Debbie Gibson, Kenny G and 8 more great holiday concerts on Long Island
During the month of December, the Long Island concert scene gets saturated by the spirit of the holiday season. Every year artists from various genres start jingling bells and rockin’ around the Christmas tree. Here’s a list of 10 upcoming shows to put on your calendar:
DEBBIE GIBSON (DEC. 1)
Debbie Gibson returns to Long Island when she headlines The Paramount on Dec. 1 with her "Winterlicious Tour." Credit: Nick Spanos
Debbie Gibson is ready to make her performance debut at The Paramount in Huntington when she brings her “Winterlicious Tour” home to Long Island.
“This is more of a theatrical, traditional show. I think the holidays lend themselves to that,” says Gibson. “I’m a fan of everything from the Andy Williams Christmas specials to Disney holiday theme park magic. That’s what I’m looking to bring. Kind of a family vibe with all the bells and whistles but also a cozy feel. There might even be matching pajamas for everybody on stage involved.”
Gibson promises to blend Christmas classics (“Let It Snow,” “White Christmas”) with holiday-themed originals (“Illuminate,” “Christmas Star”) plus her vintage pop hits (“Only in My Dreams,” “Shake Your Love”).
“All styles fit during the holidays. You can go for a lot of character in every song and each one can have a different feeling,” says Gibson. “Everyone gets a free pass to be cheesy and corny during the holidays, but we’re going to do it at a high level.”
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $45.25-$126.30
LAURIE BERKNER (DEC. 4)
Laurie Berkner will perform a children’s holiday show at The Paramount in Huntington on Dec. 4. Credit: Jayme Thornton
Take the kids to see singer/songwriter Laurie Berkner hold her “Live Holiday Concert” at The Paramount.
“This is such a special time to be able to come together to sing, hear music and experience it as a family,” says Berkner. “I like to make it as festive as possible.”
Berkner plays traditional Christmas tunes (“Holly Jolly Christmas,” “Winter Wonderland”), Hanukkah songs (“Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel”) along with her originals like “Candy Cane Jane,” “Candle Chase” and “I Live Inside a Snowglobe.”
“My shows are very interactive,” says Berkner. “Everyone is getting up and down dancing, singing and even putting a stuffed animal on their heads.”
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $32-$53.50
ANDY COONEY & THE NEW YORK TENORS (DEC. 5)
Andy Cooney brings his “Christmas Celebration” with The New York Tenors to the Patchogue Theatre on Dec. 5. Credit: Mill Pond Music Corp
For 25 years singer Andy Cooney has presented an uplifting Christmas concert and next month he will hold it at the Patchogue Theatre with The New York Tenors.
“Our goal is to bring the spirit of New York City at Christmas to everyone,” says Cooney. “Myself, Daniel Rodriguez and Christopher Macchio have stories to tell. Our banter on stage has been compared to rolling back the years to the Rat Pack.”
The trio will perform well-known Christmas favorites such as “Silver Bells” and “Sleigh Ride.” The show will serve as a benefit for Hope House Ministries, which helps young people fighting addiction.
INFO 631-207-1313, patchoguetheatre.org
ADMISSION $72.75-$82.75
THE BEACH BOYS (DEC. 6)
The Beach Boys will perform a holiday-themed show at The Paramount in Huntington on Dec. 6. Credit: Udo Spreitzenbarth and Patrick Wilson
Although seeing The Beach Boys at The Paramountmight seem out of season, the truth is the roots of these summer surfers stem from the holidays.
“The Beach Boys really started at Christmas parties. We would literally do Christmas caroling around the neighborhood,” says lead singer Mike Love. “Our family tradition was to get together and harmonize. We basically have been able to turn a family hobby into a profession, which is a blessing.”
Don’t worry baby, The Beach Boys will perform their massive catalog of hits interspersed with holiday songs like “The Man with All the Toys,” “Santa’s Beard” and the perennial Christmas favorite, “Little Saint Nick.”
“With ‘Little Saint Nick,’ we wanted to make up a musical fantasy about Santa having a hot rod sled,” recalls Love. “Thankfully the song has made it into the lexicon of Christmas classics. If you go shopping at the mall, you are guaranteed to hear it."
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $88-$355.90
ROCKABILLY CHRISTMAS (DEC. 9)
Gene Casey & The Lone Sharks will perform at the "Rockabilly Christmas" show at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead on Dec. 9. Credit: Yolanda Carruthers
Gene Casey & the Lone Sharks, Jason D. Williams and The Vendettas will all make up a “Rockabilly Christmas” at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead.
“This is kind of like an old-fashioned rock 'n' roll concert bill that Alan Freed would put on,” says guitarist/vocalist Casey. “People dig the sound and the beat that we all bring. At this time of year, there’s an extra warmth to the celebration.”
The show ranges from Memphis boogie-woogie to rhythm and blues rockabilly with a twang.
Casey says, “We want people to be heartened by the communal spirit because rock 'n' roll is open to everyone.”
INFO 631-727-4343, suffolktheater.com
ADMISSION $57-$63
ROCKAPELLA CHRISTMAS (DEC. 11)
Rockapella will perform a Christmas themed concert at the Suffolk Theater in Riverhead on Dec. 11. Left to Right: Manny Houston, George Baldi, Jeff Thacher, Calvin Jones, Scott Leonard Credit: Ross Leung
A group of singers and a vocal percussionist who call themselves Rockapella join forces for a Christmas concert at the Suffolk Theater.
“We’re kind of like the Temptations meets Smash Mouth,” says frontman/arranger/composer Scott Leonard. “We put our a cappella spin on songs that the audience knows and loves giving them some edge.”
The group, which is best known for the theme song to “Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?”, blends rock, pop and R&B on songs like “You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” “Auld Lang Syne,” “Jingle Bell Rock,” “The Hope We Hold,” “Christmas Without You,” “Little Mary Snowflake” and other favorites.
“We hit every holiday from Kwanzaa to Hanukkah to New Year's and, of course, plenty of Christmas,” says Leonard. “We get the crowd moving and feeling the vibe.”
INFO 631-727-4343, suffolktheater.com
ADMISSION $47-$67
KENNY G (DEC. 15)
Kenny G brings "The Miracles Holiday & Hits Tour” to the NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Dec. 15. Credit: Art Streiber
Jazz saxophonist Kenny G has figured out the perfect formula for "The Miracles Holiday and Hits Tour,” which comes to the NYCB Theatre at Westbury.
“I found that people really do not want a whole concert of only Christmas songs,” he says. “When they come to hear me they want to hear certain melodies. The first half is non-holiday songs and the second half is holiday songs. We have a really good way of combining that dynamic.”
Mr. G, which is short for Gorelick, will perform with his five-piece ensemble and entertain with some whimsical banter about jazz.
“We’ve dedicated our lives to our craft and we are here to play music for you,” he says. “I hope you enjoy it and walk away inspired.”
INFO 516-247-5200, thetheatreatwestbury.com
ADMISSION $53-$118.50
DARREN CRISS (DEC. 15)
Darren Criss performs at An Evening With Darren Criss at The GRAMMY Museum in 2021 in Los Angeles.
Credit: Getty Images for The Recording A/Rebecca Sapp
“Glee” starn Criss promises to deliver a Christmas show at The Paramount that is a little left of center.
“The goal is to do songs that people don’t know but in a way that feels familiar and to do songs that are familiar but do them in a way that people don’t know,” says Criss, who will be drawing heavily off his “A Very Darren Crissmas” album from 2021.
The set list will feature quirky numbers like a hip-hop inspired version of “I Want a Hippopotamus for Christmas” as well as a cover of Regina Spektor’s “New Year” along with some signature Criss charisma.
“Basically, I can’t shut up,” he admits. “It’s kind of a walk down the hallways of my mind. I’m not short of stories.”
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $55.75-$155
SAL VALENTINETTI (DEC. 22)
Sal Valentinetti, shown at the Broadway Mall in Hicksville in 2019, will be performing locally during the holiday season. Credit: Newsday/J. Conrad Williams Jr.
The Bethpage native makes his way back to The Paramount, which is the first venue he ever headlined in December 2016.
“My goal is to get everybody in the mood for the holiday season,” he says. “There’s so much craziness in the world that I want to make people of all denominations, faiths and backgrounds feel warm and fuzzy.”
Equipped with a nine-piece “little big band,” Valentinetti plans to croon Christmas classics, “The Christmas Waltz,” “Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer” and “The Christmas Song” plus standards like “My Way,” “New York, New York” and “The Way You Look Tonight.”
“I’ll even tell stories about my big Italian family,” he says. “Christmas Eve at our house is the best. We do the seven fishes with the 40 cousins!”
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $32.75-$149.25
COUNTESS LUANN de LESSEPS (DEC. 23)
Countess Luann de Lessep puts us in a holiday mood when she takes the stage at The Paramount in Huntington.
Credit: Countess LuannCrank up the drama as the former “Real Housewives of New York City” cast member is returning to The Paramount.
“It’s classic cabaret that I make my own,” says de Lesseps, who lives in Sag Harbor. “I sing, play video clips, do a Q&A with the crowd and even play the bongos. Think of Bravo content times 10!”
The Countess is set to perform her singles, “What Do I Want For Christmas?” “Viva La Diva” and “Feelin’ Jovani” as well as holiday tunes “Santa Baby,” “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” and “Lay Down Santa” with a backdrop of opulent red velvet curtains.
“It’s swanky but still Christmassy,” she promises. “I want people leaving with a smile on their face, which is the best gift I can give them for the holidays.”
INFO 631-673-7300, paramountny.com
ADMISSION $45.25-$183.70
David J. Criblez is a reporter for Newsday's exploreLI, covering entertainment-related events from local music to stand-up comedy to festivals.
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