HILLTOPS SPORTS AND SOCIAL CLUB, Hill Lane, Blackrod. Budding musicians come and play your own arrangements and compositions, Wednesday evenings from 7.30pm. Also, Free and Easy with organist and drummer. Every Saturday night. Starts 8pm. For more details ring Bolton 692702.

THE MET, Market Street, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216.

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

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

BURY MET CAFE BAR, Market Street, Bury.

Horwich RMI CLUB, Chorley New Road, Horwich. Ring Bolton 468085 (9am to 5pm) or Bolton 468911 (6.30pm to 9pm).

MOSES GATE HOTEL, Farnworth.

GYPSY'S TENT, Deansgate, Bolton.

BULLS HEAD, Bury Rd, Breightmet.

SHARMAN ARMS, Halliwell Rd, Bolton, Saturdays, live artist.

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

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

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

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

BOLTON CRICKET CLUB, Green Lane, Bolton. Jazz Club, Thursdays.

MANCHESTER ACADEMY, Oxford Rd, Manchester. Ring 0161 275 2930.

NIGHT AND DAY, Oldham Street, Manchester. Do They Know It's Christmas? with Oceansize, Indigo Jones, Bryan Clancy, Polythene, Monomania, Moco, The Mentalist, Somewhere Outside Tikyo; The Soviet Union All Stars, Kids Indestructable; Red Vinyl Fur, Ant Man B, Mr Thompson, Dr Strangehair. Sunday December 17. Starts 4pm to 10.30pm. Admission £4. Also, Tonight Uglyman Redman Xmas Party. £3 and £2.50 concessions. Also, Saturday December 16, Carnaby Street Club Night. Admission £4 and £3. Also, Monday December 18, Prolekult Xmas Special with Desolation Angels, Polythene and Jackie O. Admission £3. Also, Tuesday, December 19, Kowloon, Goad and Ten Stone Dead. Admission £3 and £2.50. Also, Wednesday December 20, Sleepwalker in Residence with 33 Hurtz and Four Miles Out. Admission £3. Also, Thursday December 21, Emergency Exit, Roma and The Known Associates. Admission £2.50 and £3. Ring 0161 236 1822/4597.

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

HAWTHORNS, Spa Road, Bolton. Ring Bolton 388322.

BLUE CAT CAFE, Shaw Road, Stockport.

BAND ON THE WALL, Swan St, Manchester. Tonight Strictly Calypso. Starts 9pm. Tickets £6 and £5. Also, Saturday December 16, Pocket Central. Starts 9pm. Tickets £6 and £5. Also, Thursday December 21, John Ellis Big Band. Ring 0161 833 0682, or 0161 832 6625.

MANCHESTER CRAFT AND DESIGN CENTRE, Oak St, Northern Quarter, Manchester. Ring 0161 832 4274.

THE MET ARTS CENTRE, Market St, Bury. Ring 0161 761 2216

JOSHUA BROOKS, 106 Princess St, Manchester. Ring 0161 273 7543. Mondays, Indie Night, 8.30pm. Tuesdays, House Music with Dave McCormack, 8pm. Weds, House music with Matt Hadlow, Lee Fletcher, Francis Wooff and Stephen Reilly. Starts 6pm. Fridays, Funk & soul music with Dave Glynn. Starts 9pm.

JABEZ CLEGG, 2 Portsmouth St, Manchester. Ring 0161 272 8612. Mondays, The Freestyle Factory. Starts 7pm. Tuesdays, The Big Quiz and Resident DJs. Wednesdays, funk and acid jazz. Thursdays, Super disco brakes - a night of funk and disco. Fridays and Saturdays, The Bop, a mixture of dance and pop, 9.30pm.

THE MOON & SIXPENCE, 1 Bernard Street, Glossop. Ring 01457 865203.

THE GUZZLING GOOSE, Bentinck Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. Ring 0802 581308.

IRISH WORLD HERITAGE CENTRE, 10 Queens Road, Cheetham Hill, Manchester. Darrel Higham and the Enforcers and The Reservoir Cats. Admission £8. Ring 0161 973 5780.

BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, Highgate, Kendal.

MANCHESTER UNIVERSITY STUDENTS UNION, Manchester. Sunday December 17, Cradle of Faith. Ring 0161 275 2930.

BUXTON OPERA HOUSE, Water Street, Buxton. Ring 01298 72190.

BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, Highgate, Kendal. Ring 01539 725133.

KING GEORGES HALL, Blackburn.

LYRIC THEATRE, The Lowry, Salford. Ring 0161 876 2000.

WITCHWOOD, 152 Old Street, Ashton-under-Lyne. Tonight Aqua Vista v The Surf Creates. Starts 9pm. Admission £1 and £2. Also, Saturday December 16, Are Your Experienced? A Tribute to Hendrix. Starts 9pm. Admission £5. Also, Sunday December 17, Mother Freedom and The Power Apes. Starts 7.30pm. Admission £3. Also, Monday December 18, Jeepster, Serum and Liss'n. Starts 8pm. Admission £3. Also, Tuesday, December 19, Eliza Carthy, Martin Carthy, Norma Waterson. Starts 8pm. Admission £9 and £10. Also, Wednesday December 20, Bob Catley Band, Kip Winger and Strangedays. Starts 8pm. Admission £8 and £9. Also, Thursday December 21, The Family Magone. Starts 8pm. Admission £5. Ring 0161 344 0321.

HOWCROFT INN, Pool Street, Bolton. Ring 526814.

MANCHESTER APOLLO. Ring 0161 832 1111.

STAR & GARTER, 18 Fairfield Street, Manchester. Ring 0161 273 6726.

MANCHESTER VICTORIA BATHS. Ring 0739 510263.

BREWERY ARTS CENTRE, Highgate, Kendal. Ring 01539 725133.