• CONCERTS

THURSDAY

Dinosaur Jr., alt-rock, with Hush Arbors, State Theatre, Portland. $28; general admission. statetheatreportland.com. 8 p.m.

Start Making Sense, Talking Heads tribute, with Great White Caps, 18-plus; Port City Music Hall, Portland. $10, $25. portcitymusichall.com. 9 p.m.

Laura Cortese, singer-songwriter, with Valerie Thompson, Mariel Vandersteel and Brittany Haas, Stone Mountain Arts Center, Brownfield. Free; reservations recommended. stonemountainartscenter.com. 8 p.m.

Troy MacGillivray, fiddler, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. $15. unity.edu/uccpa. 7:30 p.m.

FRIDAY

Sister Sparrow & The Dirty Birds, new soul/rock, with Hollis Brown and Whale Oil, 18-plus; Port City Music Hall, Portland. $12 to $25. portcitymusichall.com. 9 p.m.

Anais Mitchell, singer-songwriter, with Rachel Reis, One Longfellow Square, Portland. $15 in advance; $18 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 8 p.m.

Jennifer Porter, jazz, blues, country and opera, Saco River Theatre, Bar Mills. $16, $18. 929-5412. 7:30 p.m.

“This Must Be the Place,” art opening after-party with If and It and Mount Sharp (alt-rock), The Oak and the Ax, Biddeford. Free. theoakandtheax.blogspot.com. 8 p.m.

Portland Community Chorus: “A Yuletide Celebration,” traditional holiday music, audience sing-along and the “Hallelujah” chorus, Scarborough High School. $12 in advance; $15 day of show; free for children under 12. 449-0379. 7:30 p.m. Friday; 2 p.m. Saturday.

SATURDAY

Smashing Pumpkins, alt-rock, with Five Knives, State Theatre, Portland. $46.50 in advance; $50 day of show; general admission. statetheatreportland.com. 8 p.m.

Steve Earle, alt-country, Port City Music Hall, Portland. Sold out. portcitymusichall.com. 9 p.m.

School of Seven and Twin Sisters, rock/pop from the ether, with Moon King, 18-plus; Space, Portland. $12 in advance; $14 day of show. space538.org. 8:30 p.m.

Ben Powell, jazz violin, Chocolate Church Arts Center, Bath. $12 in advance; $15 day of show. chocolatechurcharts.org. 7:30 p.m.

Childsplay, fiddle choir, with Lissa Schneckenburger, Portland High School John Ford Auditorium. $20. childsplay.org. 8 p.m.

The Bob Band, performing Bob Dylan’s “John Wesley Harding” album in its entirety, One Longfellow Square, Portland. $15 in advance; $18 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 8 p.m.

Zemya, world a cappella ensemble, Maine Jewish Museum, Portland. $12. 219-2247. 7:30 p.m.

K’Naan, Somali-born rapper, Bates College (Clifton Daggett Gray Athletic Building), Lewiston. $30. batestickets.com. 9 p.m.

Roosevelt Dime, acoustic jugband blues, classic New Orleans soul and neo-folk, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. $10 in advance; $12 day of show. unity.edu/uccpa. 8 p.m.

Finals of the Second Annual Maine Song Contest, nine singer-songwriters perform original songs, sponsored by the Maine Songwriting Association, The Frontier, Brunswick. $10. explorefrontier.com. 7:30 p.m.

“Just Us Entertainers,” Christmas carols and other songs by multi-generational singing group, Franco American Heritage Center, Lewiston. $10; $5 for ages 12 and under. francocenter.org. 7:30 p.m. Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday.

Cinder Conk, Balkan folk music, First Congregational Church, New Gloucester. $10; $5 for students. 926-3260. 7:30 p.m.

SUNDAY

Trampled By Turtles, indie folk, with Spirit Family Reunion, 18-plus; Port City Music Hall, Portland. $18 to $25. statetheatreportland.com. 8 p.m.

Pearl and the Beard, acoustic trio, with Lucius and You Won’t, 18-plus; Space Gallery, Portland. $10 in advance; $12 day of show. space538.org. 8:30 p.m.

David Mallett, folk singer-songwriter, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland. $25 in advance; $30 day of show. stlawrencearts.org. 7 p.m.

Yuletide Harp Concert, music from the Celtic tradition by Castlebay and Julia Lane, St. Michael’s Episcopal Parish, Auburn. $10; free for children. 529-5438. 3 p.m.

Anne Dodson and Friends, annual holiday show, First Congregational Church, Camden. $13 in advance; $15 day of show; $6 for ages 6 to 12. 236-9576. 7 p.m.

“A Maine-ly Harmony Christmas,” woman’s a cappella barbershop chorus, Prince of Peace Lutheran Church, Augusta. $7; free for children under 15. 582-5523. 1:30 p.m.

Kids’ Open Mic Night, for ages 10 to 18, One Longfellow Square, Portland. $5 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 3 to 6 p.m.

Mike Block and The Clay Ross Duo, string music, One Longfellow Square, Portland. $10 in advance; $15 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 7:30 p.m.

TUESDAY

Fiddler Natalie MacMaster, “Christmas in Cape Breton,” Merrill Auditorium, Portland. $41 to $56. porttix.com. 7:30 p.m.

Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Shetland fiddle and Scottish harp, St. Lawrence Arts Center, Portland. $15. stlawrencearts.org. 7 p.m.

Maeve Gilchrist Trio and Mariel Vandersteel Trio, Celtic and Norwegian music, One Longfellow Square, Portland. $15 in advance; $18 at door. onelongfellowsquare.com. 8 p.m.

Kaki King and Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, singer-songwriters, all ages; Space Gallery, Portland. $15. space538.org. 8:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Bates College Jazz Band, big band to bossa nova and funk, Bates College (Olin Arts Center), Lewiston. Free; tickets required. 786-6135. 7 p.m.

Boothbay Region High School Holiday Concert, choral and band interpretation of the holiday season, Opera House at Boothbay Harbor. Free/donation. boothbayoperahouse.com. 7 p.m.

Songwriters in the Round, hosted by Lisa Redfern, The Frontier, Brunswick. $10. explorefrontier.com. 7 p.m.

Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Shetland fiddle and Scottish harp, Skye Theatre Performing Arts Center, South Carthage. $15. 562-4445. 7 p.m.

DEC. 6

Dark Star Orchestra, Grateful Dead tribute band, State Theatre, Portland. $25 in advance; $30 day of show; general admission. statetheatreportland.com. 8 p.m.

Dopapod, experimental funk-rock, 18-plus; Port City Music Hall, Portland. $10, $20. statetheatreportland.com. 9 p.m.

“Sonic UMA!”, contemporary rock, jazz and new classical, Jewett Auditorium, Augusta. Free. 621-3214. 7 p.m.

Chris Stout and Catriona McKay, Shetland fiddle and Scottish harp, Unity Centre for the Performing Arts. $15. unity.edu/uccpa. 7:30 p.m.

USM Jazz Ensemble, University of Southern Maine (Corthell Concert Hall), Gorham. $5 to $15. usm.maine.edu/music. 7:30 p.m.

• BARS/CLUBS

THURSDAY

Lazerdisk Party Sex, EDM, with Sazon Booya and DJ Wubson, 21-plus; Empire Dine and Dance, Portland. $15. portlandempire.com. Doors at 8:30 p.m.

Barn Swallows, bluegrass, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 6 p.m.

Huckleberry Binge, Americana and jazz, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 8 p.m.

Samuel James & Dana Gross, roots and blues, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 10 p.m.

Peter Gavett and Friends, acoustic folk, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 7 p.m.

Bob Costigan, acoustic guitarist, Run of the Mill Brewpub, Saco. therunofthemill.net. 8 p.m.

Got Rhythm Band, Johnny Cash Tribute band, Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland. thedogfishcompany.com. 8 p.m.

Band Beyond Description, jam band with guests, 21-plus; Big Easy, Portland. bigeasyportland.com. 9 p.m.

Open Mic Night, all ages, Deer Run Tavern, Yarmouth. 846-9555. 7:30 p.m.

Kilcollins Band, pop and rock covers, RiRa, Portland. rira.com. 9 p.m.

Mount Sharp and CHRY, rock, 21-plus; Slainte, Portland. slaintewinebar.com. 10:30 p.m.

Indre Stryke, rock, with Saturns Return and Danger I Reckon, Geno’s Rock Club, Portland. 221-2382. 9 p.m.

FRIDAY

Enter the Haggis, Celtic/folk-rock, 21-plus; Empire Dine and Dance, Portland. $18 in advance; $22 day of show. portlandempire.com. 9 p.m.

Station 85, hard rock covers, RiRa, Portland. rira.com. 10 p.m.

ProfTones, blues, R&B and rock, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 8:30 p.m.

Travis James Humphrey, singer-songwriter, Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland. thedogfishcompany.com. 5 p.m.

Trickle Down, jazz, Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland. thedogfishcompany.com. 8 p.m.

Sly-Chi with Roosevelt Dime, soul, funk and acoustic American roots, 21-plus; Big Easy, Portland. $5, $10. bigeasyportland.com. 9 p.m.

Cumberland Crossing, bluegrass, Blue, Portland. portcityblue.com. Donation. 6 p.m.

Whiskey Boys, modern bluegrass, Blue, Portland. portcityblue.com. Donation. 8 p.m.

The Last Sip, multi-instrumentalist, Blue, Portland. portcityblue.com. Donation. 10 p.m.

Mutineers, acoustic, Gritty McDuff’s, Freeport. grittys.com. 8:30 p.m.

Mosart 212, DJ, Bayside Bowl, Portland. baysidebowl.com. 9 p.m.

Packman Dave, acoustic rock and folk, Run of the Mill Brewpub, Saco. therunofthemill.net. 8 p.m.

Urban Waste, hardcore punk, with The Nasty, Jimmy Jacked and USA Waste, Geno’s Rock Club, Portland. 221-2382. 9 p.m.

SATURDAY

Bujak, audio/visual experience, 21-plus; Empire Dine and Dance, Portland. $5. portlandempire.com. 9 p.m.

Mugsy, rock covers, RiRa, Portland. 761-4446. 10 p.m.

David Mello, rustic blues, Gingko Blue, Portland. gingkoblue.com. 5 p.m.

Matt Meyer and The Gumption Junction, old roots music, Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland. thedogfishcompany.com. 8 p.m.

Shawn Taylor, American roots music, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 7 p.m.

Laura Grill Band, folk, Blue, Portland. portcityblue.com. Donation. 8 p.m.

Mike Beling, jazz, Blue, Portland. portcityblue.com. Donation. 10 p.m.

Brothers Donovan, funk, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 8:30 p.m.

Hessian, rock, with The Donner Party, The Lynn Rebels and Thee Ice Picks; benefit for Jordan Katz; Geno’s Rock Club, Portland. 221-2382. 9 p.m.

“Sagittarius Shakedown,” with Jamie O’Sullivan, Mechanism, Marshall Law and G-Force, 21-plus; Flask Lounge, Portland. flasklounge.com. 9 p.m.

SUNDAY

Canary, acoustic rock, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 6 p.m.

Brunch with Sly-Chi, soul and funk, RiRa, Portland. rira.com. 9 a.m.

MONDAY

Eddie Shaw and The Wolfgang, blues, Time Out Pub, Rockland. $15. 593-9336. 7 p.m.

Bluegrass Mondays, 21-plus; Empire Dine and Dance, Portland. portlandempire.com. 8 p.m.

Emmett Harrity Trio, jazz, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 10 p.m.

Funky Mondays: The Players Ball, Big Easy, Portland. $3. bigeasyportland.com. 8:30 p.m.

Alan Frey, singer-songwriter, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 6 p.m.

Open Mic Night, RiRa, Portland. rira.com. 8 p.m.

Geek Chorus, making fun of bad movies, Geno’s Rock Club, Portland. 221-2382. 8 p.m.

Mal Blum, with Zoe Boekbinder, Lisa Liza and Speaker for the Dead, rock, 21-plus; Flask Lounge, Portland. $5/donation. flasklounge.com. 8 p.m.

TUESDAY

“Cover to Cover,” local musicians play classic album, Big Easy, Portland, $5. bigeasyportland.com. Headstart with Trent Gay plays “Deja Entendu” by Brand New, 9 p.m.

Brian Patricks, singer-songwriter, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 6 p.m.

Electric Open Mic with Joint Enterprise, Run of the Mill Brewpub, Saco. therunofthemill.net. 8 p.m.

WEDNESDAY

Rob Schreiber’s Standard Issue, jazz from the Great American Songbook, Gingko Blue, Portland. gingkoblue.com. 7 p.m.

Open Mic, Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland. thedogfishcompany.com. 7 p.m.

Caroline Cotter, singer/songwriter, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 7 p.m.

Sugar Shack, guitar and fiddle, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 9 p.m.

Traditional Irish Session, Irish music, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 9:30 p.m.

Clash of the Titans, battle of the cover bands, 21-plus; Empire Dine and Dance, Portland. $6. portlandempire.com. Tenacious D vs. The Lonely Island, 9:30 p.m.

Rap Night, hosted by Shupe and Ill By Instinct, 21-plus; Big Easy, Portland. $3. bigeasyportland.com. 9 p.m.

North of Nashville with J.Biddy, rock covers with a Southern twang, RiRa, Portland. rira.com. 8:30 p.m.

David Beam & The Custom House Gang, bluegrass and Americana, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 8 p.m.

DEC. 6

Dear Leader and The Chums, rock, 21-plus; Empire Dine and Dance, Portland. $9. portlandempire.com. 9 p.m.

Hot Club Du Monde, gypsy jazz and swing, Gingko Blue, Portland. gingkoblue.com. 8 p.m.

Shanna Underwood, singer-songwriter, Dogfish Bar and Grille, Portland. thedogfishcompany.com. 8 p.m.

Jennie Backstrom, pianist/mandolin player, Blue, Portland. Donation. portcityblue.com. 8 p.m.

Brian Dolzani, singer-songwriter, Blue, Portland. portcityblue.com. Donation. 8 p.m.

Nate Abbott, singer-songwriter, Andy’s Old Port Pub, Portland. andysoldportpub.com. 6 p.m.

Dave Gagne, rock, reggae and folk, Run of the Mill Brewpub, Saco. therunofthemill.net. 8 p.m.

Band Beyond Description, jam band with guests, 21-plus; Big Easy, Portland. bigeasyportland.com. 9 p.m.

Open Mic Night, all ages, Deer Run Tavern, Yarmouth. 846-9555. 7:30 p.m.

Kilcollins Band, pop and rock covers, RiRa, Portland. rira.com. 9 p.m.