WITCHWOOD, 152 Old Street, Ashton-u-Lyne. Mark Radcliffe's Christmas Party with The Family Mahone, Wednesday December 19, tickets £5-£6. Christmas Eve Festive Juke Box with DJ Tom Smith, Mother Freedom and Tucana, Monday December 24, Tickets £5. The Best of The Friday Juke Box with DJ Tom Smith, 4ft.Fingers and Zen Baseball Bat, New Years Eve, Monday December 31 tickets £5, 8pm til late. Details 0161 3305028.

BAND ON THE WALL, 25 Swan Street, Northern Quarter, Manchester -- John Ellis Big Bang, get into the Christmas spirit with inspiration from Ellington to Ray Charles, Thursday December 20, 8pm, tickets £7. Showcase Well North of London, the region's regular night for new, unsigned bands, Tuesday December 18, 8pm, tickets £3.50. Access to music Showcase, new talent from the Manchester area, who all attend Access to Music/North Trafford College, Monday and Tuesday December 10 and 11, 7pm, tickets £2-3 -- from the ticket hot-line 0161 237 5554.

ROYAL NORTHERN COLLEGE OF MUSIC, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester -- The South African Gospel Singers, Tuesday December 18, 7.30pm. Tickets £13, box office 0161 907 5278/9.

Lostock ARMS, Lostock Junction Lane, Lostock -- Buskers Ball every Monday 8.30pm, admission free, musicians and singers welcome. 01204 843634.

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, Oxford Road, Manchester. 0161 832 1111.

QUEEN ELIZABETH HALL, West Street, Oldham - Mark Stead presents Old Tyme Music Hall with traditional music, comedy and entertainment. Tickets £16 including a three course Christmas Dinner, £6 for the show only from 2pm. Friday December 14 at 12 noon. Box Office 0161 911 4072.

ROYTON ASSEMBLY HALL, Market Square, Royton, Oldham. Hepworth Brass Band Special Christmas Concert, Sunday December 16, £6, £5 concs, £3 child/full time student. Box Office 0161 911 4072.

HILLTOPS SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, Hill Lane, Blackrod. Members notice. Budding musicians come and play your own arrangements and compositions, Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm. Free and Easy with organist and drummer fronted by Norman, ex-Wigan Railway Club. Every Saturday night, 8pm. Details 01204 692702.

THE ANTELOPE, Manchester Road, Kearsley. Details 01204 707481.

CLUB MISTRY, Derby Street, Bolton. Details 01204 524695.

ROCHDALE TRANSPORT CLUB, Baron Street, Rochdale. Details 01706 646070.

ROCHDALE RUGBY CLUB, Moorgate Avenue, Rochdale. Details 01706 646863.

THE WATERMILLOCK, Crompton Way, Bolton. Live music every Saturday from 7.30pm. Tel Bolton 591798.

CITY HOTEL, Eskrick Street, Halliwell.

FARMERS ARMS, Chorley Street, Bolton.

LIFE CAFE, Peter Street, Manchester. Tel 0161 832 1111.

PIGEON CLUB, Bridgeman Street, off Manchester Road, Tel 528323.

MOSES GATE, Bolton Road, Farnworth. Tel 576278.

PRESTON GUILD HALL, Lancaster Road, Preston. Tel 01772 258858.

GREEN ROOM, 54-56 Whitworth Street West, Manchester. Tel 0161 950 5777.

THE MET, Market Street, Bury. Every Sunday jam night, jazz, funk, blues and rock, starts 9pm, tickets £1 on the door. Every Wednesday, North-west songwriting competition 2001, tickets free. For all events phone 0161 761 2216.

BURNLEY MECHANICS, Manchester Road, Burnley. Details 01282 664400.

BEEHIVE, Horwich. Live music. Every Friday. Starts 9pm. Tel 692104.

BAROC CAFE BAR, Halliwell Road, Bolton. Tel Bolton 847300.

HORWICH RMI CLUB, Chorley New Road, Horwich. Sunday lunchtime big band concerts in the Swing Suite, doors open 12.15pm. December 9 -- The Ron Hayes Big Band. Admission £5, £4 conc, pay on the door. Details 01204 468911 evenings.

GYPSY'S TENT, Deansgate, Bolton.

PEEL HALL, THE CRESCENT, SALFORD. Details 0161 295 3231.

BULLS HEAD, Bury Road, Breightmet.

ROSE AND CROWN, Bury Road, Edgworth, Bolton, Saturdays, live entertainment.

THE LAMB, Blackburn Road, Bolton, Saturdays, live entertainment.

ST GREGORY'S SOCIAL CLUB, Church St, Farnworth, live cabaret, open the box and bingo on Sundays.

THE BROOKLYN, Green Lane, Bolton. Sundays, live entertainment.

BOLTON CRICKET CLUB, Green Lane, Bolton.

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, Oxford Road, Manchester. 100 Reasons, Wednesday December 12, tickets £6 in advance. All About Eve, seated gig, Wednesday December 12, tickets £15 in advance. An Audience with Mike Peters, Thursday December 13, tickets £10 in advance. King Adora, Friday December 14, tickets £8.50 in advance. King Adora, Friday December 14, tickets £8.50 in advance. Mortiis, Monday December 17, tickets £9 in advance. Fad Gadget, Saturday January 19, tickets £10 in advance. Tel 0161 275 2930.

NIGHT AND DAY, Oldham Street, Manchester. Tel 0161 236 1822/4597.

THE ROADHOUSE, Newton St, Manchester. Tel 0161 237 9789.

HAWTHORNS, Spa Road, Bolton. Tel Bolton 388322.

MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION, Manchester. Tel 0161 275 2930.

HOWCROFT INN, Pool Street, Bolton. Acoustic Nights second and fourth Tuesday every month. Tel 526814.

EMPRESS BALLROOM, Town Hall Street, Blackburn. Tel 07720 194 135.