1 Madness

The SSE Hydro, Glasgow, today

The Herald:

Madness will bring their first major arena tour in two years to the Hydro tonight.

Famous for tracks including Baggy Trousers, House of Fun and It Must Be Love, the nutty boys will perform songs from their new album, Can’t Touch Us Now, during their set, with some classics thrown in for good measure.

Support will be provided by indie pop rockers The Lightning Seeds.

Tickets cost £39.75-£53.90. Visit www.thessehydro.com.

2 The Royal Scottish National Orchestra (RSNO) Christmas Concert: The Snowman

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Glasgow, December 17

The Herald:

The RSNO will bring Raymond Briggs’ classic Christmas tale to life on Saturday at this special festive concert.

The orchestra will provide live musical accompaniment to a screening of The Snowman, which will be narrated by Game of Thrones star Daniel Portman, during its annual Christmas show.

Hosted by Christopher Bell, the show will also include carols and a Christmas song-along.

Tickets cost £17. Visit www.rsno.org.uk.

3 Skerryvore

The Lemon Tree, Aberdeen, December 16

Skerryvore will bring their unique blend of bagpipes, fiddle and rock to Aberdeen tomorrow.

Known as the boy band of Scottish traditional music, the seven-piece will mark their eleventh year together by performing some old favourites alongside new arrangements and material.

Support will be provided by Tide Lines.

Tickets cost £16.50. Visit www.skerryvore.com.

4 A Christmas Festival of Jazz

Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow, December 17

Jazz fans will be able to kick off their countdown to Christmas in style on Saturday with this winter concert.

The show features performances from The Scottish National Jazz Orchestra (SNJO) and the Tommy Smith Youth Jazz Orchestra.

Some festive treats and big band classics will also accompany a special performance of the Nutcracker Suite by the SNJO.

Ticket prices vary. Visit www.rcs.ac.uk.

5 Scottish Ballet: Hansel & Gretel

Edinburgh Festival Theatre, Edinburgh, various dates in December

The Herald:

Picture: Scottish Ballet

Inspired by the popular Grimm Brother’s fairy tale, this new take on Hansel & Gretel promises to be a treat for the whole family.

Christopher Hampson’s retelling of the classic tale of a brother and sister who embark on an adventure in an enchanted forest includes toys that come alive and a ballerina that’s not what she seems.

The show also features a live performance of Humperdinck's score by the Scottish Ballet Orchestra.

Tickets cost £14.50. Visit www.scottishballet.co.uk.

6 Christmas with Caledonian Voices

Stonelaw Parish Church, Rutherglen, and Craigie Symington Parish Church, South Ayrshire, December 16 and 17

Scots opera singer Andrew McTaggart and his Caledonian Voices choir will return to Scotland for their annual Christmas carol concerts this weekend.

Celebrating their fifth year of Christmas concerts, the choir, which was also founded by Calum Fraser, will let the audience decide what carols they sing during the special festive shows.

There will also be performances of the Hallelujah Chorus, In The Bleak Mid-Winter and Lux Aurumque.

All proceeds from the shows will be donated to the Rutherglen and Cambuslang Reach Out Trust.

Tickets cost £10. Visit www.caledonianvoices.co.uk.

7 Afternoon Tea with the Archive

The Black Watch castle & Museum, Perth, December 16

History lovers will get to unearth some of the treasures from the Black Watch archive during this historic afternoon.

Guests will be able to listen to narrations of letter from World War One PoWs in the Empire Gallery, the former drawing room of the Earl of Kinnoull, during the event.

Visitors can also explore the museum’s collection and get a closer look at Next of Kin, an exhibition created by National Museums Scotland.

Tickets cost £15. Visit www.theblackwatch.co.uk.

8 Treasures of Historic Banffshire

Duff House, Banff, various dates in December

Packed full of fascinating artefacts from Banffshire, this exhibition is perfect for anyone who dreams of being the next Indiana Jones.

The exhibit chronicles the history of Banffshire and its unique archaeological heritages.

Highlights include the famous Deskford Carnyx, an ancient musical instrument, and the Gualcross Hoard, a locally found collection of Pictish jewellery.

Entry is included in the admission price for Duff House. Visit www.duffhouse.org.uk.

9 Out of the Frame: Scottish Abstraction

The McManus, Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, Dundee, various dates in December

Featuring a host of celebrated Scottish artists, this exhibition is full of imaginative gems.

The show examines how Scottish artists have experimented and engaged with abstract art and includes works from William Gear, Callum Innes and Wilhelmina Barns-Graham.

It also features a newly acquired work by hometown artist Victoria Morton.

Entry is free. Visit www.mcmanus.co.uk.

10 Midge Ure

Rothes Hall, Fife, tonight

The Herald:

The Ultravox frontman will bring his Something From Everything tour to Fife tonight.

Celebrating his 40 year career in music, the show will include songs from every album the Scots singer has released from 1977’s Rich Kids right through to his most recent solo works.

Charting his pop band beginnings, electronic work with Visage and success with Ultravox, this is one show music fans will not want to miss.

Tickets cost £20 for adult and £18 for concessions. Visit www.midgeure.co.uk.