Dec. 19: Blues Christmas w/ Toronzo Cannon, Lil' Ed, Lynne Jordan, Matthew Skoller, 6 p.m. FREE at Navy Pier, Chicago FREE!

Guy King, Keithen Banks at House of Blues, Chicago

Dec. 20: Ivy Ford at Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights

BTS Express w/ Shirley Johnson at Blue Chicago, Chicago

Mike Ledbetter at B.L.U.E.S. (on Halsted), Chicago

Johnny Rawls at  Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Dec. 21: Morry Sochat & Special 20s at Nick's Beer Garden, Chgo

John Primer Blues Band w/ Laretha Weathersby at Blue Chicago, Chicago

Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at B.L.U.E.S. (on Halsted), Chicago

Jimmy Nick, Lori Ann at  Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Mississippi Gabe Carter, Mike Wheeler Band at House of Blues, Chicago

Dave Specter & Jimmy Johnson at Rosa's, Chgo

Billy Flynn at Smoke Daddy Wicker Park, Chgo

Head Honchos at Harlem Ave. Lounge, Berwyn

Matt Hendricks Trio at Smoke Daddy Wrigleyville, Chicago

Dec. 21-22:

Carlos Johnson & The Serious Blues Band w/ Bill Dickens at B.L.U.E.S. (on Halsted), Chicago

Kinsey Report, Joanna Connor at Kingston Mines, Chgo

Dec. 22: Ronnie Baker Brooks at FitzGerald's, Berwyn

Coat drive hosted by Little Walter Foundation, Billy Branch & Sons of the Blues, LuWuandia at  Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

John Primer Blues Band w/ Demetria Taylor at Blue Chicago, Chicago

Sheryl Youngblood Hart, Dave Herrero at House of Blues, Chicago

Jimmy Burns, Blues Brunch, at River Roast, Chgo

Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at Rosa's, Chgo

Breezy Rodio at Smoke Daddy Wicker Park, Chgo

Studebaker John & The Maxwell St. Kings at Harlem Ave. Lounge, Berwyn

Jimmy Nick & Don't Tell Mama at House Pub, St. Charles

Dec. 23: A Blues Christmas with Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at 210 Live, Highwood

Peaches Staten at  Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Friends Band w/ Kenny Smith, Blues Brunch, at River Roast, Chgo

Dec. 26: Breezy Rodio at  Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Guy King, Keithen Banks at House of Blues, Chicago

Nicholas Barron at Rosa's, Chgo

Dec. 26-27: Shemekia Copeland at City Winery, Chicago

Dec. 27: Nick Moss Band at Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights

Nellie "Tiger" Travis, Joanna Connor at Kingston Mines, Chgo

Mike Wheeler, Keithen Banks at House of Blues, Chicago

Dec. 28: John Primer & Billy Boy Arnold at SPACE, Evanston

Rev. Payton's Big Damn Band, Bill Grady Band at Martyr's, Chgo

Corey Dennison Band at B.L.U.E.S. (on Halsted), Chicago

Mike Ledbetter at Nick's Beer Garden, Chgo

Dave Herrero & Pete Galanis at Harlem Ave. Lounge, Berwyn

Rico McFarland at Rosa's, Chgo

Morry Sochat & Special 20s at Smoke Daddy Wicker Park, Chgo

Nick Moss Band, Guy King at House of Blues, Chicago

Scott Tipping at House Pub, St. Charles

Dec. 28-29: Billy Branch & Sons of the Blues, Joanna Connor at Kingston Mines, Chgo

Sheryl Youngblood Blues Band at Blue Chicago, Chicago

Dec. 29: Dave Weld & The Imperial Flames at Stage Left/Opera House, Woodstock, IL

Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials, Sonic Soul at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Webb Wilder at FitzGerald's, Berwyn

Steepwater Band at Hey Nonny, Arlington Heights

Peaches Staten at Nick's Beer Garden, Chgo

John Primer at Rosa's, Chgo

Marty Sammon Band at Harlem Ave. Lounge, Berwyn

Omar Coleman at Smoke Daddy Wicker Park, Chgo

Andrew Diehl & The Nightmen at Smoke Daddy Wrigleyville, Chicago

Dec. 30: Billy Flynn & Friends at B.L.U.E.S. (on Halsted), Chicago

Joanna Connor, Larry McCray, Nora Jean Bruso at Kingston Mines, Chgo

Chicago Wind at Blue Chicago, Chicago

Cash Box Kings at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Rick King, Blues Brunch, at River Roast, Chgo

Mike Wheeler Band at Smoke Daddy Wicker Park, Chgo

Corey Dennison, Guy King at House of Blues, Chicago

Dec. 31:

Luke Pytel Blues Band w/ Demetria Taylor at Blue Chicago, Chicago

Jimmy Johnson at B.L.U.E.S. (on Halsted), Chicago

Mike Wheeler, NuBlu Band at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago

Joanna Connor, Larry McCray, Nora Jean Bruso at Kingston Mines, Chgo

Jamiah Rogers, dinner show, at River Roast, Chgo

Vance Kelly & Backstreet Blues Band at Rosa's, Chgo

Omar Coleman at Nick's Beer Garden, Chgo

Lil' Ed & The Blues Imperials at Hey Nonny, Arlington Hts.

Nick Bell Band, The Buzzhounds at Mac's on Slade, Palatine

Marty "Big Dog" Mercer, 7-10 p.m., at Madison's Pub & Grill, Willowbrook

photo: Jennifer Noble

Jan. 3-27: Buddy Guy's annual residency at Buddy Guy's Legends, Chicago. Advance tickets needed.