As Cliff Richard said, Christmas is a time for giving and receiving – and that goes for a number of gigs taking place over the next week or two.

Next Thursday, the annual state.ie Midnight Mass fundraising gig takes place at Dublin's Mercantile from 8pm. Skelocrats, The Notas, Deaf Joe and Jennifer Evans will play. Entry is free, but gig-goers are encouraged to throw a few euro into the donation bucket, with all proceeds going to the Pieta House charity.

Sweet Jane are headlining a charity gig tomorrow as part of the Fingal Film Festival in Swords, Co Dublin, where they'll be joined by Crow Black Chicken, The Radioactive Grandma, ON OFF and more for €5.

Meanwhile, The Button Factory's Christmas Party is free (with no strings attached) next weekend. Kilkenny drummer and one-man-band RSAG will headline a bill that also includes Ocho and Plutonic Dust, followed by sets from Toby Kaar, Krystal Klear and Frank B on on

Saturday December 22nd.