9 Indianapolis concerts for spreading holiday cheer
Roster of visiting acts includes Death Cab for Cutie and Walk the Moon
The year in concerts comes to a close with a flurry of holiday-themed shows.
Carmel's Palladium and the Murat Theatre in Old National Centre each will host four events focused on Christmas. At Indiana Farmers Coliseum, six acts will play the "Jingle Jam" presented by radio station WZPL-FM (99.5).
Check out details for nine Indianapolis concerts that will spread holiday cheer:
"Alt 103.3 Deck the Hall Ball"
7:30 p.m. Dec. 1, Murat Theatre in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $29.50 to $75, LiveNation.com, (800) 745-3000.
Rock band Death Cab for Cutie, on tour to promote its "Kintsugi" album, recorded a poignant cover of "Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)" for 2004 compilation "Maybe This Christmas Tree." The song co-written by Phil Spector originally was performed by Darlene Love on 1963's "A Christmas Gift for You from Philles Records." For its "Deck the Hall Ball," radio station WOLT-FM (103.3) rounds out the bill with supporting acts Cold War Kids (part of this year's March Madness Music Festival at White River State Park) and Grizfolk.
"K-Love Christmas"
7 p.m. Dec. 3, Murat Theatre in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $28 to $62, LiveNation.com, (800) 745-3000.
Radio network K-Love beams contemporary Christian music to more than 400 stations, including Indianapolis affiliate WKLU-FM (101.9). The K-Love morning show, hosted by Craig West, Amy Baumann and Mike Kankelfritz, originates in Indianapolis. The network's Christmas tour features Danny Gokey, who placed third during "American Idol's" 2009 season, as well as Sidewalk Prophets (a group founded on the campus of Anderson University), Natalie Grant and Tenth Avenue North.
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"Wynonna & the Big Noise Christmas"
8 p.m. Dec. 4, the Palladium, 1 Center Green, Carmel, $35 to $125, TheCenterPresents.com, (317) 843-3800.
Country music star Wynonna Judd is launching a new phase of her career with backing band the Big Noise. Guest artists Jason Isbell, Derek Trucks and Eagles bass player-vocalist Timothy B Schmit appear on debut album "Wynonna & the Big Noise," set for release on Feb. 12. At the Palladium, Judd is expected to sing holiday tunes such as "O Holy Night," which she recorded for 2006 album "A Classic Christmas."
"Michael Bolton: Hits & Holidays"
7 p.m. Dec. 6, the Palladium, 1 Center Green, Carmel, $35 to $115, TheCenterPresents.com, (317) 843-3800.
Michael Bolton, who's sold more than 55 million albums worldwide, sings "Jingle Bells" in a Pizza Hut TV ad that promotes the company's Triple Treat Box. The Connecticut native known for his chart-topping rendition of "When a Man Loves a Woman" has two holiday albums on his resume: "This is the Time: The Christmas Album" (1996) and "A Swingin' Christmas" (2007). The former included a duet of "Ave Maria" with opera icon Placido Domingo.
"99.5 ZPL Jingle Jam"
7 p.m. Dec. 9, Indiana Farmers Coliseum, 1202 E. 38th St., Ticketmaster.com, (800) 745-3000.
This multi-act bill is headlined by Cincinnati's Walk the Moon, known for Top 5 single "Shut Up and Dance." Rachel Platten, who reached No. 6 with "Fight Song," performed as part of this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. A cappella group Pentatonix issued an album and single titled "That's Christmas to Me" in 2014. Max Schneider broke into showbiz as an actor on Nickelodeon TV series "How to Rock," while Tori Kelly was a featured guest on Pentatonix release "Winter Wonderland / Don't Worry Be Happy."
"WJJK Not So Silent Night"
8 p.m. Dec. 10, Murat Theatre in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $35 to $75, LiveNation.com, (800) 745-3000.
Classic-rock radio station WJJK-FM (104.5) will bring Jason Bonham, son of late Led Zeppelin drummer John Bonham, to town for the "Not So Silent Night" show. Bonham, who's performed with surviving Zeppelin members Robert Plant, Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones during high-profile reunion dates in 1988 and 2007, made an album with Indianapolis-based Healing Sixes in 2002. The drummer's current project, Jason Bonham's Led Zeppelin Experience, performs hits as well as deep cuts from the iconic band's catalog.
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"Dave Koz and Friends Christmas"
8 p.m. Dec. 11, the Palladium, 1 Center Green, Carmel, $30 to $125, TheCenterPresents.com, (317) 843-3800.
Dave Koz, "Mr. Christmas" of the smooth jazz genre, is on the road with a holiday tour for the 18th consecutive year. Saxophone player Koz has issued multiple Christmas albums, including 2014's "The 25th of December." In 2007, he and vocalist Kelly Sweet recorded their version of "White Christmas." At the Palladium, Koz will be joined by fellow saxophone player Candy Dulfer, Righteous Brothers' vocalist Bill Medley and guitarist Jonathan Butler.
"Straight No Chaser's New Old Fashioned Tour"
Various times, Dec. 11-13, Murat Theatre in Old National Centre, 502 N. New Jersey St., $27.50 to $75, LiveNation.com, (800) 745-3000.
Straight No Chaser's current album "The New Old Fashioned" doesn't include Christmas tunes, even if the title is borrowed from the lyrics of "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree." Nevertheless, the holiday season is closely linked to the a cappella group that became a YouTube sensation thanks to its 1998 performance of "12 Days" at Indiana University. When Straight No Chaser performs in December, the set list typically includes a handful of Christmas songs such as "Carol of the Bells."
"Jim Brickman: Comfort & Joy"
7:30 p.m. Dec. 17, the Palladium, 1 Center Green, Carmel, $25 to $95, TheCenterPresents.com, (317) 843-3800.
In 2003, New Age piano player Jim Brickman topped Billboard magazine's adult contemporary chart with "Sending You a Little Christmas" featuring vocalist Kristy Starling. At the Palladium, Brickman will be joined by vocalist Anne Cochran -- his long-running concert collaborator -- and electric violin player Tracy Silverman. The show likely will include selections from Brickman's 2014 album, "On A Winter's Night: The Songs And Spirit Of Christmas."
Call Star reporter David Lindquist at (317) 444-6404. Follow him on Twitter: @317Lindquist.