The festive party season is over but don’t be downhearted. A tight budget doesn’t mean spending the first six weeks of the year glued to the sofa. January is the month to snap up a bargain and Karin Goodwin has scoured the country for the best offers, from bargain basement food and drink to learning a new language for free or dancing the tango into the wee small hours. Snap up the best seasonal travel offers, cheapest tickets for cinema, theatre and gigs or follow our tips to learn a useful new skill that will cost next to nothing

Going for a song January is a great time to check out tip-and-coming bands for free. Remember. eyen the most unpromising nights can be historic. On the west coast. Mono. Stereo. 78. the Liquid Ship and Tchai Oyna all have exciting free line-ups. In Edinburgh head for Bannerman's. Whistlebinkies or Cabaret Voltaire. where Duty Free. the season of free gigs organised in conjunction with The List. running throughout January (see page 55 for more details). Also go to page (i for 2 for 1 Celtic Connections tickets or Visit www.y'icetour.eom for free tickets to the Vice magazine new band showcase at the ABC.

18 THE LIST 17—31 Jan 2035

Take a cheap flight to an exotic location

(‘lassical tans can enjoy lunchtime concerts organised by (ilasgow and lidinburgli

['niyersities. and it you're Do or

under you can nab a RS.\'() £5 ticket card. which giyes you entry to Mahler's .S'yiii/i/ioiiy .\'o 4 at Royal (‘onccrt Hall on ‘) l-cb and the l‘estiyal 'l'heatrc on the It) l'icb. If you're planning a trip to the theatre. choose a bargain slot. Opt for Wednesday and Saturday matinces at the Royal l.y cciini and sayc on 'l'rayersc tickets by booking

The Stand offers annual membership for £12

a week iii adyancc. In (ilasgow. the (’iti/ens' and 'l'i'on theatres both do discounted tickets l'ot‘ [il‘cyicws ol their iii-house work. which includes Saintiel Beckett's Hill/tile for (lot/o! at the ('it/ in l-ebriiary iii and to on lllt‘Stltl} iiiglitsi. Meanwhile. coiiiedy loycrs can sayc hundreds ot poiiiids oy er the course ol' the year by taking out an annual inciiihcrsliip lot' the Stand ('oinedy (lab at inst U2. ('luhland is traditionally laii'ly quiet during January but there are always promotions to he itilllltl. One option is to go Latin. 'l'ango socials or ‘inilongas' are springing up eycry where. In (ilasgow try the tree eyent in Blacklriars basement cyery \Vednesday. Meanwhile. in lidinburgh. there are niiloiigas in the (‘oiinting House taboyc the Blind l’oet piibi on Sundays and 'l‘ucsdays tor a mere £3. Lessons can be arranged at w w wedinhiirgli tango.org.uk. The (ilasgow-liased Dancehotise is also hosting a tree taster session ol \ariotis dance styles aboyc Sloans pub on 1‘) Jan.

Take a break

So what il~ yoii'ye just had two weeks ol'l' work'.’ Being nice to relatiyes and l'orcing down lel'toycr turkey can be taxing. It's time tor a cheap getaway. ('lose to home. \"isitScotland tw w w.\ isitscotland. coin) is ol'l'ei'ing three nights in country lioiisc hotels such as the liileen larinain in Skye. the ('luny Batik in l-'ori'es or Achray Honse iii (‘riei‘l~ for just £99. and there are also decent discounts on holiday cottages across the country. If you're heading to London. there are free tickets for grabs l'or lashion designer ('hristopher Kane‘s alternatiye celebrity Burns Night