It’s a big week for Christmas shows, from a traditional religious Festival of Lessons and Carols at Trinity College to the Irish folk festivities of Cherish the Ladies and the progressive rock stylings of Mannheim Steamroller.
There are a couple of unorthodox “A Christmas Carols,” one of them performed by just one person and the other by an improv troupe. Other holiday shows include the popular annual Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus concert at The Wadsworth and the sixth annual Yule Film Fest.
This week also offers an array of secular rock, rap, funk and country acts ranging from Earth, Wind & Fire to Slick Rick to Dream Syndicate to Jagged Edge to Supersuckers to Sponge. You may also know a couple of the singer-songwriters performing this week, Shakey Graves and Noah Reid, because they are also TV and movie actors.
It’s a particularly good week for homegrown R&B and blues, with XY Eli and Carl Ricci’s bands playing the same night at Black-Eyed Sally’s and the Shaboo Allstars joined by Christine Ohlman and others at UConn’s Jorgensen Center.
Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols
Trinity College Chapel, 300 Summit St., Hartford
The 66th annual Christmas Festival of Lessons and Carols at Trinity College has two performances on Dec. 7 at 4 and 7 p.m. Participants include The Chapel Singers, Trinity College Gospel Choir, carillonist Ellen Dickinson, organists Elijah Morris and Chris Yi, Christopher Houlihan (Trinity’s director of chapel music), chaplain The Very Rev. Marcus George Halley and The Right Reverend Jeffrey W. Mello, 16th Bishop Diocesan of the Episcopal Church in Connecticut. No admission cost; a freewill offering will be solicited. trincoll.edu.
Gerald Kelly Birthday Celebration
Funny Bone Comedy Club, 194 Buckland Hills Road #1054, Manchester
The Atlanta-based comedian Gerald Kelly is being given a comedy birthday bash at the Funny Bone featuring his son Isiah Kelly, Kenny Woo, Shaquana Cochran and Hot 93.7’s Big Regg. Dec. 7 at 6 pm. $32. hartford.funnybone.com.
Earth, Wind & Fire
Mohegan Sun Arena, 1 Mohegan Sun Blvd., Uncasville
It may not be “September” (one of their many hits) right now but who needs “Reasons” like that to see Earth, Wind & Fire? “Let’s Groove!” Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. $79.73-$269.95. mohegansun.com.
Mannheim Steamroller
Palace Theatre, 61 Atlantic St., Stamford. bn
The neoclassical/progressive rock holiday concert tradition of Mannheim Streamroller, which does creative interpretations of Christmas classics as well as original tunes, is still rolling since 1974 and still involves its co-creator, Chip Davis, as a producer though he hasn’t performed in years. Dec. 7 at 7 p.m. $74-$134.60. palacestamford.org.
Slick Rick
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
The famed rapper Slick Rick, whose storytelling-styled ‘80s hits include “The Show,” “Children’s Story” and “Mona Lisa” is at The Webster with opening acts E.Merc, Sturges and Yaboi Loco. Dec. 7 at 8 p.m. $39.15-$49.15; $309.15 for eight-person VIP booth. thewebsterct.com.
Jagged Edge
Oakdale Theatre, 95 S. Turnpike Road, Wallingford
The R&B hitmakers Jagged Edge, known for “Where the Party At,” “Let’s Get Married” and “Walked Outta Heaven” are at the Oakdale on their “Cutting Edge” tour on Dec. 8 at 7:30 p.m. with Eric Bellinger and Lloyd. $75.50-$524.50. livenation.com.
Earth, Wind & will perform its timeless hits like “September,” “Boogie Wonderland” and “Let’s Groove” at Mohegan Sun Arena on Dec. 7. (Photo by Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images for Keep Memory Alive)
Dream Syndicate
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
One of the defining bands of the Paisley Underground indie scene of 1980s Los Angeles, Dream Syndicate — whose leader Steve Wynn recently published his autobiography — ended in 1988 but regrouped in 2012 and has been performing some of its early albums in its entirety on tour. This time it’s their 1984 opus “Medicine Show,” which contained the songs “Burn” and “John Coltrane Stereo Blues.” Dec. 9 at 8 p.m. $37.99, $32.34 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Cherish the Ladies
Sacred Heart University Community Theatre, 1420 Post Road, Fairfield
The sweet, largely female Irish music ensemble Cherish the Ladies is seldom better than during Christmas season, when it interprets carols and other old seasonal folk tunes. Dec. 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. $41-$51. shucommunitytheatre.org.
Adam Doleac
The Webster, 31 Webster St., Hartford
Mississippi-born country singer Adam Doleac, whose first hit was “Whiskey’s Fine,” brings his “Dream House” tour to The Webster. Adam Simons opens. Dec. 10 at 8 p.m. $31.15. thewebsterct.com.
The Supersuckers
Cafe Nine, 250 State St., New Haven
Cafe Nine offers an evening of root- and country-tinged crazy rock ‘n’ roll with The Supersuckers, one-man-band Scott H. Biram and King Sickabilly. Dec. 11 at 8 p.m. $28, $23 in advance. cafenine.com.
An Improvised Christmas Carol
Sea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St., Hartford
Sea Tea Improv’s traditional unpredictable romp, based on the Charles Dickens classic, takes audience suggestions. Dec. 11-21. Thursday through Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m. $10-$18. seateaimprov.com.
Ali Siddiq
College Street Music Hall, 238 College St., New Haven
The story spinning comedian Ali Siddiq returns to College Street Music Hall on Dec. 12 at 7 p.m. $30-$147.14. collegestreetmusichall.com.
Michael Rose performs a one-man “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 13 at New Haven Museum. (Courtesy of New Haven Museum)
Noah Reid
Infinity Music Hall, 32 Front St., Hartford
The Canadian actor who played Patrick on “Schitt’s Creek” is also an accomplished singer/songwriter. Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. $76.80-$101.54. infinityhall.com.
Sponge
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
The alt-rock band Sponge, formed in Michigan in 1992, released an album called “1994” last year. This year, Sponge released a collection of recordings from its earliest days when it was known as Electric Cattle Gods. Sponge was at Toad’s Place just a few weeks ago with Everclear. Now the band is back in Connecticut headlining a show at Space Ballroom supported by Soft Spot and Kimono Draggin’. Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. $32.34; $26.69 in advance. spaceballroom.com.
Briana Maia
TheaterWorks Hartford, 233 Pearl St., Hartford
Local vocalist and graduate of the UConn theater acting program, Briana Maia presents a special holiday “Christmas Kisses” set on Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. for TheaterWorks Hartford’s The Living Room concert series. $28-$53. twhartford.org.
Slambovian Circus of Dreams
Infinity Music Hall, 20 Greenwoods Road West, Norfolk
The esoteric jam band Slambovian Circus of Dreams has been visiting Connecticut for decades. This time, the band is bringing its annual “A Very Slambovian Christmas” holiday show. Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. $42.27-$58.25. infinityhall.com.
XY Eli and Carl Ricci Holiday Spectacular
Black-Eyed Sally’s, 350 Asylum St., Hartford
The soul-stirring XY Eli Band and the blues-busting Carl Ricci & 706 Union Ave combine for a night of holiday cheer (and blues). Dec. 12 at 8 p.m. Free; $5 suggested donation. blackeyedsallys.com.
Sitcom and comedy icon Jerry Seinfeld brings the laughs to Foxwoods Resort Casino’s Premier Theater on Dec. 13. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Prime Video)
Hartford Symphony Orchestra: Winter Dreams
The Bushnell, 166 Capitol Ave., Hartford
Violinist and composer, Curtis Stewart, an artist-in-residence with Hartford Symphony Orchestra this season, presents and performs “Seasons of Change,” his reimagining of Vivaldi’s “Four Seasons.” The orchestra also performs Tchaikovsky’s “Winter Dreams.” Carolyn Kuan conducts. Dec. 12-14. Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 3 p.m. $10-$90. hartfordsymphony.org.
Yule Film Fest
Sea Tea Comedy Theater, 15 Asylum St., Hartford
A self-described “weird, unique and beautiful” holiday film festival entering its sixth year, Yule Film Fest offers a varied mix of short films which range from dark to funny. Dec. 13 at noon. $20. yulefilmfest.org.
Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus: Spirit of Giving
Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art, 600 Main St., Hartford
The Hartford Gay Men’s Chorus holiday show has three performances. The matinees may be sold out by the time you read this. Dec. 13 at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Dec. 14 at 3 p.m. $36-$51. hgmc.org.
‘A Christmas Carol’
New Haven Museum, 114 Whitney Ave., New Haven
Local actor Michael Rose will perform a one-man, 90-minute rendition of “A Christmas Carol” on Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at New Haven Museum. On the same day from noon to 4 p.m., Charles Dickens is the theme of a special showing of items from the museum’s library, including news accounts of the writer visiting New Haven and performing “A Christmas Carol” himself in 1868. Both events are free with museum admission. Registration is at simpletix.com. More info is at newhavenmuseum.org.
Shaboo Holiday Concert
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts, 2132 Hillside Road, Storrs
The Shaboo Allstars, whose band name pays tribute to the long-defunct legendary rock club The Shaboo Inn in Willimantic, is holding its annual holiday concert at UConn’s Jorgensen Center on Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. with all proceeds going to the Covenant Soup Kitchen and the UConn Husky Harvest Food Pantry. The band for this event includes founding leader David Foster, vocalist/musician Curtis Salgado, guitarist Jef Pitchell, vocalist Christine Ohlman and the Uptown Horns brass section. $50. jorgensen.uconn.edu.
Jerry Seinfeld
Foxwoods Resort Casino, 250 Trolley Line Blvd., Mashantucket
Jerry Seinfeld’s sitcom ruled the 1990s, but he’s been doing standup since the late 1970s and he’s still tops at it. Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. at Foxwoods’ Premier Theater. $107.35-$233.20. foxwoods.com.
The Heavy Heavy
Space Ballroom, 295 Treadwell St., Hamden
The ‘60s-styled psychedelic pop act The Heavy Heavy hails from Brighton, England and is led by the singing/songwriting duo of Will Turner and Georgie Fuller. The act evokes not just the warm sound but the spirit of the ‘60s with songs like “Happiness.” Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. spaceballroom.com.
Shakey Graves
Toad’s Place, 300 York St., New Haven
Alt-country star Shakey Graves hasn’t put out an album since 2023, but that year he released two: His fourth studio album, “Movie of the Week,” and a collection of unreleased tracks and outtakes called “Deadstock.” Dec. 13 at 8 p.m. $49.50-$60.75. $1 from each ticket sold will go to the Sweet Relief Musicians Fund. toadsplace.com.
