The holiday season is in full swing, with several concerts on tap to help Colorado Springs music lovers get into the Christmas spirit.
- Irish Christmas in America, 7 p.m. Friday, Stargazers Theater, 10 S. Parkside Drive, $30; 719-476-2200, stargzerstheater.com.
Produced by Sligo fiddler Oisin Mac Diarmada, Irish Christmas in America is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and producers promise a feast for the ears and eyes, with traditional Irish music, song and dance, and a scenic photographic backdrop. The lineup of talented artists includes: Cathy Jordan (vocals, bodhran), Gráinne Hambly (Irish harp, concertina), Caoimhín Ó Farghaíl (elbow pipes, flute), Samantha Harvey (piano, dance) and Jack Warnock (guitar, vocals).
First conceived in 2005, the show has played in concert venues across the U.S., including: Cerritos Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles; National Geographic Live in Washington, D.C.; Fox Theater in Tucson, Ariz.; The Egg in Albany, N.Y.; and the Stephens Performing Arts Center in Pocatello, Idaho.
- The Voice and the Violin Candlelight Christmas, 5 p.m. Sunday, Ent Center for the Arts, Shockley-Zalabak Theater, 5225 N. Nevada Ave., $18.75 and up; entcenterforthearts.org.
Cami Maree brings the vocals. Blue Violin brings the strings.
The Voice and The Violin returns to the Ent Center for its fourth year following a sold-out show in 2024. The concert is a unique blend of traditional carols, reimagined cinematic classics and bold rock anthems. The candlelight glow and immersive light show provide eye-popping visuals.
Singer-songwriter Cami Maree is a recent cancer survivor and “autoimmune warrior,” according to her bio. Her style — a blend of Southern pop-rock, blues and soul — meshes well with the fiery stylings of Blue Violin, who is often described as “Trans-Siberian Orchestra meets Lindsey Stirling.”
- Christmas with the Celts, 7:30 p.m. Monday, Pikes Peak Center, 190 S. Cascade Ave., $41 and up; pikespeakcenter.com.
Originally a national PBS special, Christmas with the Celts has sparked widespread demand for live performances at theaters, large casinos and performing arts centers across the U.S.
A fusion of top Irish musicians and talented Nashville players, the Celts perform a mélange of Irish Christmas carols, modern contemporary songs and Irish dance. The group adds new songs and dances each year so no two years are alike, according to its bio.
In addition to high-stepping Irish dancers, Celtic instruments and soaring vocals, the show features unpredictable Irish jokes and interactive banter between band members and the audience.
“You can’t listen to Celtic music and not be happy,” said show founder and producer Ric Blair. “Christmas with the Celts isn’t just a concert; it is a spiritual experience of music and dance uniting communities. That is why this unique melding of modern Christmas hits and organic Celtic instrumentation continues to resonate and grow in popularity every year with audiences.”