Sometimes columns just turn into lists, and this looks like one of them.
On the minus side they're not the most interesting thing in the world to read; on the plus side they do provide a lot of (hopefully useful) information.

I generally save this last column of the year to provide a cocktail recipe, something to enjoy with the upcoming festivities, but since there is no paper next week and normal service will not be resumed until January 7, I thought it would be a good idea to compile a guide to the various gigs coming up in the meantime. The last couple of columns have mentioned a few random things, but I'll try and make this week a little more comprehensive. Even so, sorry about the – probably – many things I've missed.
December 26 – That old Aussie rocker Jimmy Barnes is coming to town again, to the outside venue at Brewer's Bar at the Mount (all the Brewer's Bar gigs mentioned are outdoors). He'll be playing old favourites and songs from his newer Rage and Ruin album and brings Midnight Youth with him, who are riding high on the success of their The Brave Don't Run CD and some popular singles. Tickets are $60. In fact, tickets for all the Brewer's Bar and Waihi gigs are either $55 or $60, so I won't repeat it at every mention.
27 December – Katchafire and the Black Seeds hit the Waihi Beach Tavern offering all the reggae you could want. Two fantastic bands, each with new albums to promote which are, respectively, On The Road and Specials.
29 December – Katchafire and the Black Seeds arrive in town and play at The Brewer's Bar. Meanwhile, at Mills Reef, Club Manouche play French swing and gypsy jazz along with primo jazz singer Carolina Moon. Tickets for that are $20 (as they are for all Mills Reef shows mentioned).
31 December – New Year's Eve, and of course there are cover bands playing in bars all over the place, far too many to list. Of particular interest may be the Papamoa Tavern where you can enjoy a veritable festival of local bands including Left Hand Break, Papa Levi and Sonic Gigolo, Doors open at 2pm. Jimmy Barnes and Midnight Youth are heading north, playing at the Waihi Beach Tavern.
2 January – Shihad, recent inductees into the NZ Music Hall of Fame are at The Brewer's Bar in tandem with this year's APRA Silver Scroll winners The Naked And Famous and raucous two-piece Cairo Knife Fight, while the wonderful Fat Freddy's Drop arrive in the Bay and present their patented blend of funk and grooves at the Waihi Beach Tavern.
3 January – Shihad, The Naked And Famous, and Cairo Knife Fight are departing, but there's one last chance to see them, at the Waihi Beach Tavern.
4 January – Fat Freddy's in the house! On what is announced to be their last NZ tour for some time (they're heading back overseas) Fat Freddy's Drop play The Brewer's Bar. Over at Mills Reef it's a Cuban extravaganza with the country's top purveyors of Buena Vista Social Club music, Auckland's Orquesta Amadeus.
5 January – High flying surf ‘n' skate band I Am Giant are playing at The Colosseum. They've been touring the world, most recently Australia where they made the video for their new single ‘Living The Crash' with American skateboarding legend Tony Hawk. Or, if you fancy a shot of blues, check out Summertime Blues at Mills Reef, an acoustic blues summit featuring The Self-Righteous Brothers Blues Ensemble (moonlighting members of local favourites Kokomo) and acclaimed bluesman Mike Garner.
7 January – Possibly the loudest band in the country, Shapeshifter, are coming to The Brewer's Bar, hot on the heels of their new release System Is A Remix, a collection of remixes put together by a bunch of big name Kiwi and UK producers. They'll have Ladi6 with them, who has just returned from an incredibly successful overseas jaunt supporting the likes of Gil Scott-Heron and Mos Def.
OK. That's the lot for now. We'll be back on January 7. I'll get to the cocktail recipe then, for now – stick this on the fridge. And Happy Christmas everyone!