Feeling festive? Family in town for the holidays? A few great ways to support Austin music and take in some seasonal sounds.
Dec. 14-24
Armadillo Christmas Bazaar at Palmer Events Center. The coolest of all Austin holiday music traditions has long outlived its namesake Armadillo World Headquarters origins. Wind your way through dozens of booths packed with gift items to the spacious stage area with both seats and standing (or sometimes dancing) room to hear some of Austin’s top talent. Performances are at 11 a.m., 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. each day. Highlights include Charlie Belle (Dec. 14), Shinyribs (Dec. 16), Carolyn Wonderland (Dec. 18), Marcia Ball (Dec. 20), Ruthie Foster (Dec. 21) and Asleep at the Wheel (Dec. 23). Admission each day is $8, good from 10 a..m. to 10 p.m. 900 Barton Springs Road. armadillobazaar.com.
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Dec. 15
Invincible Czars & Panoramic Voices “Beat the Rush” holiday show at the Blanton Museum. Known for their inventive recasting of “The Nutcracker,” Austin band Invincible Czars promises “a whole different set of holiday songs” for this collaboration with the Panoramic Voices choir as part of the Blanton’s free third-Thursday programming. 7 p.m. 200 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. blantonmuseum.org. (The Czars also play a free holiday set on Dec. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Highball, 1120 S. Lamar Blvd.)
Dec. 15-16
“Repeat the Sounding Joy! Christmas with Ensemble VIII.” The chamber choir Ensemble VIII sing vibrant medieval and Renaissance carols. 7:30 p.m. Dec. 15 at Westlake Hills Presbyterian Church, 7127 Bee Cave Road; 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 at St. Louis Catholic Church Chapel, 7601 Burnet Road. $10-$45. ensembleviii.org.
Bruce Robison and Kelly Willis performing at the Old Settlers Music Festival, Saturday April 18, 2015. Mark Matson for American-Statesman
Dec. 17
Bruce Robison & Kelly Willis Holiday Shindig at the Paramount. It’s the 19th year for the Austin country couple’s popular show that features familiar carols, favorites from both of their repertoires and home movies with the family. This year’s special guest is Grammy-winning singer Lee Ann Womack, returning from Nashville to her native state. 8 p.m. $30-$48. 713 Congress Ave. austintheatre.org.
“On A Winter’s Eve.” A family-friendly choral concert featuring traditional and new holiday songs and the invitation to sing along. 4 p.m. St. Matthew’s Episcopal Church, 8134 Mesa Drive. $15-$25. 512-719-3300. chorusaustin.org.
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Flavorsound Holiday Revue at Cheer Up Charlie’s. Prefer your festive revelry with an indie punk or garage rock vibe? Along with sets from underground faves like Shivery Shakes and Big Bill, this party promises milk and cookies, a kazoo carol-along and possibly a visit from a presumably boozy version of the man in red. Donations of new adult socks and underwear for the Austin Resource Center for the Homeless will be collected. $5. 8 p.m. doors. 900 Red River St. cheerupcharlies.com.
Saturday
Christmas at Antone’s. Bayou blues rocker Marcia Ball kicks off a festive night at Antone’s with a holiday show at 7 p.m. Later in the evening, a blockbuster lineup of Antone’s regulars take over for the club’s Christmas bash. Texas guitar great Barbara Lynn headlines a roster that includes Benny Turner, Eve Monsees, Denny Freeman and more. Marcia Ball: $20-$22; Christmas bash: $15-$20. 305 E. 5th St. antonesnightclub.com
Sunday
“A Swingin’ Christmas.” Billy Stritch — Liza Minelli’s longtime pianist — is joined by Broadway vocalists Jim Caruso and Klea Blackhurst for swinging jazz arrangements of classic carols and songs. 7:30 p.m. Rollins Studio Theatre, Long Center, 701 Riverside Drive. $49-$59. 512-474-5664, thelongcenter.org.
Robert Earl Keen’s Merry Christmas from the Fam-O-Lee at ACL Live.When you write a big ol’ silly Christmas song, as Keen did for his 1994 album “Gringo Honeymoon,” you better be prepared to play it every December for eternity. Keen went so far as to build a whole annual show around it. This year’s soiree, well-timed with Keen’s new “Live Dinner Reunion” album that includes a new version of the song, features an opening set of swing-jazz from Hot Club of Cowtown. 8 p.m. $29-$49. 310 Willie Nelson Blvd. acl-live.com.
