Take a break from holiday stress with a variety show at SPACE, a cappella carols at Nichols Concert Hall or a free concert at the Levy Center. Or step over to Evanston Rocks for instrumental rock Christmas music or a Big Band Christmas. Those are some of the musical options this week in Evanston.
Christmas Without Tears
Harry Shearer and Judith Owen’s Christmas Without Tears is a reverent and irreverent antidote to the most stressful of seasons. Guests include Angela Ingersoll, Jess Godwin, Donica Lynn, Nicholas Tremulus and Amy Englehart.
At SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Saturday, Dec. 8, 8 p.m., tickets $20-75
At SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Sunday, Dec. 9, 7 p.m., tickets $20-75
Silver Bells
Guest Music Director Paul Nicholson and Guest Programmer Kathryn Kamp present a spirited collection of fresh takes on beloved classics such as “O Tannenbaum” and Chanukah classic “Maoz Tzur.” The acclaimed ensemble will also take on contemporary hits such as an arrangement of “Winter Wonderland” from the hit a cappella group Pentatonix.
By Chicago A Cappella at Nichols Concert Hall, 1490 E. Chicago Ave., Saturday, Dec. 8 at 8 p.m. and Sunday, Dec. 16 at 3 p.m., tickets $20-43
Jamming Jean Music Series
An evening of classical-blues, folk and jazz-tinged melodies with Corky Siegel and Howard Levy. Concerts are free. A food truck and cash bar will be available for refreshments.
At Levy Senior Center, 300 Dodge Ave., Friday, Dec. 7, 5-7 p.m.
An Evening with Mike Cooley of Drive-By Truckers
Mike Cooley is rock & roll incarnate—Mick and Keith rolled into one impossibly cool, soul-howling, guitar rattlin’ ball of genuine unapologetic grit and swagger.
At SPACE, 1245 Chicago Ave., Friday, Dec. 7, 8 p.m., tickets $25-35
Ho Ho Ho-ey Gary Hoey Holiday Show
Hoey has been a driving force behind instrumental rock Christmas music since 1995 after his version of “The Twelve Days Of Christmas” hit the airwaves with its crunchy guitars and metal flavor.
At Evanston Rocks, 1012 Church St., Friday, Dec. 7, 9 p.m., tickets $20
A Big Band Christmas
Celebrate the holidays with classic, live Big Band music.
At Evanston Rocks, 1012 Church St., Sunday, Dec. 9, 5 p.m., tickets $10
Bars with Live Music
Rhythm Room Bar & Bistro (Century 12), 1715 Maple Ave.
Live music, Friday and Saturday evenings, 7-11 p.m., no cover
Celtic Knot Public House, 626 Church St.
Irish Music Session with John Williams, Sundays, 4-6 p.m.
American Roots Music by The Mudflaps, Mondays, 8 p.m.-midnight
Pete Miller’s Steak & Seafood, 1557 Sherman Ave.
Live jazz, Sunday-Thursday, 5-9 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 8 p.m.-midnight
“Christmas Classics” by Sam Fazio on Saturday, Dec. 8