If you need a break from the whirl of holiday festivities, here are some options -- with a couple of exceptions. A story in Thursday's newspaper will run down the many holiday-related activities available this weekend, but a handful of Christmas concerts are included here to allow extra time for ticket purchases.
Two concerts are off the calendar, including a Wednesday show at Songbirds by blues guitarist Mike Zito that has been postponed until July 28. Paul Cauthen has canceled several shows on his Country Coming Down fall tour, including Friday's at Barrelhouse Ballroom, after a van, trailer and all of the band's gear were stolen in Dallas, according to an Instagram post. A new date has not been determined.
ARTS
-- Hunter Museum of American Art, 10 Bluff View, will offer a Vision + Verse program 6-7 p.m. Thursday that will feature local Black creatives exploring the works in the temporary exhibit "Memories & Inspiration." The evening will include poetry by Erika Roberts and Arche Twitty, music from John Moore and dance from Ashley Tisdale. Admission is free. huntermuseum.org
-- River Gallery, 400 E. Second St., will offer a demonstration by ceramics artist Patricia Magers 1-4 p.m. Saturday. Magers will discuss the inspiration for her figurative pieces. river-gallery.com
MUSIC
-- Barking Legs Theater, 1307 Dodds Ave., has four upcoming shows. The Alan Wyatt Quartet will play 7-9 p.m. Wednesday for the weekly installment of Jazz in the Lounge. Cover is $5. A Jazzy Christmas With Robin Grant & The Standard, an annual event that usually sells out, is 7:30-10 p.m. Friday. Tickets are $25-$35. Rock band Slothrust will be featured Saturday, with local band Moonkalf opening the show at 8 p.m. Tickets are $20-$25. Tuesday features the Jack Blount Band, which is fronted by a specialist in early Black folk music. Tickets are $15-$20. barkinglegs.org
-- A Concert To Remember: Miller-Motte College, 6397 Lee Highway, will present a Jay Allen & Friends benefit concert for the Alzheimer's Association 6:30-10 p.m. Thursday. A contestant on season 22 of NBC's "The Voice," Allen reportedly has raised more than $50 million for Alzheimer's research through his music and appearances. His song "Blank Stares" is about his late mother's fight with the disease. An arts and crafts fair, plus photos with Santa and the Grinch, will be available 4-7 p.m. Admission is free. eventbrite.com
-- Barrelhouse Ballroom, inside Five Wits Brewing, 1501 Long St., has three upcoming shows. Wednesday is an Ugly Christmas Sweater Party with performances by pop singer Gayle and rapper Charlieonnafriday at 7 p.m. Rock band Giovannie & The Hired Guns, with support from Classless Act, will perform at 9 p.m. Thursday. Tickets are $20-$25. Behold the Brave's Christmas Bash, featuring fellow rockers Sweettalker, is at 9 p.m. Saturday. Tickets are $15-$18. barrelhouseballroom.com
-- The Caverns, 555 Charlie Roberts Road, Pelham, Tenn., will welcome experimental metal band Sunn O))) Shoshin Duo at 9 p.m. CST Saturday. Tickets start at $59. thecaverns.com
-- Songbirds, 35 Station St., has two nights of shows lined up. Friday features a multigenre show by hip-hop artist Kandi Lake, indie rock band Monsoon and punk band Listening Skulls at 8 p.m. Tickets are $10-$12. Saturday offers "An Evening With John McEuen & John Cable," both former members of the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30-$35. songbirdsfoundation.com
OUT & ABOUT
-- The Crossing Church, 7501 Standifer Gap Road, will celebrate Spirit Night on Wednesday with special guest Alex Seeley, an author and co-founding pastor of Nashville church The Belonging Co. Her presentation starts at 6:30 p.m. crossingchatt.com
-- The Comedy Catch, 29 Station St., is starting a four-night run of talent. Wednesday is an Open Mic Night for up-and-comers. The show starts at 7:30 p.m. with a $7 ticket. Thursday features a special engagement by New York-based actor and comedian Gianmarco Soresi at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $25-$30. The weekend headliner is Frankie "Trixx" Agyemang, winner of the 2021 Boston Comedy Festival. Shows are at 7:30 and 9:45 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Tickets are $17-$19. thecomedycatch.com
-- Local history: Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park will present a program on "Why Follow John Ross?" at 2 p.m. Saturday at the John Ross House, 200 E. Lake Ave., Rossville. A park ranger will explain why Ross was chosen principal chief of the Cherokee Nation and how his leadership played a crucial role during the Indian Removal. Folding chairs are recommended for the 30-minute program. nps.gov/chch
(READ MORE: Your 2022 Chattanooga-area fall festival guide)
Find more events, and add your own, at timesfreepress.com/cnevents.
Contact Lisa Denton at ldenton@timesfreepress.com or 423-757-6281.