Celebrate the holiday season with these shows, which feature everything from hiphop, pop and old-time to Celtic, bluegrass and New Orleans grooves.
Party time
The 10th annual Ithaca Musicians’ Office Party returns, with several local favorites – Mary Lorson, Jennie Lowe Stearns, Johnny Dowd, Beverly Stokes, Bronwen Exter and others – paying tribute to the many musical heroes who passed in 2016.
When: 6-11 p.m. Thursday
Where: The Dock
Cost: donation
Info: www.thedockithaca.com
Ready to howl
The Howlin’ Brothers return to Ithaca with their raucous blend of old-time, bluegrass, blues and folk. Based in Nashville, the band features two Ithaca College grads: Jared Green and Ian Craft.
When: 9 p.m. Thursday
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $13
Info: www.thehaunt.com
Double feature
Two of Ithaca’s most popular groups – the Sim Redmond Band and Gunpoets – join forces for this holiday weekend show. The latter band released a new album titled “Bombs Away!” this summer.
When: 9 p.m. Friday
Where: The Dock
Cost: $15
Info: www.thedockithaca.com
Fiddling families
The Grady Girls will play a post-holiday show of their traditional Irish dance tunes. Also performing is Specker, Kornblum & Norman, which features Lila and Ida Mae Specker on fiddles, Molly Kornblum on bass and Josh Norman on guitar.
When: 6-9 p.m. Monday
Where: The Westy
Cost: free
Info: www.facebook.com/events/1743668252620374/
Piano man
Pianist-singer and Ithaca native Greg Schatz returns from New Orleans to perform some of his original songs with Max Buckholtz (violin) and Doug Robinson (guitar).
When: 6-10 p.m. Tuesday
Where: Maxie’s Supper Club
Cost: free
Info: www.schatzymusic.com, www.maxies.com
Two-night stand
Southern Tier quartet Driftwood returns to Ithaca for a pair of shows to celebrate the release of its new CD, “City Lights.” Tenzin Chopak, who just released a new CD of his own, will open the first show; the Rapid River Boys the second show.
When: Thursday & Friday, Dec. 29-30
Where: The Haunt
Cost: $15 per show
Info: www.thehaunt.com, www.dspshows.com
• Also, don’t forget the weekly residencies: Galactic Mondays at Casita del Polaris, Irish Sessions at Rulloff’s (Tuesdays), Tuesday Bluesday at the Dock, Reggae Night at the Dock (Wednesdays), the new Musicians’ Noodle Bowl at Lot 10 (first and third Wednesday each month), and the various open-mic nights around towns.