POP & ROCK
CAITLIN CROSBY, CROSBY LOGGINS, JAY NASH It may be dubbed the “Crosby, Crosby, and Nash’’ tour, but as far as we can tell none of the three pop-leaning singer-songwriters playing tonight is related to David or Graham of three-part-harmony fame. Loggins, however, is the son of famous danger-zone denizen Kenny Loggins. 10:30 p.m. Dec. 11. $12. Club Passim. 617-492-7679. www.clubpassim.orgROCK ’N SOUL HOLIDAY CONCERT It’s a serious who’s who of local talent coming together to share a little holiday cheer and a whole lot of rock, soul, country, and punk to benefit the Music Museum of New England. The lineup includes veterans like Willie Alexander and Charlie Farren and newer faces like Sarah Borges and Eli “Paperboy’’ Reed. The whole shebang will be anchored by the timeless Barrence Whitfield and a crackerjack house band. 8 p.m. Dec. 13. $18-$28. Regent Theatre. 781-646-4849. www.regenttheatre.com
WILL DAILEY The local singer-songwriter is in a yuletide mood so he’s throwing his own Festival Holidad. He’s invited friends, and WBCN Rumble winners The Luxury, as well as Violet Nine and Brendan Boogie along for the festivities. We’re guessing from the title that seasonal faves will be sprinkled among tracks from Dailey’s well-received 2009 release “Torrent, Vols. 1 & 2.’’ 8:30 p.m. Dec. 11. $12 advance/$15 day of show. Paradise. 877-598-8689. www.livenation.com
ARCTIC MONKEYS The modern rocking Brits return to pimp their third album, the seasonally appropriate “Humbug.’’ Josh Homme, main man behind Queens of the Stone Age and current supergroup Them Crooked Vultures, got behind the boards with the band members and helped them let their freak flag fly. 8 p.m. Dec. 13. $26.50. House of Blues. 800-745-3000. www.ticketmaster.com
SARAH RODMAN
FOLK, WORLD & COUNTRY
HOT TUNA Hard to believe it’s been 50 years since guitarist Jorma Kaukonen and bassist Jack Casady began playing together, first as teenage pals, then as members of Jefferson Airplane, and eventually as blues-rockers Hot Tuna. Kaukonen and Casady will take a rootsier approach on this acoustic tour, with mandolinist Barry Mitterhoff fleshing out the lineup. 8 p.m. Dec. 11. $32. First Parish Church, 3 Church St., Harvard Square, Cambridge. 978-462-9630. www.mktix.com/heptunesBEYOND THE PALE Describing its latest album, “Postcards,’’ as acoustic world music is a good place to start. There’s a lot to behold with this Canadian sextet. From Balkan beats to klezmer drive to ambient folk, the band is fiercely committed to its vision of global sounds and rarely takes the short road to find it. 10 p.m. Dec. 12. $10. Lily Pad. 617-395-1393. www.lily-pad.net
SESSION AMERICANA Capping a strong year that saw the release of a new album, “Diving for Gold,’’ the multitalented men of Americana ensemble Session Americana are celebrating the season with a holiday extravaganza featuring Melissa Ferrick. (If you miss Saturday’s shows, the band is playing a Tuesday residency at Lizard Lounge this month.) 7 and 10 p.m. Dec. 12. $20. Club Passim. 617-492-7679. www.clubpassim.com
JAMES REED
JAZZ, BLUES & CABARET
LISA THORSON The acclaimed singer possesses a fresh, frolicsome voice, which she deploys with marvelous musicianship and a truly improvisational spirit. Her seasoned band comprises pianist Tim Ray, bassist David Clark, and drummer George Schuller. 8 p.m. Dec. 10. $12-$15. Vernissage Restaurant, 1627 Beacon St., Brookline. www.vernissagerestaurant.com/jazz.aspxMATTHEW STUBBS BAND FEATURING “SAX’’ GORDON The up-and-coming blues guitarist is a tasteful yet emotional player for whom less truly is more. His tight, house-rocking band features gutsy R&B honker and five-time W.C. Handy/Blues award nominee “Sax’’ Gordon Beadle. 9:45 p.m. Dec. 11. Johnny D’s Uptown, 17 Holland St., Somerville. 617-776-2004, www.johnnyds.com
TUCK & PATTI The married couple - she sings, he plays guitar - has been performing as a duo for three decades, perfecting their smooth synthesis of jazz, folk, and pop. Their latest recording, “I Remember You,’’ is their first of all Great American Songbook standards. 8 and 10 p.m. Dec. 11-12. $25. Scullers. 617-562-4111, www.scullersjazz.com
FREDERICK MOYER AND THE JAZZ ARTS TRIO Respected classical pianist Moyer addresses classic jazz with his Jazz Arts Trio, rounded out by bassist Peter Tillotson and drummer Peter Fraenkel. He’ll open with a solo set of music by Bach, Beethoven, and Mendelssohn; then the trio will perform transcriptions of performances by great jazz pianists Ahmad Jamal, Red Garland, and Oscar Peterson. 8 p.m. Dec. 12. $25. The Center for the Arts in Natick, 14 Summer St., Natick. 508-647-0097, www.natickarts.org
KEVIN LOWENTHAL
CLASSICAL
BOSTON CAMERATA Joel Cohen returns to lead the group’s unusual holiday program, “A Mediterranean Christmas,’’ with Camerata players joined by the Sharq Arabic Music Ensemble in works from across the Mediterranean. Dec. 11 at Follen Church Society in Lexington, Dec. 12 at First Church in Cambridge, Dec. 20 in First Lutheran Church, Boston. $22-$46. 617-262-2092, www.bostoncamerata.orgBOSTON CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY Fenwick Smith (flute), Lucy Chapman (violin), Roger Tapping (viola), and Natasha Brofsky (cello) offer an all-Bach program including arrangements of three Sinfonias as well as the “Goldberg Variations.’’ 2 p.m. Dec. 12. Sanders Theatre. $20-$50. 617-349-0086, www.bostonchambermusic.org
BOSTON BAROQUE Martin Pearlman leads Boston Baroque’s yearly Jordan Hall traversals of Handel’s “Messiah’’ with vocal soloists Amanda Forsythe, Ann McMahon Quintero, Lawrence Wiliford, and Timothy Jones. 7:30. Dec. 11 and 12. $25-$69. Jordan Hall. 617-484-9200, www.bostonbaroque.org
SEYMOUR LIPKIN The veteran pianist concludes his two-part survey, “Schubert The Late Great Sonatas,’’ with a performance of the Sonata in A Major (D. 959) and the Sonata in B-flat Major (D. 960). 1:30 p.m. Dec. 13. $23. Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. 617-278-5156, www.gardnermuseum.org
JEREMY EICHLER 
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