Arts Agenda: Holiday music, part two

Each week, ArtsATL delivers a critic’s short list of the shows, exhibitions, concerts and events we recommend for the coming weeks within one discipline or venue type in the kaleidoscope of Atlanta arts and culture. Every week, we’ll present a different art form. There are so many holiday music events coming up this season that we’ve split the list into two. Check out part one for more.

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December 13

The ATL Collective Presents A Very 90’s Mariah Holiday live at Eddie’s Attic at 7 p.m. and 9 p.m. on December 13.

December 13-14

The award-winning Spivey Hall Children’s Choir Program presents its beloved annual holiday concert with the Spivey Hall Young Artists, the Children’s Choir and the Tour Choir at 3 p.m. December 13 and December 14.

December 14

Mindy Smith’s An Acoustic Christmas will feature songs from both of her Christmas records, My Holiday and Snowed In. It takes place at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur at 6 p.m. December 14.

Join violinist Helen Kim, cellist Charae Krueger and pianists Julie Coucheron and William Ransom for Santa’s Favorite Chamber Music at the Michael C. Carlos Museum’s Ackerman Hall at 4 p.m. December 14.

The Atlanta Concert Band presents its Holiday Pops Concert at 4 p.m. on December 14 at Mount Vernon Presbyterian Church in Sandy Springs.

December 15

Tony and Grammy Award-winning artist Leslie Odom Jr. brings his 2025 Christmas Tour to Symphony Hall at 7:30 p.m. December 15.

December 17

Have A Swingin’ Little Christmas with Suzy Bogguss at 7 p.m. December 17 at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur.

Sarah Brightman’s A Winter Symphony finds the world-renowned soprano accompanied by orchestra, choir and special guests. The show comes to Symphony Hall at 8 p.m. on December 17.

December 18

A Charlie Brown Christmas featuring The Kyle Bryant Trio features jazz guitarist Kyle Bryant, bassist Travis Shaw and drummer Justin Chesarek performing the beloved music of Vince Guaraldi at Eddie’s Attic at 7 p.m. December 18

Kevin Scott’s 10th Annual Funky Holiday Spectacular dance party will feature tunes ranging from James Brown and Otis Redding to Stevie Wonder and Aretha Franklin to Frank Zappa and Black Sabbath, along with a few seasonal standards at 8 p.m. December 18 at Variety Playhouse.

December 18-19 

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chorus Director Norman Mackenzie takes center stage in this presentation of the Christmas portion of Handel’s Messiah, the composer’s most enduring oratorio, culminating in the glorious Hallelujah Chorus. The concerts take place at 8 p.m. December 18 and December 19 at Symphony Hall.

December 19

Béla Fleck & The Flecktones return to bring you Jingle All the Way, a reunion tour featuring the group’s beloved tunes — along with re-invented, jazz-infused holiday classics from their Grammy-winning album by the same name. Founding members Fleck, Victor Wooten, Roy “Future Man” Wooten and Howard Levy take the stage alongside former Flecktones bandmate and saxophonist Jeff Coffin and Tuvan throat singing ensemble Alash at 8 p.m. December 19 at the Eastern.

December 19-20

More than 10 years ago, a handful of songwriters came together to play Christmas songs at a local folk club, and they’re still at it with this year’s Christmas Xtravaganza. Join Ryan Horne, Nathan Angelo, Micah Dalton and Jonathan Rich at Eddie’s Attic for four more shows at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. December 19, and 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. December 20.

December 20

Yacht Rock Revue’s Yacht Rock Holiday Special brings the festive vibes to the Coca-Cola Roxy at 8 p.m. December 20.

December 20-21

Celebrate the holiday season with the celestial voices of Grammy-nominated multiplatinum Irish singing sensation Celtic Woman. This is a wonderful opportunity to hear Celtic Woman’s angelic harmonies with a full symphony orchestra in an intimate concert setting at Symphony Hall at 8 p.m. December 20 and 3 p.m. December 21.

December 21

John Burke and the Superstratum Orchestra, led by Georgia-born pianist and composer Burke, brings Holiday favorites, mashups and nostalgic memories to Eddie’s Attic at 6 p.m. December 21.

The 14th edition of TDawg Presents’ Holiday Hootenanny features The Wood Brothers’ Oliver Wood, who performed locally in the ’90s with his band King Johnson; the legendary troubadour Steve Poltz; and multi-Grammy winners Jim Lauderdale and Jason Carter (formerly with Del McCoury band The Traveling McCourys). Atlanta folk rock icons Caroline Aiken, Diane Durrett, Donna Hopkins and Liz Melendez and Rev. Jeff Mosier, who has performed at every Holiday Hootenanny, will also join the fun at 7 p.m. December 21 at Variety Playhouse.

December 22-23

Joe Gransden’s Little Big Band transports you back to the jazz and big band Era with Swingin’ in the Holidays at Eddie’s Attic at 6:30 p.m. and 9 p.m. on December 22 and December 23.

December 23

Celebrate the spirit of the holidays from around the world with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in Sounds of the Season, featuring orchestral favorites like Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, White Christmas and A Holly and Jolly Sing Along at 7 p.m. December 23 at Symphony Hall.

December 27-28

The 2006 Christmas film The Holiday, starring Cameron Diaz, Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Jack Black, will be presented with its musical score performed live to the film by the Atlanta Pops Orchestra at 7 p.m. December 27 and 3 p.m. December 28 at Symphony Hall.