The holidays are about tradition, and holiday concerts are a big draw for those looking to celebrate. This season’s concert calendar is filled with familiar locals (Lorie Line, the New Standards) and touring favorites (Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Mannheim Steamroller) eager to provide a little jingle bell swing for fans. Here’s a look at what’s on tap.
Crooners Supper Club
Crooners in Fridley devotes the bulk of December to dozens of holiday-themed shows. Highlights include the Big Christmas Singalong with Jay Fuchs and Doug Anderson (4 p.m. Dec. 7; $49.05-$37.89), Monroe Crossing: A Bluegrass Christmas (7:30 p.m. Dec. 9-10; $49.05-$37.89), Jingle Jam with Boom Island String Quartet (6:30 p.m. Dec. 9; $43.47-$32.31); Pat Donohue’s Christmas Guitar Summit with P.K. Mayo and Tim Sparks (6:30 p.m. Dec. 15; $49.05-$37.89); and the Annual Holiday Singalong with Dan Chouinard (6 p.m. Dec. 23; $43.47-$32.31). For the full lineup, see croonersmn.com. Crooner’s Lounge and Supper Club, 6161 Highway 65 N.E., Fridley; 763-571-9020.
The Dakota
George Maurer Group Annual Holiday Show (7 p.m. Dec. 1; $34.90-$24.90); Christmas Dreaming with Stella Cole and the Laurels String Quartet (7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 2; $45.90-$29.90); Nicholas David: St. Nick’s Show (8 p.m. Dec. 3; $40.90-$34.90); the Klezmatics: Happy Joyous Hanukkah (7 p.m. Dec. 6; $56.90-$45.90); Southside Aces: Christmas in New Orleans (7 p.m. Dec. 7; $40.90-$24.90); Travis Anderson Trio’s Charlie Brown Christmas (7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 9; $29.90-$18.90); Mark O’Connor’s Appalachian Christmas (7 p.m. Dec. 10; $83.90-$67.90); Karrin Allyson: Wintry Mix (7 p.m. Dec. 11; $50.90-$45.90); the Peterson Family: Twas the Jam Before Christmas (7 p.m. Dec. 14-15; $45.90-$34.90); Merry Christmas from Jose James (7 p.m. Dec. 16-17; $61.90-$45.90); Riders in the Sky: Christmas the Cowboy Way (7 p.m. Dec. 18; $61.90-$50.90); Preservation Hall Jazz Band: A Creole Christmas (7 and 9 p.m. Dec. 19, 6 and 8:30 p.m. Dec. 20; $100.90-$72.90); A Swingin’ Christmas with the Andrew Walesch Big Band (5 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 21, 7 p.m. Dec. 23; $50.90-$34.90); Spending Christmas with Alicia Witt (7 p.m. Dec. 22; $50.90-$40.90). Dakota, 1010 Nicollet Ave., Mpls.; dakotacooks.com.
Chanhassen Dinner Theatres
Tickets for Chanhassen Dinner Theatres’ concerts are $77.30 (dinner and show) and $53.35 (show only). Rock and Roll Xmas Spectacular (7:30 p.m. Dec. 2-6 and 8, 1 p.m. Dec. 3 and 6, 7 p.m. Dec. 7); A Piano Man Christmas (7:30 p.m. Dec. 10-11); A Kat Perkins Christmas (7:30 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 1 p.m. Dec. 13); the Simple Feeling of Christmas (2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 14); Celtic Holiday Hooley (7:30 p.m. Dec. 17-19, 1 p.m. Dec. 19); Christmas with a Whole Lotta Soul (1 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 20); Christmas on the Prairie (2 and 7 p.m. Dec. 21, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 22-23); A Grand Ole Opry Christmas (1 and 7:30 p.m. Dec. 26); An Andy and Bing Christmas (1 p.m. Dec. 27, 7 p.m. Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m. Dec. 27 and 29-30). Chanhassen Dinner Theatres, 501 W. 78th St., Chanhassen; 952-934-1525 or chanhassendt.com.
Ames Center
Rocky Mountain High Experience: A John Denver Christmas starring Rick Schuler (7:30 p.m. Dec. 4-5; $104.95-$89.55); Dakota Valley Symphony and Chorus: Handel’s Messiah (2 p.m. Dec. 7; $42.10); Tonic Sol-fa: Wrap it Up, the Final Holiday Tour (7 p.m. Dec. 15; sold out); Rock and Roll Xmas Spectacular (7:30 p.m. Dec. 16; $55.40); Christmas with Elvis (7:30 p.m. Dec. 17; $92.65-$54.70); A Magical Medora Christmas (7:30 p.m. Dec. 18; $51.25); Who Brought the Humbug (7:30 p.m. Dec. 19-20, 2 p.m. Dec. 20; $53.35-$48.20); An Andy and Bing Christmas (2 p.m. Dec. 21; $65.15-$57.95); A Carpenters Christmas (8 p.m. Dec. 23; $60.85-$50.55). Ames Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave., Burnsville; 952-895-4685 or ames-center.com.
The New Standards
The New Standards (Courtesy photo)
Dec. 5-6: The Suburbs’ Chan Poling and his jazz trio the New Standards present their annual holiday show. Expect jazzy takes on holiday classics, special high-wattage surprise guests and plenty of friendly banter from the chatty group, which also features John Munson of Trip Shakespeare and Semisonic on bass and Steve Roehm of Electropolis on vibraphone. 8 p.m. Dec. 5-6, 4 p.m. Dec. 6; State Theatre, 805 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $164.70-$45.15; hennepinarts.org.
Trailer Trash
Dec. 6, 12-13, 19-20: Minnesota’s own honky tonk masters Trailer Trash are spending December airing their popular Trashy Little Xmas Show in venues across the Twin Cities. 8 p.m. Dec. 6, Parkway Theater, 4814 Chicago Ave. S., Mpls., $40-$38.07, theparkwaytheater.com; 8 p.m. Dec. 12-13, Hook and Ladder Theater and Lounge, 3010 Minnehaha Ave. S., Mpls., $35.88, thehookmpls.com; 8 p.m. Dec. 19-20, Turf Club, 1601 University Ave. W., St. Paul, $45.78, first-avenue.com.
Lorie Line
Pianist Lorie Line is back for another holiday extravaganza. (Courtesy photo)
Dec. 6, 20: Pianist Lorie Line celebrates Christmas like no one else, with her 36th annual holiday tour offering 34 shows in seven states. Line, who famously got her start playing in Dayton’s, is selling a new hand-cut wooden ornament at her concerts. She’s also offering a virtual concert at 7 p.m. Dec. 20 (tickets via lorieline.com). Line’s Twin Cities performances are in Burnsville (3 p.m. Dec. 6; Ames Center, 12600 Nicollet Ave.; $81.35; 952-895-4685 or ames-center.com) and Plymouth (3 p.m. Dec. 20; Providence Academy Performing Arts Center, 15100 Schmidt Lake Road; $65; 952-474-1000).
The Jinkx and DeLa Holiday Show
Dec. 8: For eight years now, “RuPaul’s Drag Race” vets Jinkx Monsoon and BenDeLaCreme have staged an original Christmas show for ever-growing audiences. This year’s program was written by the pair and directed by BenDeLaCreme and promises “another year of over-the-top camp spectacle, side-splitting gags, brand new songs, heartfelt storytelling, thrilling dance numbers and iconic costumes.” 7 p.m.; Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $342.95; hennepinarts.org.
Big Bad Voodoo Daddy
Dec. 9: The seven-man Big Bad Voodoo Daddy was one of the handful of neo-swing bands to land record deals in the anything-goes ’90s. They played themselves in the 1996 film “Swingers,” which led to an offer from Capitol Records. The swing boom faded quickly, but these guys have continued to tour and record, with a specialty in Christmas music. 7:30 p.m.; Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $70.45-$58.45; hennepinarts.org.
The Blenders
The Blenders: Allan Rust, Tim Kasper, Darren Rust and Ryan Lance. (Courtesy of the band)
Dec. 8-10: Vocal group the Blenders have spent decades celebrating the holidays by hitting the road in December. The group has released a handful of best-selling Christmas albums over the years, including their latest “Christmas with the Blenders: Live Studio Sessions.” In addition to showcasing their four-part a cappella harmonies and goofy sense of humor, the guys will perform some songs backed by a live band. This season will be their final holiday shows as they’re stepping down from touring. But the foursome says they’re not breaking up, and new music is a possibility in the future. 8 p.m. Dec. 12-13, 2 p.m. Dec. 14; Pantages Theatre, 710 Hennepin Ave., Mpls.; $82.35-$69.45; hennepinarts.org.
Mannheim Steamroller
Dec. 14: Chip Davis was just another working songwriter — the Ohio native penned the 1975 novelty hit “Convoy” — when he started making classical albums using synthesizers instead of an orchestra. The concept took off and, in 1984, Davis struck gold with the 6-million seller “Mannheim Steamroller Christmas.” He took the music on the road and has continued to do so each December. 3 p.m.; Orpheum Theatre, 910 Hennepin Ave. S., Mpls.; $100.60-$75.60; hennepinarts.org.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
Dec. 28: Founded in 1996 by producer/composer/lyricist Paul O’Neill, Trans-Siberian Orchestra quickly became known for the group’s holiday shows, which feature seasonally themed music performed with the pomp and circumstance (and lasers) of arena rock. O’Neill died in April 2017 from an unexpected reaction to prescribed medications to treat several chronic illnesses. Three months later, bassist David Z died in a car accident while on tour with Adrenaline Mob. But the surviving members of TSO — which hits the road each year with two separate touring groups — has soldiered on in honor of O’Neill. 3 and 7:30 p.m.; Target Center, 600 First Ave. N., Mpls.; $176.90-$55.02; targetcenter.com.
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