FRIDAY, DECEMBER 11
MUSIC—The Stumptown Soul Holiday Spectacular is aptly named, with a huge roster of the city’s best musicians—Ural Thomas, Michael Quinby, and Reggie Houston among them. Plus, proceeds go to benefit the good work being done over at Shriners Hospital. Feel the spirit! MARJORIE SKINNER
Star Theater, 13 NW 6th, 7:30 pm, $15
MUSIC—I’m not known for my music knowledge around the Merc, but that’s because I’m old and I like stuff like Billy Gibbons. Best known for his guitar contributions in ZZ Top and his beard, Gibbons is much, much more than that. He was named one of the top 100 guitarists by Rolling Stone, and if you want to hear some amazing blues and stunning guitar work, go see him! SHELBY R. KING
Tyler Bryant and the Shakedown; Revolution Hall, 1300 SE Stark, 8 pm, $49.50-55
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 12
MUSIC—What’s that in the distance? Why, it’s a punk rock magical sleigh ride fresh from Seattle! Flying both Wimps and Kinski to a thrashing good time at Kill Rock Stars’ holiday bash in an old bowling alley. It’s a Christmas miracle! DIRK VANDERHART
w/Deep Fried Boogie Band; The Spare Room, 4830 NE 42nd, 9 pm, $10
300 TUBAS!—Three hundred tubas will be performing at the Tuba Christmas Concert! Frankly, I’d go see 300 of just about anything perform (except bagpipes and bucket drummers), but if you’re talking about 300 tubas playing holiday songs? That actually makes the holidays 300 percent less of a drag. WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY
Pioneer Courthouse Square, SW 6th & Morrison, 1:30-3 pm, FREE, all ages
MUSIC—Tonight’s jam-packed bennie for the Legacy Oregon Burn Center is the very definition of “good cause.” And with rockin’ local greats like Blue Skies for Black Hearts, the Pynnacles, the Cool Whips, and A TON more, there’s no excuse not to pay the puny cover and do your part. NED LANNAMANN
w/Maremoto, Beyond Veronica, the Reverberations & more; Kenton Club, 2025 N Kilpatrick, 8 pm, $5
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13
STORIES—The calendar is chockablock with storytelling events, so it’s nice to know when there’s a well-curated iteration. The Mystery Box qualifies with its tight focus (sex!) and thorough vetting of its (semi-secret) guests, like returning guest Hutch Harris from the Thermals! MARJORIE SKINNER
Alberta Rose Theatre, 3000 NE Alberta, 7 pm, $20-25
SHOPPING—Forget Black Friday! Portland’s many holiday markets are where it’s at for all your festive gifting needs, and the Portland Bazaar may be the nicest of all, with local vendors like Olympia Provisions, MadeHere PDX, Golden Rule Design, and more selling all the clothes, snacks, booze, and home goods you could possibly desire. MEGAN BURBANK
Jacobsen Salt, 602 SE Salmon, Sat-Sun 10 am-4 pm, FREE
MUSIC—Hailing from the magical-sounding Dripping Springs, Texas, troubadour Israel Nash turns trudging folk-rock on its ear by spiking it with druggy comet-trail dust. Tonight the songwriter comes to earth with a magnetic set with his watertight backing band. NED LANNAMAN
w/Anthony D’Amato; Doug Fir, 830 E Burnside, 8 pm, $10-12