The festive period is officially over. Burn the tree, finish the chocolate and secretly revel in that 10-pack of socks you got as they will actually come in pretty handy. If your New Year’s resolution was to get out and see more shows you’ve come to the right place, if it was to save more money then look away now – this is going to get ugly.

Thee Vicars (Espace B – 05.01) are our first tips for the month and although they have been cruelly touted as ‘Heirs to the Horrors throne’ they actually sound like someone trapped The Trashmen and The Standells in their basement for a few decades only to redress them as cockney teenagers.  Expect neat, 3-minute throbs filled with rough, raw, clangy guitars.

Espace B, as it so often does, is setting the pace in 2012. Those of you smart enough to turn up to British Sea Power’s show at Le Nouveau Casino in October may have caught A Classic Education (Espace B – 12.01) warming up the crowd and the Italian/Canadian  hybrids have some pretty big voices shouting their name at the moment, even so, ‘Call it Blazing’ their Jarvis Taveniere (Woods) produced debut record isn’t likely to end up on many end of year lists.

It’s been a good six months or so since The Pains of Being Pure at Heart (La Maroquinerie – 14.01) released their critically acclaimed second LP ‘Belong’ and sold out La Flèche d’Or, so it’s about time they made their way back round again. The 80′s pop-students sound like their purposefully writing songs for a posthumous John Hughes tribute movie and it’s an art they have all but perfected.

2012 has already seen one gig cancellation in the shape of the Happy Mondays (Batofar – 16.01) who had been lined up to play what would have been a memorable show. Sadly, it’s a void slightly too large for Scottish indie kids We Were Promised Jetpacks (Point Éphémère – 16.01) to fill, so if everyone going to that gig could please dance along in the style of Bez I think it would at least go some way to making up for our loss.

One of January’s quiet treasures comes in the shape of Laura Gibson (Point Éphémère – 18.01). Yes, quiet and quaint folksters come by the coffee house full, but where others would be happy for you to sip on Starbucks, Gibson pours you a stiff warm cider with a knowing wink. The former Decemberists/Dodos backing singer is unlikely to get shoes-a-shufflin’ but should provide the perfect soundtrack for a mid-week winter break and stiff pint.

British New-Wave greats don’t come too much bigger than Echo & The Bunnymen (Bataclan – 19.01). Having toured the U.S extensively it’s finally Europe’s turn. However, don’t expect ‘The Killing Moon’ or anything on ‘Ocean Rain’ for that matter – the band will only be playing from their decorated and celebrated first two albums ‘Crocodiles’ and ‘Heaven up Here’. Talented Metal outfit Mastadon (Bataclan 20.01) will be taking up the stage the night after – I think that maybe the similarities between the two shows end though.

Nouveau Casino (20.01) are giving Espace B free reign to curate in the middle of the month and luckily for us punters neither venue is charging us a thing for the pleasure.  Perhaps even more pleasing is that one of Paris’s more promising English singing bands MiNORS is headlining – the guys will also be at OPA Bastille (11.01) if you can’t wait that long. Another option would be to head to (Cafe de la Danse – 20.01) where German indie-dance pioneers The Notwist will be churning out the highlights of their two decade-long back catalogue.

If there is one gig not to miss in January it’s the return of The Black Keys (Zenith – 25.01). Dan Auerbach and Patrick Carney have created a band portfolio envied the world over and the scary thing is they just keep adding to it. On top of the band’s new album ‘El Camino’, Dan will be producing Tennis’s hotly anticipated second album out later this year. The pair were also responsible for one of last year’s top ten gigs at L’Olympia (15.03.11) and a similar performance when supported by The Walkmen at Le Bataclan six months previous. If you do miss out it may be wise to console yourself with Southampton’s answer to the hard rockin’ blues amigos – The Band of Skulls (Flèche d’Or – 26.01).

Mains D’Oeuvres is a simply great venue and I heartily recommend buying at least a one day ticket for Festival Mo’Fo (27-29.01) – the opaque lo-fi independent music alternative to Rock en Seine’s transparent consumerism. Three days of great bands, record buying, beer guzzling, home made chilli and vintage clothes shopping – there’s very little else you could ask for. If you’re really pushed for time, Friday would probably be the day not to miss – Radical Face cancelled a show at Point Ephémère to headline the night and Ben Cooper will be joined by Loney Dear, Benjamin Francis Leftwich and Maison Neuve among others all for the measly price of 21e.

Friday: Radical Face, Loney Dear, Concorde, Yeti Lane, Maison Neuve, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Christine Owman et al…

Saturday: Frustration, The Country Teasers,  Crack Und Eczema, Winter Family, Mein Sohn William, Chazam, et al…

Sunday: Tender Forever, Matt Elliott, Don Nino (Luke Sutherland – Mogwai), Farewell Poetry, Sleep Party People, MiNORS et al…

If you do decide against Festival Mo’Fo then you’ll probably be spending your evenings in the 20eme watching a couple of rising acts. Their name is misleading but French Films (Flèche d’Or – 27.01) are actually the latest addition to Scandanavia’s ever growing giddy-indie scene although they have clearly taken on an effects pedal or two from their lo-fi overseas brethren. The end product is like someone has put We Are Scientists’ pop sensibilities through a Finnish blender and sprinkled in a few samples from Beach House and Dirty Beaches for good measure.

Saturday (28.01) sees the arrival of Outfit – a Liverpool quintet who have already had their names stamped on End of the Road Festival and Field Day line ups alongside the likes of Andrew Bird. It’s fair to say that if the rest of the band’s debut album sounds anything like demo single ‘Two Islands’ they will find themselves pushed higher up those respective bills in no time.

One man who has already found himself on a one-way ticket to the top is Devonshire folkster Ben Howard who will be at La Cigale (30.01). A couple of sold-out gigs in Paris, a UK tour to match and more Youtube hits than Bieber playing with a kitten has seen the 23-year old join Laura Marling at the top of British pop-folk royalty. His success probably lies in the ability to make music which would sit easily next to Donovan Frankenreiter or Jack Johnson without the man himself being as punchable.

If you have so far been unable to catch Explosions in the Sky (Casino de Paris – 30.01) live yet then you’re probably going to have to wait a little bit longer. You see, all the tickets have already been snaffled up by those folk who have seen them a dozen times before and who are frankly right to see them again. Expect plenty of shoe-gazing, beard stroking and a simply unforgettable live show.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock in a cave under a very big mansion for the past six months you’ll know that the Arctic Monkeys are playing three dates in Paris in the space of five days supported by their old friend Miles Kane. Their stint starts with a night at Casino de Paris (31.01) before shows at Zenith and L’Olympia at the start of February.

Top 5: The Pains of Being Pure at Heart, Laura Gibson, The Black Keys, Mo’Fo Festival, Outfit.

There are of course a lot of other shows going on this month. Click here for a pretty comprehensive list.