Holiday Entertainment: Pop music and jazz raise holiday spirits

To lift the spirits in the dark days of December, there's nothing better than music — especially soul-stirring gospel, mind-expanding jazz and traditional Celtic music. All these and more fill clubs and concert halls right through New Year's Eve.

"Holidays According to Jazz" with Gerald Albright, Kirk Whalum and Lalah Hathaway

FRI 7 p.m., Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $40 (206-215-4800).

Lissa Schneckenburger

Sat 7:30 p.m., Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; $15 (206-528-8523 or seafolklore.org).

Bill Burr

Sat 8 p.m., Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $22.50 (877-784-4849 or www.livenation.com).

Wishbone

Sat A musical journey of popular music spanning over five decades. 7:30 p.m., Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave., Everett; $10 (425-258-6766 or www.everetttheatre.org).

Tingstad and Rumbel 25th Anniversary Celebration

Sat 8 p.m., Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $22-$25 (425-893-9900 or kpcenter.org).

31st Annual Seattle International Stand Up Comedy Competition Grand Finale

Sun 8 p.m., Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $18 (877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org).

Ahmad Jamal

Tue-Dec. 4 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and Wednesday; 7:30 p.m., 10 p.m. Dec. 2-3; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4, Dimitriou's Jazz Alley, 2033 Sixth Ave., Seattle; $28.50 (800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com).

Bellevue Community Band Holiday Concert benefiting The Lighthouse for the Blind

Wed 7:30 p.m., Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $15 (www.bellevuecommunityband.org).

Creole Christmas with Preservation Hall Jazz Band

Dec. 2 7:30 p.m., Edmonds Center for the Arts, 410 Fourth Ave. N., Edmonds; $15-$35 (425-275-9595 or www.ec4arts.org).

"Putting the Ha! in Hanukkah" with Good for the Jews

Dec. 2 7:30 p.m., The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $15 (tripledoor.net).

Geoffrey Castle's Celtic Christmas

Dec. 3-4 7:30 p.m. Dec, 3; 8 p.m. Dec. 4, Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $15-$25 (425-893-9900 or www.kpcenter.org).

"Jazz Nutcracker" with the Roosevelt Jazz Band

Dec. 4-5 7:30 p.m. Dec. 4; 2 p.m. Dec. 5, Roosevelt High School, 1410 N.E. 66th St., Seattle; $12-$15 (206-525-8747 or rooseveltjazz.org).

Jingle Bell Bash: Paramore, 3oh!3, All Time Low, the Maine, Mayday Parade, A Rocket To The Moon

Dec. 4 4 p.m., WaMu Theater, 1000 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle; $43 (800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com).

Cascadia Yulegrass: Darol Anger, Sharon Gilchrist, Scott Law

Dec. 4 7 p.m., The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $20-$25 (tripledoor.net).

A Jazz Holiday featuring A Charlie Brown Christmas

Dec. 5 3 p.m., Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $22-$25 (425-893-9900 or kpcenter.org).

"Deck the Hall Ball" with Broken Bells, Black Keys, Jimmy Eat World, Cake, Temper Trap, Sleigh Bells

Dec. 8 4 p.m., WaMu Theater, 1000 Occidental Ave. S., Seattle; $44.50 (800-745-3000 or www.ticketmaster.com).

Winter Warmth Concert featuring Michael Franti and Spearhead

Dec. 8 7:30 p.m., Paramount Theatre, 911 Pine St., Seattle; $32 (877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org).

The Coats: Annual Holiday Show

Dec. 10-18 7:30 p.m. Dec. 10, 11, 17 and 2 p.m. Dec. 18, Benaroya Hall, 200 University St., Seattle; $31.50 (206-215-4747 or www.seattlesymphony.org).

Reilly & Maloney Holiday Concert

Dec. 10 7:30 p.m., Maple Leaf Lutheran Church, 10005 32nd Ave. N.E., Seattle; $17 (800-838-3006 or www.brownpapertickets.com/event/124880).

An Inspirational Christmas with Elvis

Dec. 11 7:30 p.m., Auburn Avenue Theater, 10 Auburn Ave., Auburn; $18-$20 (253-931-3043 or www.auburnwa.gov/arts).

Hanz Araki & The Celtic Conspiracy's Solstice Concert

Dec. 11 8 p.m., Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $22-$25 (425-893-9900 or kpcenter.org).

Celebrate Christmas With Bronn and Katherine Journey

Dec. 14-29 7:30 p.m. Dec. 14, Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $18-$20 (425-893-9900). 3 p.m., 7 p.m. Dec. 16, First Presbyterian Church, 139 W. Eighth St., Port Angeles; call 360-457-6400 for ticket prices. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 18, Auburn Performing Arts Center, 700 E. Main St., Auburn; $15-$20 (800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com). 2 p.m., 7 p.m. Dec. 19, Everett Performing Arts Center, 2710 Wetmore Ave., Everett; $19-$21 (425-257-8600). 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20, McIntyre Hall Performing Arts Center (Skagit Valley College), 2501 E. College Way, Mount Vernon; $18-$20 (360-416-7727 or www.mcintyrehall.org). 7 p.m. Dec. 21, Bremerton High School Performing Arts Center, 1500 13th St., Bremerton; $18 (800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com). 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22, Olympia High School Performing Arts Center, 1302 North St., Olympia; $18 (800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com). 2 p.m., 7:30 p.m. Dec. 29, Shorecrest High School Performing Arts Center, 15343 25th Ave. N.E., Shoreline; $15.99 (800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com).

Old-Time Holiday Show

Dec. 17-19 A variety show with comedians, live music, choirs, specialty acts and surprise guest artists. 7 p.m. Dec. 17; 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Dec. 18; 2 p.m. Dec. 19, Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $15-$25 (425-893-9900 or kpcenter.org).

Magical Strings 32nd Annual Celtic Yuletide Concert

Dec. 18 Holiday music, singing, Irish dancing, juggling, caroling, storytelling and more. 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $14-$26 (800-838-3006 or brownpapertickets.com).

Celtic Conspiracy Winter Solstice Show

Dec. 18 7:30 p.m., Phinney Neighborhood Center, 6532 Phinney Ave. N., Seattle; $15 (206-528-8523 or seafolklore.org).

Michael W. Smith

Dec. 19 6 p.m., ShoWare Center, 625 West James St., Kent; $25-$75 (253-856-6999 or tickets.showarecenter.com).

"A Celtic Christmas" with Tomaseen Foley

Dec. 19 7 p.m., Northshore Performing Arts Center, 18125 92nd Ave. N.E., Bothell; $15-$25 (425-408-7988 or www.npacf.org).

"Soulful Sounds of Christmas XXII," with Pat Wright & The Total Experience Gospel Choir, Nichol Venee' Eskridge

Dec. 20 7:30 p.m., Shoreline Community College, 16101 Greenwood Ave. N., Shoreline; $12-$18 (206-234-7859).

Duke Ellington Sacred Concert

Dec. 26 7:30 p.m., Town Hall, 1119 Eighth Ave., Seattle; $15-$34 (206-547-6763 or www.earshot.org/Events/sacred.html).

The Bobs' After Christmas Holiday Show

Dec. 26 7:30 p.m., The Triple Door, 216 Union St., Seattle; $10-$23 (tripledoor.net).

Best of Comedy Underground: New Year's Eve Special

Dec. 31 8 p.m., Kirkland Performance Center, 350 Kirkland Ave., Kirkland; $38-$40 (425-893-9900 or kpcenter.org).

New Year's Eve with Little Bill and the Blue Notes

Dec. 31 8 p.m., Bake's Place, 4135 Providence Point Drive S.E., Issaquah; $95 (425-391-3335 or bakesplace.org).

New Year's Eve with X

Dec. 31 8 p.m., Moore Theatre, 1932 Second Ave., Seattle; $43 (877-784-4849 or stgpresents.org).

Compiled by Jeff Albertson