibly the most in demand compere in the business, recommended by no less an authority than Frank Skinner. Hecklers beware he has something of a reputation for dealing with ‘difficult’ audiences. 2016’s English Comedian of the Year Josh Pugh is supporting and there will be short sets from Simon Wozniak and Callum Oakley.
Wed 28 Dec 8pm at Patrick Kavanagh Bar, Woodbridge Road, Moseley B13 8EH www.facebook.com/

Blues Club with Hannah Johnson & the Broken Hearts at the Hare and Hounds
Local honky tonkers Hannah Johnson and the Broken Hearts bring their uniquely ethereal and comprehensive twist on Americana to the H&H. A perfect way to start the countdown into the new year with their relaxed mix of original songs and standard classics. The Blues Club regular DJ’s Dylan Gibbons and Dave Le Moderne will keep the cool vibe ticking along with their usual unbridled eclecticism.
Sat 31 Dec 4pm at Hare and Hounds, High Street, Kings Heath, Birmingham B14 7JZ hareandhoundskingsheath

New Years Eve Party at the Old Joint Stock
The Old Joint Stock is a huge sprawling venue with a growing reputation for eclectic events and parties so a free NYE shindig is not to be sniffed at. Expect all the usual party gubbin’s, but best of all the King of the Swingers jazz band will be hammering out a brasstastic evening of classic swing from the likes of Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong to smooth your way into 2017. Tickets aren’t required and it’s a huge venue, but we’d still get there early groovesters.
Sat 31 Dec 6pm at Old Joint Stock 4 Temple Row West Birmingham B2 5NY www.oldjointstock.co.uk/

NYE at the Fresh Prince of Wales
We love it when our favourite venue’s throw a curve ball into a bloated evening of events and shake it up with a unique and imaginative party that not only stands out from the rest, it trumps the rest. Who’d have thought it? A Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Party to bring in the new year, genius. Drawing on tunes from the 70s, 80s and 90s spun by the expert fingers of DJ Cheese Dip who will be dropping in from the legendary Sweatfunk Club to groove up the heated garden with nostalgic rhythm. Oh, you will be getting your face painted too and fancy dress is strongly advised. You can even create your own special story on a wipeable board. Try not to swear kids.
Sat 31 Dec 8.30pm at the Prince of Wales, 118 Alcester Road Moseley Birmingham B13 8EE www.theprincemoseley.co.uk/

NYE Hootananny at the Dark Horse
It’s not actually possible for us to even walk past the Dark Horse these days before our rhythm muscles instinctively start to twitch in anticipation of hearing some of the deepest and dirtiest drum and bass that has become their forte. In a year full of legends culminating with Fabio and Grooverider, what better way to round things off and look forward in anticipation to 2017 than with a free party rammed with the cream of local deejaying talent. Two rooms featuring a massive aural assault from the likes of Jekyll, Ben Dunn and Robidon. Your ears will be ringing into 2017.
Sat 31 Dec 9pm at the Dark Horse, 145 Alcester Road, Moseley B13 8JP www.facebook.com/