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Dana (distortion) Yavin

Holiday Shows in NYC: Darlene Love, Justin Vivian Bond, Harry Potter Yule Ball, Todd Barry, Street Dogs & more

Darlene Love at “Right 2 Rock” benefit in October (more by Dana (distortion) Yavin)
Darlene Love

The holiday season is upon us, and its spirit and celebrations are just about everywhere you look. If you’re looking for some musical ways to celebrate in NYC, here’s a few options.

Like she usually does, Darlene Love is celebrating the holidays at BB King’s. She already played one of her shows there earlier this month (12/6), and since we last spoke, she’s added two more happening on Friday (12/20) and January 4. Friday’s show is sold out (but the venue says tickets may be available the day of the show), and tickets for the 1/4 show are available.

Other previously discussed holiday shows at BB King’s include Darlene’s fellow A Christmas Gift for You from Phil Spector singer Ronnie Spector (of the Ronettes) on Sunday (12/22) (tickets), and Jewish a cappella group The Maccabeats on Christmas (12/25) (tickets).

Street Dogs, the Boston punk band fronted by former Dropkick Murphy Mike McColgan, will play “Wreck the Halls” at Highline Ballroom on Friday (12/20) with Chosen Ones and Done With You. Tickets are available.

Doveman collaborator Justin Vivian Bond and friends are playing holiday shows at Joe’s Pub on Sunday (12/22) and Monday (12/23). The shows are billed as “Let It Show!” and the description reads, “Celebrate the return of the light with Justin Vivian Bond and friends with an evening of Holiday inspired songs and stories. Expect surprises! (bring your own lumps of coal and watch them turn into diamonds) Keywords: starstruck, babies, booze, ox and ass. Oh Come All Ye Faithful!” Tickets for both shows are available.

Also at Joe’s Pub on Christmas Eve is the previously discussed Baby Dee & Little Annie show. Tickets for that are still available.

While Union Hall won’t be having any music, they will be open on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the following day (12/26) to celebrate the holidays. The kitchen will be closed, but the bar will be serving holiday-themed drinks, and they’ll have Christmas bocce ball and a fireplace going. The venue opens at 4 PM on 12/24 and 12/26 and 5 PM on 12/25.

Like last year, The Bell House will host the Harry Potter Yule Ball on Saturday (12/21) featuring sets from Harry and the Potters, The Potter Puppet Pals, Lauren Fairweather, and half-Mad can o’ Destroy. Tickets for that show are on sale now.

And another Christmas Eve option is ‘Christmas Eve for the Jews’ with comedians Joel Chasnoff, Judy Gold and Todd Barry at City Winery on Christmas Eve. This one’s sold out, but you can sign up for the waiting list in case tickets become available.

Brooklyn Bowl has holiday celebrations all weekend with Jimmy Hill and the Allstarz Band featuring Black Velvet (aka James Brown Jr) at the early show on Saturday (12/21) (tickets) and Jonathan Toubin’s Soul Clap and Dance-Off with guest selector James Chance at the late show (tickets). Then on Sunday (12/22), the Preservation Hall Jazz Band does their Creole Christmas show at the venue (tickets).

Those are just a few holiday-themed music options in NYC. What else?