Love live Christmas music? There's a variety of concerts this weekend for all

It’s beginning to sound a lot like Christmas everywhere you go … in Hendersonville.

And that’s how it should be, even for those folk who don’t especially like Christmas music. It happens for only a few weeks each year, and when it’s live, it’s so much better than the recorded loops we hear overhead as we shop.

This past weekend, I enjoyed seeing and hearing The Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra’s Appalachian Christmas concert at Blue Ridge Community College. This was my first time attending a Hendo Orchestra performance, and because of the pandemic it was the first time the orchestra had played at the college since its 2019 Christmas concert. It was pretty much a full house to hear some very interesting and creative arrangements. Hats off to conductor Eric Scheider for merging the strength of an orchestra with the talents of musicians — Graham Sharp and Julian Pinelli — who specialize in roots, bluegrass, and old time music. I am so looking forward to hearing the Orchestra’s spring concerts.

With the holidays counting down the days to Santa’s visit and then the arrival of 2022, there are several Christmas concerts on tap this weekend. As you might suspect, the local churches are all about Christmas music. St. John in the Wilderness, Covenant Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church — Hendersonville, Grace Lutheran Church and West Hendersonville Baptist Church all have Christmas programs with live music this weekend. Two will feature piano and organ music, one will be a sing-along, another will host Advent Lessons and carols, and the last will have three singing Christmas trees. Everyone should see and hear a singing Christmas tree at least once. You’ve just got to hear church-based Christmas carols to get that downhome Christmas spirit.

For those who would prefer their Christmas music in more secular environs, Point Lookout Vineyards will have both The Caribbean Cowboys and Sound Investment playing seasonal tunes. But just because venues are not promoting Christmas music does not mean you won’t hear it as you sip beer and wine. Chances are Geriatric Jukebox at the 305, Myron Hyman at both St. Paul and Sawyer Springs, and Daniel Sage at The 2nd Act will all slip in a few carols at their respective gigs.

I am a bit curious to hear psychedelic Christmas classics by guitarist Eric Congdon, who will be at Southern Appalachian. And for the ultimate song and dance Christmas performance, there is still time to catch Flat Rock Playhouse’s annual show, which ends this Sunday.

Pace yourself: There is still another week until the big day and lots of live music to be heard.

305 Lounge & Eatery

305 N. Main St., Hendersonville

Friday, Dec., 17, 5-7 p.m., Geriatric Jukebox, husband and wife play guitars and sing everyone’s favorites

Appalachian Ridge Artisan Hard Cider

749 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonville

Saturday, Dec. 18, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Brian Ashley Jones, soulful singer, acclaimed guitarist, country, blues

Sunday, Dec. 19. 2-5 p.m., Hummingtree Band, three men of a certain age with string instruments, Dave Miles, Earl Turner and Randy Wykoff, troubadours of WNC and the Carolinas

Bold Rock Hard Cider

72 School House Road, Mills River

Saturday, Dec. 18, 6-9 p.m., John Paris, jazz-folk, psychedelic-rock, soloist, songwriter, originals

Burntshirt Vineyards

2695 Sugarloaf Road, Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 3-6 p.m., Ken & Nicole, singers, guitarist, ukulele, covers, rock, pop, country, folk, Americana

Covenant Presbyterian Church

2101 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville

Saturday, Dec. 18, 6 p.m., A Keyboard Christmas, six pianists and organists play holiday favorites

D9 Brewing Hendersonville

425 N. Main St, Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 7-10 p.m., Seth & Sara, husband and wife, strings and percussion, originals, covers, rootsy, Americana

Dry Falls Brewery

425 Kanuga Road, Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 7-10 p.m., The Lads avl, four-piece band, covers, originals, classic rock, blues, roots, acoustic or electric

Saturday, Dec. 18, 7-10 p.m., The Double Naught Spies, deep-cut classic rock and blues band

First United Methodist Church -- Hendersonville

204 6th Ave. W., Hendersonville

Sunday, Dec. 19, 3-4:30 p.m., Once Upon a December Makena James in concert, organ and piano, free

Flat Rock Playhouse

2661 Greenville Hwy, Flat Rock

Now through Dec. 19, various times and dates, A Flat Rock Playhouse Christmas, an extravaganza of holiday music, a WNC tradition

Grace Lutheran Church

1245 6th Ave. W., Hendersonville

Saturday, Dec. 18, 3-5 p.m., Holiday Sing-Along with the Carolina Concert Choir, adults $10

Guidon Brewing Co.

415 8th Ave. E., Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 7-9 p.m., Chris Wayne, rockabilly, blues, covers, originals

Mills River Brewing Co.

336 Banner Farm Road, Mills River

Friday, Dec. 17, 7-10 p.m., Gin Mill Pickers, Asheville-based Randy Sarton and Eric Ellis, retro-fitted folk/rag, Americana, Piedmont Blues, semi-unplugged

Oklawaha Brewing Company

147 1st Ave. E. Hendersonville

Thursday, Dec. 16, 7-9 p.m., Kid Billy, Billy Litz, Asheville-based multi-instrumentalist, singer, roots, blues, ragtime, songwriter

Friday, Dec. 17, 8-11 p.m., Wyatt Espalin, singer, songwriter, fiddler, alternative folk, originals

Saturday, Dec. 18, 8-11:59 p.m., Sumsun, Judson Rogers, electronic, originals, Hendersonville-based

Sunday, Dec. 19, 4-6 p.m., Human Ladder, Ryan Price, guitarist, singer, songwriter, pop from ‘60s and ‘70s, soloist and band member, eclectic

Point Lookout Vineyards

408 Appleola Road, Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m., Christmas Sound Investment Rock, four men of a certain age, covers from the ‘60s-’80s, dance band, three-part harmony

Saturday, Dec. 18, 4-7 p.m., Caribbean Cowboys, 10-piece band, classic rock, southern rock, R&B, Reggae, beach, country, Christmas music

Pops Diner

860 N. Main St., Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 6-8 p.m., Johnnie Blackwell, singer, guitarist, rocker

Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards

588 Chestnut Gap Road, Hendersonviller

Saturday, Dec. 18, 2:30-5:30 p.m., Collin Cheek, covers, originals, singer, guitarist

Sunday, Dec. 19, 2-5 p.m., Ken & Nicole, singers, guitarist, ukulele, covers, rock, pop, country, folk, Americana

Saint Paul Mountain Vineyards Flat Rock

2698 C Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock

Saturday, Dec. 18, 2-4 p.m., Myron Hyman, soloist, singer, guitarist, easy listening, covers, rock, country, folk

Sawyer Springs Vineyard

124 Sandy Hill Lane, Hendersonville

Sunday, Dec. 19, 2-5 p.m., Myron Hyman, soloist, singer, guitarist, easy listening, covers, rock, country, folk

Sierra Nevada Mills River

100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River

Saturday, Dec. 18, 2-5 p.m., Sidecar Honey Trio, indie, Americana, rock, southern roots

Sunday, Dec. 19, 2-5 p.m., Travis Shallow, singer, songwriter, originals, Americana, soul, rock

Southern Appalachian Brewery

822 Locust St., Ste. 100, Hendersonville

Thursday, Dec. 16, 6-8 p.m., WNC’s guitarist extraordinaire Eric Congdon plays Solo Christmas Jam

Friday, Dec. 17, 6-8 p.m., JED Flanders, rock to reggae covers

Saturday, Dec. 18, 6-8 p.m., Tools on Stools, Mark McDaniel on guitar, Howie Johnson on guitar, blues, jazz, rock, acoustic

Sunday, Dec. 19, noon-3 p.m., Hendo Showcase Brunch featuring Mare Carmody, Michael "Country" Carver, and Paul McIntire, acoustic

South Rock Sports Grill

830 Greenville Hwy., Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 8-11:59 p.m., karaoke

St. John in the Wilderness

1895 Greenville Hwy., Flat Rock

Sunday, Dec. 19, 8:45 and 11 a.m., Advent Lessons & Carols

The 2nd Act Coffee, Wine and Craft Beer Bar

101 E. Allen St., Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 6-9 p.m., 3 Shades of Gray, Bob Zullo, Dex Stutzman & James Leyva focusing on vocal harmonies of the ‘70s and beyond

Saturday, Dec. 18, 7 p.m., Daniel Sage, world class singer and songwriter, eclectic, covers, originals

The Dugout Sports Bar & Taphouse

430 N. Main St., Hendersonville

Thursday, Dec. 16, 8 p.m.-midnight, Carolina Coal Company, hard rock band, Hendersonville-based

Friday, Dec. 17, 8 p.m.-midnight, Ricky Gunter Band, singer, songwriter, country

Saturday, Dec. 18, 8 p.m.-midnight, The Loudes, Asheville-based, punk, folk, rock

The Poe House

105 1st Ave. W., Hendersonville

Friday, Dec. 17, 7-10 p.m., Howie Johnson, , singer, guitarist, rocker, Hendo-based

Saturday, Dec. 18, 7-10 p.m., Mr. Jimmy, Chicago-style blues

Triskelion Brewing Company

340 7th Ave. E., Hendersonville

Saturday, Dec. 18, 7-10 p.m., Short ‘n Lowe, alternative rock band, originals, Nashville-based

West Hendersonville Baptist Church

730 Willow Road, Hendersonville

Saturday, Dec. 18, 6:30-8 p.m., 3 Singing Christmas Trees, free

Want to be included in “Live Music?” Send your information via email to Steve Wong at Just4Wong@Gmail.com by Monday at 8 a.m. for the coming Thursday-Sunday. Don’t forget to send details on your performing artists along with a good high-resolution photo.

This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: List: Live Christmas music around Hendersonville NC