The holidays are upon us and you may be preparing for your 29th visit to one of central Indiana’s great performances of The Nutcracker. Or are you looking for seasonal entertainment created after the 19th century? Maybe it’s both.
Luckily, Indianapolis offers a variety of modern vacation options alongside the traditional classics. Here are seven local pop concerts for anyone who wants to celebrate the season with some standing, singing along, and maybe a slight hip shake or two.
Pentatonix
7 p.m. December 6 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. Tickets are available at bit.ly/3hUKdEd.
A cappella superstars Pentatonix are coming to Indy following a new Christmas album and streaming special from Disney Plus. South Bend’s Girl Named Tom, winner of The Voice 2021, opens the show.
Tickets for this one are getting pretty tight so you won’t want to wait.
More:Pentatonix Announces Indianapolis 2022 Holiday Show With Opening of Indiana Group
Dave Koz & friends
8:00 p.m. December 9 at The Palladium, 1 Carter Green in Carmel. Tickets are available at bit.ly/3tTHdus.
One of the Center for the Performing Arts’ most beloved traditions begins in 2022, when saxophonist Dave Koz leads an upbeat band with the help of several well-known artists, including Rick Braun, Peter White, Keiko Matsui, and Rebecca Jade. This year’s entry marks 25 years of holiday performances for Koz’s group.
Two Noblesville jazz musicians, bassist Bethany Robinson and pianist Sarah Scharbrough McLaughlin, will open the show.
More:15 Classic Vacation Shows, Movies, Light Shows and More to Enjoy in Indianapolis
Just no pursuer
10th-11th December at the Murat Theater in the Old National Center, 502 N. New Jersey St. Tickets are available at livemu.sc/3go1bdM.
What is that? Want some more modern a cappella, this time with a familiar Hoosier twist?
Straight No Chaser, the pride of Bloomington and Indiana University, also celebrates its 25th anniversary with four shows at the Murat Theater: 3:30pm and 8pm on December 10 and 3pm and 7pm on December 11th.
Tickets are still available but may no longer be valid. A press release for the performance notes that the group sold out the Murat 27 times over the year.
Trans-Siberian Orchestra
3:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on December 11 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St. Tickets are available atbit.ly/3GAoo7a.
The Ghosts of Christmas Eve promises a best-of collection from TSOs making their usual visit to the Fieldhouse. This is for those who like a little prog rock in their holiday celebrations and it’s a fun show if you’ve never been to it.
The Beach Boys
7:30 p.m. December 13 at the Murat Theater in the Old National Center, 502 N. New Jersey St. Tickets are available at livemu.sc/3UY2Ju5.
Rock & Roll Hall of Famers The Beach Boys will bring a seasonal show to the Murat that will feature songs from both the band’s classic 1964 Christmas album and founding member Mike Love’s more recent release. The Holiday Vibrations Orchestra will accompany the group.
Michael Bolton
7:30 p.m. December 13 at The Palladium, 1 Carter Green in Carmel. Tickets are available at bit.ly/3V9JTAr.
Two-time Grammy winner Michael Bolton is set to sing a mix of his greatest hits and classic Christmas carols at an anticipated Palladium show. Tickets sell out fast, so move accordingly.
worship live
7 p.m. December 17 at Clowes Memorial Hall, 4602 Sunset Ave. Tickets are available at bit.ly/3i422Rz.
The Worship Live Holiday Tour features Grammy Award-winner Fred Hammond alongside contemporary gospel singers Israel Houghton and Pastor Mike Jr. Clapping is mandatory on this tour.
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Rory Appleton is a pop culture reporter for IndyStar. Contact him at 317-552-9044 and [email protected] or follow him on Twitter at @RoryDoesPhonics.