Wynton Marsalis, the Heartland Men’s Chorus and Awolnation lead your concert week, starting tonight
Wynton Marsalis
Wynton Marsalis is a giant: Pulitzer Prize–winning composer, nine-time Grammy Award–winning trumpeter, sought-after jazz expert. There’s probably no more-qualified human to be the artistic director of the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra — and so Marsalis is that, too. It’s this ensemble, a force of 15 top-notch players, which Marsalis leads here Thursday night, along with celebrated jazz singer Catherine Russell. Expect a spirited performance of seasonal classics as well as original material.
8 p.m. Thursday, December 1, at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
Heartland Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert
The Heartland Men’s Chorus finishes its 30th season with its annual holiday concert, where you can expect the occasion to be memorable. Classic carols and choral hymns join extra bright pop flavors, as usual, but this year the program also features renowned composer John Rutter’s Gloria. The magnificent new arrangement for men’s voices, accompanied by brass and percussion, is enough to inspire tidings of joy from even the most Scrooge-like among us.
8 p.m. Saturday, December 3, and 4 p.m. Sunday, December 4, at the Folly Theater
Awolnation
If you missed Awolnation — the stage name of singer-songwriter Aaron Bruno — when he opened for Prophets of Rage at the Starlight this past summer, you’re in luck. Bruno is back in town at the Midland, picking up where he left off (to make room for those Prophets of Rage dates) and touring in support of his 2015 album, Run. While Bruno is still best known for his 2011 breakthrough hit, “Sail,” fans of Awolnation’s wall-of-sound sonic attacks — offset by pretty pop melodies — will find plenty to like on Run. Bruno’s voice remains versatile, one moment measured and gentle, the next a scream that would be the envy of any metal band’s frontman. Wednesday night, slip in your earplugs and pull on your dancing shoes.
6:30 p.m. Wednesday, December 7, at Arvest Bank Theatre at the Midland
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m. Saturday, December 3, at the Sprint Center, 1407 Grand
Dressy Bessy, the Cave Girls, Sona
10 p.m. Friday, December 2, at the Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 1
Cross-Eyed Cat
7:30 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Midnight Marauders
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Nosh: Benefit featuring Ebony Tusks
8 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Chris Hazelton Quartet
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Perkins, Spaits & Strait
12:30 a.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Sister Lucille and Titanium Blue
7:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Extinction A.D., Altered Beast, Hossferatu, more
7 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2
Connie Hawkins & the Blues Wreckers
9 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Truth Cell, Lincoln Marshall, the Soiled Doves, Amenaza
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Tim Whitmer Quartet
5:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Electric Tinks
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Boogaloo 7
10 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The Black Jackets
10 p.m., Kelly’s, 500 Westport Rd.
Sara Watkins with River Whiles
8:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Cowboy Mouth with the Snot Rockets
9 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Heather Newman & Nick Schnebelen
9 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Abandoned Bells, Freight Train Rabbit Killer, Of Tree
9 p.m., MiniBar, 3810 Broadway
Melo Miles
8 p.m., RecordBar, 1520 Grand
Dressy Bessy, the Cave Girls, Sona
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Candyland, Lektrik, Human Penguin
8 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Jennifer Hall with Jessica Paige and Crystal Rose
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 3
Diane “Mama” Ray’s Jam
2 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Nick Moss Band
9 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Evanoff
8 p.m., Bottleneck, 737 New Hampshire, Lawrence
Let’s Use Teamwork, Noun Verb Adjective, Chess Club, the Feel Bad Hit
8:30 p.m., Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club, 3402 Main
Cody Johnson
7 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Tim Whitmer Show
3 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
OJT
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Chris Hazelton Quartet
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Money for Nothin’
10 p.m., Kelly’s, 500 Westport Rd.
Nick Schnebelen Band with Annika Chambers Band
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Austin Lounge Lizards
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Decemburn, Funeral DJ’s
9 p.m., MiniBar, 3810 Broadway
Indyground Presents: Approach, Steddy P, Dom Chronicles, more
10 p.m., Replay Lounge, 946 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Luke Bell, Starhaven Rounders, Windler
8 p.m., Riot Room, 4048 Broadway
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3:30 p.m. and 8 p.m., Sprint Center, 1407 Grand
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4
The Confessors
6 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Heartland Men’s Chorus Holiday Concert
8 p.m., Folly, 300 W. 12th St.
Molly Hammer Duo
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Stan Kessler’s Playground
9:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
The Fish Fry Holiday Party
6:30 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
Marcus King Band
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
MONDAY, DECEMBER 5
Drop the Mic featuring Ricky Dillon, the Gabbie Show, Jack Baran, Andrew Lowe
8 p.m., Folly, 300 W. 12th St.
Mark Lowrey & Molly Hammer
12 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
BVibe
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
A La Mode
7 p.m., Tank Room, 1813 Grand
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 6
Nick Schnebelen
7 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Chris Hazelton Trio
6 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Gerald Spaits Trio
9:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Wood Brothers with Ben Soilee
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 7
Jim & Karla
7 p.m., B.B.’s Lawnside BBQ, 1205 E. 85th St.
Diamond Empire
9 p.m., The Brick, 1727 McGee
Joyce DiDonato and Il Pomo d’Oro
8 p.m., Folly, 300 W. 12th St.
Kongos
7 p.m., Granada, 1020 Massachusetts, Lawrence
Natalie Bates Trio
5:30 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
OJT
9 p.m., Green Lady Lounge, 1809 Grand
Jon Dee Graham Run for the Mistletoe
8 p.m., Knuckleheads, 2517 Rochester
