Jackson Free Press

It's been a blast attending great parties and concerts, but I'm ready for the holiday hustle and bustle to be done and to get back to the normality of life. Between your own holiday parties and writing those New Year's resolutions, make plans to hear awesome music in the capital city.

On Wednesday, Mark Whittington performs at The Irish Frog, Barry Leach is at Kathryn's, and good friends Anna Kline and Scott Anderson perform as the Grits and Soul Band at Fenian's Pub. Thursday night, local bluegrass favorites D'lo Trio play at The Cherokee Inn. AJ's on the Lake has Hunter Gibson, and Amazin' Lazy Boi performs at F. Jones Corner's blues lunch. I'm so excited to have my one-man band Clinton Kirby and his family back from Los Angeles, Calif., for the holidays, so please come join us along with local celebrity and piano man Michael Kennedy at JC's (425 N. Mart Plaza) Christmas Party Thursday night.

Friday night FlowTribe plays at Martin's. Also, Soulshine at Old Fannin hosts Dain Edwards, The Med Bar and Grill hosts Eddie Cotton every Friday (so mark your calendars), and Dreamz JXN presents Can't Feel My Face Friday (and after the week marathon of last minute shopping and prepping for the annual family Christmas, I think we'll ALL need it). Reed Pierce's has Chris Gill and the Sole Shakers.

Saturday night is Christmas Eve, so if you've already had your annual Christmas present swap and family fight or fallout and need to get out of the house to blow off some holiday steam, head on over to The Martini Room for Soulful Saturdays or The Boardwalk for karaoke. Christmas Day is the time to celebrate the season with friends and family. After you've had round two of present opening and siblings or parents altercation, head over to Fenian's to hear Jason Turner. Martin's Christmas Show features Jackson natives Jakob and Joshua Clark and Mischa Hercules in the band Boy, along with Dent May and Dead Gaze. Please support this great lineup of music for the holidays.

Between now and New Year's Eve, we're still rocking out, so jam at Open Mic Night at Ole Tavern or Fenian's on Tuesdays, and live blues, jazz and open poetry mic at Jackson's newest venue, Old School 101 (2640 Terry Road, 601-940-6559). On Dec. 28, Clinton and I will play at the first venue we ever performed at (Hal and Mal's), so come hear us acoustically accost you. Dec. 29, Mississippi native and Grammy nominee Jimbo Mathus and his band, The Tri-State Coalition, perform in the Red Room at Hal and Mal's. Kenny Davis performs at The Med Bar and Grill. Martin's and Ole Tavern host Ladies Night.

I'm looking forward to New Year's Eve when my best friend Silky Jane rolls into town (you've been warned.) Make plans that night to attend Underground 119 with The Fearless Four, Fenian's for The Bailey Brothers, The King Edward Hotel's New Year's Eve celebration with the Patrick Harkins Band, Duling Hall with The Crackerjacks, Pop's Saloon for Hillbilly Deluxe, and the Martini Room has its New Year's Eve bash with DJ Finesse. I strongly encourage you to call these venues beforehand so that they can tell you more details about cover charges and reserved seating.

I plan on filling up on the traditional New Year's Day specials (greens and black-eyed peas) and hope you will try to hear John Mora at Sombra Mexican Kitchen, Knight Bruce at Sophia's in the Fairview Inn and Andy Hardwick at Fitzgerald's.

Merry Christmahannakwanzaa to you and your family! Remember, musicians, I am your Elf on the Shelf, so I hope you're on the nice list this holiday season. I wish all of you a wonderful holiday and a sensational New Year, too.

And, remember, if you see me out and about, please say hello!