Weekly Shuffle
By Charlene Arsenault

Wednesday, We are the Union is with Heart of Gold at Bender’s; Bring me the Horizon joins Misery Signals and The Ghost Inside at The Palladium; Ralph’s is hosting karaoke; and Go Gadget Go returns to Tammany Hall.

On Thursday, the Trans-Siberean Orchestra fills the DCU Center; Jonathan Mello sings at Acoustic Java on Main Street (which is right next to Annie’s Clark Brunch); Lisa Marie belts out the blues at Nick’s; and Underlying Truth joins the lineup at Ralph’s.

On Friday, Sean Ryan from Uncle Billy’s Smokehouse is all alone at Greendale’s; The Fear Nuttin Band funks out at The Lucky Dog; Chet Williamson’s Chromatic Swing is back at Gilrein’s; Miss Tess and the Bon Ton Parade makes its debut at Nick’s; Rose Colored Glasses rock the Kaz Bar on Route 20; Lord Fowl joins Blood Witch and Birch Hill Dam, which releases a new CD, at Ralph’s; The Great Escape pays tribute to Journey at PJ’s Bar and Grill in West Boylston; The Delta Generators play the Dive Bar; and if you like country, Amy Grant and Vince Gill bring their annual Christmas tour to the DCU Center.

On Saturday, the DCU Center’s got a big show again – welcoming Wilco to open for the mighty Neil Young; Skulltoboggan helps open for Shades of Black at the Lucky Dog; They Might Be Giants bring their nerd pop to WPI; The Splinters rock Greendale’s; The Cosby Sweaters head back to Junior’s Pizza on Shrewsbury Street; Fluttr Effect, The Silverbacks and The Valves split the night at Tammany; Borderland rocks the Galway Bay; The Orange Ocean and Barnicle are at Ralph’s; The Pathetics punk out at the Greyhound Pub in Kelley Square; The Ed Melikian Ensemble is always a nice time at the Sahara; and Jason James hits the Vernon.

On Sunday, Jon Short does his weekly thing at Vincent’s; Jason James trades in his guitar for a piano, doing honkytonk at Nick’s; Brian Richard sings at Funky Murphy’s; The Muirshin Durkins do Irish folk tunes at The Greyhound; and don’t forget the Freedomsong benefit at the National Guard Museum on Salisbury Street. This benefit, which runs from 4-9 p.m., is the brainchild of Jim Perry and features Cathy’s Clown, 9Teen, She’s Busy and James Montgomery, all to benefit the Massachusetts Veterans, Inc. All proceeds go to the continuing health care and shelter of veterans of foreign wars. Visit freedomsong4vets.org for tickets and lots of info on this important show.

Other stuff going on:

On Thursday, Ann Marie Lucci hosts the eighth annual "Jingle Mingle" to welcome the holidays at the Street Beat, which is a regular poetry reading held at Vasa Hall on Ekman Street. The event starts at 7 p.m., and includes a pot luck reception, so bring a dish if you plan on eating someone else’s. < o:p>

On Friday, Old Sturbridge Village kicks off its weekly Christmas Traditions by Candlelight, which continues through Dec. 21 on Fridays and Saturdays from 5-9 p.m. It’s a nice way to learn the facts and history behind various Christmas traditions that continue today and it includes partaking in chestnuts, gingerbread, live music, dance, a sleigh ride and caroling. Also Friday, Dave MacPherson hosts a Worcester Storytellers session at Vasa Hall at 1 Ekman Street. This is an open reading for poetry, stories, humorous rants and any other appropriate spoken word. It starts at 8 p.m.

On Sunday, Dance Prism puts on its 26th presentation of The Nutcracker at Mechanics Hall. An absolute classic. Out in Brookfield, they’re judging their annual holiday house decorating contest, which is a great idea. Every town should try this one. Ventriloquist, singer, comedian and celebrity impressionist Terry Fator is at the Hanover Theatre. Karen Finneyfrock is the featured performer at the Poets Asylum at Jumpin Juice and Java, which is on Chandler Street where the sadly missed Tatnuck Bookseller once was.

Holidays at the ‘hills is happening at Foothills Theatre through Dec. 28. The production is touted as an evening of nonstop music and dance that incorporates lots of Foothills past favorites, such as numbers from Evita, Chicago, Beehive and the World Goes ‘Round, all on the set that centers around a high-energy ‘60s rock n roll TV dance party show, a visit to an office Christmas party and more.

Through January 17, ARTSWorcester on Main Street is showcasing the exhibit Pop Euphoria, which brings together art of different cultures, toys, fairytales and icons that inspire and move us. This exhibit focuses on progressive illustrators, and some of the works are for sale. ArtsWorcester is also showing Linda Dagnello’s Silent Conversations through Jan. 10. A side note – ArtsWorcester is also one of the many drop off points for Toys for Tots through December. There’s a complete list of those drop off spots at centralmasstft.org, as well.