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Swap hymns for bops at seven of the heavenliest Christmas sing-songs in town. Go on, make Mariah proud
‘The Muppet Christmas Carol’ singalong
It’s not Christmas until Kermit puts on his top hat. Get into the seasonal spirit at the Prince Charles Cinema, which will be packed with London’s Noël-loving residents for this singalong screening. Get ready for hearty renditions of ‘Scrooge’, ‘Marley and Marley’ and Bean Bunny’s ‘Good King Wenceslas’ which will get the popcorn flying. As a bonus, any doubts about how to vote next week will be banished by Michael Caine’s overnight conversion to socialism. God bless us, every one.
Prince Charles Cinema. Tube: Leicester Square. Until Dec 24, various times. £13.50.
After ten years of running the show in Berlin’s Mauerpark, karaoke veteran Joe Hatchiban takes over Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden this Friday. By now, he knows a thing or two about getting ordinary folk to become stars on the mic. It’s free and there’s no pressure to sing, but you know you will...
Vauxhall Food & Beer Garden. Tube: Vauxhall. Fri Dec 6, 6-10pm. Free.
Celebrity Drag Clash: Mariah vs Celine (Christmas Special)
Christmas 2019’s answer to ‘Feud’: in a battle of voices that will put your family’s Boxing Day bicker in the shade, Scarlett Harlett’s drag queen of Christmas faces her arch-rival Jonathan ‘Celine Dion’ Booth for a brunch-time showdown. There’s a free Bombay Sapphire cocktail on arrival (let’s just hope that ‘All I Want for Christmas’ high note doesn’t shatter your glass). Good luck, Miss Dion.
Soho Zebrano. Tube: Covent Garden. Sat Dec 7, noon-4pm. From £12.
London Sacred Harp Hampstead Christmas Service
Sacred harp in a nutshell: a tradition of acappella singing in four-part harmony that makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up. Think ‘Cold Mountain’-sounding Appalachian bangers that make you wonder how it’s possible for the human voice to be so flipping powerful. Forgo your lie-in to listen to soaring voices flood the sweet Victorian baptist church on Heath Street, then retire to nearby pub The Holly Bush for a well-earned roast by the fire.
Heath Street Baptist Church. Tube: Hampstead. Sun Dec 8, 10.30am-noon. Free.
Raise funds and raise the roof at this festive shindig that will put an end to your bleak midwinter. Turn up at 7pm for mulled wine and mince pies, warm up with carols, then enjoy a performance of traditional songs and Christmas songs by Gaelic Voices, London’s only Irish-language choir, with proceeds going to the London Irish Centre charity. To cap it off, there’s a trad session from 9pm. Nollaig Shona!
London Irish Centre. Camden Rd Overground. Dec 10, 7pm-10pm. £12.
Photograph: LipsChoir
Lipstory: 10 Years of Bangers and B-sides
Beloved women’s choir Lips has been going strong for a decade in London and is throwing itself a tenth birthday party in the form of a big fundraiser for Women Asylum Seekers Together, followed by a club night from Gals Pals. Hear brand new arrangements and medleys as well as a greatest hits set of songs by artists like Janelle Monáe and Grace Jones. Where’s that festive feeling in all this, you ask? Just wait for a rendition of ‘Last Christmas’ from drag king Gorgeous Michael, sung in a blizzard of (fake) snow.
Clapham Grand. Clapham Junction Overground. Dec 11, 7pm-midnight. £16.50.
Gospel Carol Concert at Wesley’s Chapel
Find your inner Sister Mary Clarence and head to this historic Methodist chapel to belt out fa-la-la-la-las with the best. Fresh from the finals of last year’s ‘Songs of Praise’ gospel showdown, IDMC Gospel Choir will be rattling the rafters in aid of Feed the Minds, and they promise a line-up of rousing classics. ‘Silent Night’ can absolutely do one.
Wesley’s Chapel. Tube: Old St. Dec 11, 7.30-9pm. £12-£14.
Find out what else is happening in London this Christmas
In need of a freebie? Keep your cash at the best free events in London this week.