As we enter the thick of the festive season, there’s all sorts of wonderful live music to enjoy in and around York, including a rare appearance from bona fide pop royalty!
This month, The Crescent will hosta very special and intimate acoustic album launch from ‘Sporty Spice’ herself, Melanie C, while Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra will be bringing their own unique brand of festive boogie woogie to the Barbican, accompanied by special guest Roachford.
In the run-up to Christmas, York will also welcome beloved British folkie Beans on Toast, back on the road as part of his annual birthday tour, while harmony-driven British trio The Wandering Hearts willreturn to the city after a riotous appearance at York Barbican this autumn and high-profile shows at Ryman Auditorium, the Grand Ole Opry and the Royal Albert Hall.
We’ll also see a citywide flurry of festive classical music from the York Early Music Christmas Festival, with heavyweight performers including Bellot Ensemble, Ruby Hughes & Jonas Nordberg, Spiritato, Echo Vocal Ensemble, ArteSonado, and Nocturnalia Ensemble.
2 December
Beans On Toast, The Crescent
Cinema Stereo, The Fulford Arms
The Jazzville Duo + Guests, Museum Street Tavern
The Blues Collective, The Gillygate
Gypsy Jazz in York, the micklegate SOCIAL
3 December
Dringhouses Jazz Cafe Society, Dringhouses Sports Club
Black Swan Folk Club, Black Swan
DC Blues, The Three Tuns
Bad Saloon, Golden Ball
Fulford Fuzzfest 5, The Fulford Arms
Flowerden + Bargestra Christmas Show!, The Crescent
3 – 5 December
The Wandering Hearts, FortyFive Vinyl Cafe
4 December
Flatcap Carnival, The Crescent
Beats & Bands, Kennedy’s
Wandering Hearts, FortyFive Vinyl Cafe
Landslide, The Fulford Arms
The Madchester Experience, York Acorn Rugby Club
Karl Mullen & Friends, The Phoenix Inn
4 – 13 December
York Early Music Christmas Festival, Citywide venues
5 December
BGB Punx Xmas P*** Up, The Fulford Arms
Northern Disco Affair, The Crescent
Sunday Club, The Ship Inn
Wandering Hearts, FortyFive Vinyl Cafe
Just Radiohead, The Crescent
6 December
The Moondogs, Severus Social Club
The Xception, The Edinburgh Arms
Acoustic Night, Waggon & Horses
Moments of Pleasure, The Fulford Arms
7 December
Folk Night, The Corner Pin
L.Y.R., The Crescent
Tang Hall SMART Level 3 Band Night, The Fulford Arms
8 December
EMF, The Crescent
The North, The Fulford Arms
9 December
Skids + Theatre of Hate, The Crescent
The Blues Collective, The Gillygate
Ephemera – Hitlist, The Fulford Arms
10 December
Janice Burns & Jon Doran, Black Swan
Kirsty Hughes + Jazzville Quartet, Dringhouses Sports Club
Chantel McGregor, The Fulford Arms
10-11 December
The Hyde Family Jam Festive Fiesta, The Crescent
11 December
Quo Connection feat. Jeff Rich, The Fulford Arms
12 December
Laid, The Fulford Arms
Jimbo Doomface, The Three Tuns
The 88s, The Edinburgh Arms
The Howl and The Hum, The Crescent
13 December
Gimp Fist + The Puncturists + Indignation Meeting, The Fulford Arms
Mostly Autumn – Christmas Show!, The Crescent
The Living Young, Severus Social Club
Nashville Sessions, The Edinburgh Arms
14 December
Demi Marriner, FortyFive Vinyl Cafe
The Bootleg Beatles, York Barbican
16 December
Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra + Roachford, York Barbican
The Big Christmas Concert, Q Church
The Jazzville Duo + Guests, Museum Street Tavern
The Blues Collective, The Gillygate
17 December
New York Brass Band Christmas Party – Thursday, The Crescent
Jim Wright’s Rhythm Deluxe, Dringhouses Sports Club
Black Swan Folk Club Christmas Party, Black Swan
18 December
The Fulfordgate Club Xmas Bash, Fulfordgate Club
New York Brass Band Christmas Party, The Crescent
Meteora + Limp Biscuit + Evanescent, The Fulford Arms
Rewind, Huntington Sports Club and Keepers Bar
Face The Strange, The Edinburgh Arms
The Unthanks, York Barbican
19 December
Thomas Benjamin Wild Esq & The Fancy Chaps + Chris Tavener, The Fulford Arms
Checkered Past, Severus Social Club
20 December
Red Kites, Severus Social Club
Jonny and the Dunebugs Christmas Show!, The Crescent
Blast Christmas, The Fulford Arms
21 December
Melanie C, The Crescent
22 December
The Jasmine Lowe Band + Rock Paper Goose + Llama Mollo, The Fulford Arms
23 December
The Jazzville Duo + Guests, Museum Street Tavern
26 December
Glamrockz, The Edinburgh Arms
Jimbo Doomface, The Three Tuns
27 December
Acoustic Night, Waggon & Horses
Gowers After Hours, The Hi Ho Club
28 December
Folk Night, The Corner Pin
Hyde Family Jam’s Not NYE Party 2026!, The Fulford Arms
30 December
Groovetone’s Not NYE Party 2026!, The Fulford Arms
31 December
Sellsword New Year’s Eve Shindig, The Fulford Arms
Are you a local musician, artist or performer putting on a show in York? Are you a member of a local band with a gig on the horizon, or a York-based promoter looking to spread the word about your latest events? Email info@yourlocallink with the details, and your gig could appear in the Gig Guide of an upcoming issue of Your Local Link!
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