Kingsley, Leo Islo
Chicago-born Kingsley recently relocated to Portland, and she brought her sumptuous, soulful music with her. There’s a little bit of everything in Kingsley’s repertoire: sexy R&B on tracks like “Vibe,” defiant pop on “You Didn’t,” and introspective songwriting on “I Am Because I Am,” which is also the title of her 2018 EP—a mission statement, perhaps, or a promise. Kingsley’s performance at Rontoms is part of the venue’s Sunday Sessions series, and that’s fitting, as her music is an ideal soundtrack for long, lazy weekend afternoons. (Sun Dec 22, 8 pm, Rontoms, free) BLAIR STENVICK

Mosh Pit: Heavy Metal Comedy
If you’ve ever said, “Hmmm… comedy performance need more heavy metal,” then this could be the show for you! Mosh Pit: Heavy Metal Comedy features the improv stylings of Death Hammer (who have charmed/terrified audiences at the SF Sketchfest as well as the Out of Bounds Comedy Festival), as well as more comedy via a special live performance of the What’s More Metal? podcast starring Mercury Genius of Comedy Nariko Ott and Dan Weber. BUT IT GETS EVEN MORE METAL, because there will also be a head-banging performance from death-grind trio Main Force Patrol. So if you like to laugh and rock the fuck out, get in the pit. (Sat Dec 21, 9 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10) WM. STEVEN HUMPHREY

KEXmas Eve
Beloved Portland quartet Jenny Don't and the Spurs bring their vintage country and western sounds out to Portland's newest hotel, lounge, and nightspot to head up a free and festive holiday show. (Tues Dec 24, 8 pm, KEX, free, all ages)

Holiday Movies and TV Galore
Reportedly, some people actually enjoy the holidays—thankfully, for the rest of us, this is also the time of year when movie studios and streaming services release a ton of great stuff. In theaters, Rey and Kylo face off in Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker! Greta Gerwig adapts Little Women! Charlize Thereon, Nicole Kidman, and Margot Robbie take on FOX News in Bombshell! I guess I also have to mention the unholy abomination that is Cats! Disney+ has the season finale of The Mandalorian Baby Yoda, BBC America brings back Doctor Who, Netflix premieres The Witcher and Tiffany Haddish’s special Black Mitzvah, and HBO has finales for Watchmen and His Dark Materials. Oh, and there are also repertory screenings around town that include The Nightmare Before Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life! Yeah. You can watch all that, no problem. (Various Locations, see Movie Times for titles and showtimes) ERIK HENRIKSEN

Die Geister Beschwören, Young Hunter, Crowey
An offshoot of the freeform musical collective known as Datura Blues, the Arcata, California-based project Die Geister Beschwören has roots in the folk traditions but clearly enjoys ripping those out of the ground and replanting them at will. Led by multi-instrumentalist Oryan Peterson-Jones, the group (whose name translates to “call up the ghosts”) plays music that, at times, feels held together by rough bits of twine and prayer, and elsewhere feels meticulously constructed with an abundance of horns and strings. It’s anyone’s guess which side of the band we’ll get tonight. Either way, it will be a night of psych bliss. (Fri Dec 20, 9 pm, High Water Mark, $8) ROBERT HAM


Schaus, Madie, Desire Boat
Do you like your electronic pop with a little bit of a warp in it? That welcome bit of unsteadiness that feels like you’ve got the perfect buzz on? Then, friends, this is the show for you. Headlined by the dreamboat known as Schaus— whose most recent EP Quite Okay marries his slightly processed vocals and watery keyboard melodies with skip-jump rhythms—the show is rounded out by Desire Boat, a mysterious darkwave assault as heard through faulty speakers, and Madie, the former frontperson for Fringe Class, who decamped to LA. They are making their solo Portland debut tonight in advance of their first album. (Fri Dec 20, 8 pm, Turn! Turn! Turn!, $5) ROBERT HAM

Pablo Rivarola
KEX invites you to spend lunch taking in a free set from rising Portland trumpet player Pablo Rivarola. (Sat Dec 20, noon, KEX, free, all ages)

Dark Web Tonight
Ben Harkins and Kate Murphy host this late-night video clip show guiding you through the weirdest and funniest videos the Internet. Tonight's show features music by Mira Death, media by Eric Klein, and stand-up from an array of guest comedians. (Fri Dec 20, 9 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10, all ages)

Death of Glitter: Fuck Capitalism
This month, the "Genderf#ck Cabaret for a Cause" benefits community members Robert Dynamite and Honey Hart, with a show that celebrates the longest night of the year with a show that seeks to set all the corporate Christmas madness aside and replace it with the uplift of queer famlies, via performances byPeter Pantyhose, Khal Fuego, Desdemona Lisa, Wolfgang X, Lolo Price, Marla Darling, and more! Hosted by BeElzzabub Doll. (Fri Dec 20, 9 pm, Crush, $5-10)

Feliz Navi Don
It's like the wildest, rowdiest, loudest li'l variety show North Portland could put on, barely contained within the walls of the Kenton Club, as Don & the Quixotes headline a night of holiday entertainment that includes the Hauer Things and special guests Sean Croghan, Alex Rios, The Donettes, a puppet show (!), DJ Hwy 7, and more! (Sat Dec 21, 9 pm, The World Famous Kenton Club, $5)

Winter Makers Mercado Craft Fair
The Portland Mercado hosts this ongoing craft fair featuring all sorts of locally-made good stuff to share with loved ones this holiday season, with live music, live performances, and a ton of vendors to procure great gifts from. (Sat Dec 21, 11 am, Portland Mercado, free, all ages)

Dream Wulf, Queen Chief, Fire Nuns
What Portland quartet Dream Wulf understands better than much of the psych-rock rabble is that making spacey, freaked out noise doesn’t amount to much if you don’t have good songs to go with it. On the group’s latest album All Things Unconsidered, they bear that out with tunes that are replete with melody and a foundation of gritty blues that still seek to take you to higher planes of reality. The key ingredient to their magical formula is the presence of singer/guitarist Jessica Bahl, who opts for a more earthbound approach to her performances instead of the wispy coquettishness of other female-fronted acts of this kind. (Sat Dec 21, 9 pm, Alberta Street Pub, $8) ROBERT HAM

Embody: A Body Positive Comedy Show
Kickstand hosts a special holiday installment of the body-positive comedy showcase, which promises an array of improv, stand-up, and sketch comedy that celebrates and empowers while it makes you laugh. (Sun Dec 22, 6:30 pm, Kickstand Comedy Space, $10, all ages)

11th Hour Holiday Market
It's maybe not quite the 11th hour, but Threshold is cutting it damn close with this late-in-the-season holiday pop-up for those of you who maybe procrastinated with your shopping... but much more likely just didn't have time until today because of a busy schedule and the world in general just kind of being a giant unholy mess. Anyway, over a dozen local artists and crafters will be sharing locally made wares for you to buy, you can snack on food by Kichana, enjoy some Threshold brews, and listen to live holiday music while you hang out with Santa! (Mon Dec 23, 4 pm, Threshold Brewing & Blending, free)

Peacock Lane
SCARF UP, MOTHERFUCKERS! It's time to get your eggnog-loving ass to Peacock Lane, which starting TONIGHT will blaze and burn with SO MUCH GODDAMN CHRISTMAS CHEER that your eyes will shoot out jets of scalding-hot mulled wine! For over 80 years, the residents of Peacock Lane have gone bugfuck shitcrazy with Christmas lights—and my sources on the Lane are whispering that this year is gonna be a particularly mind-blowing orgasm of electric insanity! Will there be a hot cocoa booth? FUCKING OF COURSE THERE WILL BE, AND I'M GOING TO DRINK ALL OF IT. (Daily through Dec 31, Peacock Lane, free, all ages motherfuckers) ERIK HENRIKSEN

There's even more to do in our Cheap, Free, & Fun calendar, and don't forget to check out our Things To Do calendar for even more things to do!