Welcome to our in between edition, as we slip on through to the other side of Christmas, headed headlong toward the New Year’s celebration. With the double holidays landing on Thursdays this year, our IT issue is a day early both weeks, so take that under consideration when deciding where to look for what to do.
We have a lone Christmas gig on the books as Alex Pearce drifts into town from his Nashville abode to hit us up with a show at Locals in Pawnee. Alex has had the good fortune of doing some pickin’ and grinnin’ at the world-famous Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge located in the heart of Music City USA where many a Grand Old Opry performer would wet their whistle in the golden days of country music. Still a hot spot on the strip, congrats to our able troubadour for landing playing time at the storied venue. You can catch Alex at Brookhills Golf Club on Friday and Trails End in Curran on Saturday for more holiday-at-home shows.
Friday comes calling in a post-Christmas blast with plenty of acoustic shows and a few band items, plus five karaoke nights. For your rockin’ pleasure check out Grounded at Goodfellas and OAT Band at George Rank’s, while Dave Littrell goes HoliDave at The Bird Tavern, Thomas J. Beverly brings it all back home at Mowie’s Cue, Joel Honey plays it sweet at Bar Bella, Devin C. Williams Delta-fies Buckhart Tavern and Ben Bedford completes his Dana-Thomas House seasonal residency.
Saturday turns up the heat with nearly 30 shows, including several bands and a few repeat performers from Friday night, along with six karaoke nights. The rockin’ returns with Deja Voodoo doing what they do so well at Motorheads, Joel Gragg and the Filaments visiting from Indy with Tom Beverly guesting at the Brewhaus, Branded firing up the Curve Inn, The Meerkats staying cool at George Rank’s and the Blues Deacons dropping in from Champaign to the Harvest Market upstairs stage.
Solo acts setting the mood include Robert Sampson at Mother Road Diner (check out Robert’s Christmas with Lefty Preacher online album) and Manny Lee singing up a storm at Boone’s (and brother, can he sing!), while Angel Brown’s Smooth N’ Blue Duo featuring Rick Gasparin covers the bases at Lime Street Cafe.
Now, for something completely different, bring a non-perishable food item for free admission to Innervision, Love Lost, Totaled, Severance and Winning Ticket at Dumb Records downtown for an all-ages show for the ages. And in our bittersweet category, Devin C. Williams plays the Delta blues one last time at Buzz Bomb as the popular venue closes down on Jan. 1, 2026.
For out-of-town stuff, head to Petersburg to listen to the original and more songs of Brandon Elliott in the cozy confines of Cafe Amulet or shoot south to Chatham as Joel Honey rides into the Range or bust on over to Jacksonville for a Backwoods Burden experience at Kuhl Tyme Korner.
Sunday swings by with plenty of action starting with Kortney Leatherwood hosting a Blues in the Schools fundraiser open mic jam at the Alamo (2-5 p.m.). Then catch Eric & Kortney later at The Library Pizza and Sports Bar (former Crows Mill), while Ricarda Rosalina lands at Trails End (Curran), Curt Smith springs out to Hill Prairie Winery (Oakford), Josh Holland runs into Buckhart Tavern, Amy Battles and me cook it at Golden Hour Bake House and the Harris Trio entertains at Mother Road Diner.
And… next Wednesday is none other than New Year’s Eve with all the hoopla happening, so prepare yourself and I’ll have the skinny in next week’s early issue.
This article appears in December 25-31, 2025.
