December is one of the busiest and most celebratory times of the year, much like this month’s offerings from the city’s music world. Featuring festivals, holiday traditions, residencies and a record release, December doesn’t disappoint. Here are the shows from local musicians not to miss in December.

IdleAires (Record Release), The IN-Sect (Athens) and The Dolly Daredevils at Northside Tavern Led by painter and conceptual artist Joseph Winterhalter on guitar and vocals, and backed by two rock and roll/punk veterans, IdleAires are releasing their debut record, intended as a work of conceptual art itself, at Northside Tavern. They will be joined by longtime Athens garage rock band The IN-Sect and a duo version of locals The Dolly Daredevils. 10 p.m. Dec. 2. $10. Northside Tavern, 4163 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/event. Photo: Joseph Winterhalter
Daniel Wayne, Sharp Toys and Harlot at The Loon Celebrated local singer-songwriter Daniel Wayne appears with sludgy, baritone-heavy and songstress-led two-piece Sharp Toys and Harlot at The Loon Wine Bar. Drop in, split a bottle of wine and see where the music and night take you. 8 p.m. Dec. 2. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The Loon, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside, facebook.com/events. Photo: Kromer Studios
Fritz Pape’s Guitar Buddies at Cincinnati Public Library Librarian and experimental musician Fritz Pape is gathering a group of guitar players together for the 10th anniversary of his Guitar Buddies performances. The ensemble will be performing a piece for 30 acoustic guitars at the Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Downtown Main Library for an edition of the library’s performance series, Sunday on the Stairs. 2 p.m. Aug. 31. Free. Cincinnati & Hamilton County Public Library’s Downtown Main Library, 800 Vine St., Downtown, chpl.org. Photo: Michael Clouse
Left at Orion Residency at MOTR Pub Left at Orion, featuring members of former local psychedelic dream-pop band Slow Glows are slowly regaining their footing, likely sped up by this residency at MOTR Pub all month long on Wednesday nights. Guests include local dreamy alt-pop band Television Blonde, noise pop from Plug, singer/songwriter with garage sensibilities, Jake Borgemenke, and more throughout the month. 9 p.m. Wednesdays. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Sydney Gregory
Catch the Holiday Pops at Music Hall 1241 Elm St., Over-the-Rhine Get into the holiday spirit with a little help from the Cincinnati Pops and conductor John Morris Russell. The Pops perform a variety of holiday favorites with help from vocalist Michael Preacely and singers from the Classical Roots Community Mass Choir and May Festival Chorus, as well as dancers from the Studio for Dance. The program is full of Christmas classics like “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “Silent Night.” Remaining shows Dec. 10-12. $25 adults; $20 students; $15 under 17. cincinnatisymphony.org. Photo: Provided by CSO
Heartless Bastards and Spoils at Woodward Theater Heartless Bastards make a return to Cincinnati where the band began to conclude their tour with a homecoming performance at the Woodward Theater. Another female-fronted band, rising locals Spoils, open the show. 8 p.m. Dec. 9. $28.75 in advance and $33 at the door. Woodward Theater, 1404 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, woodwardtheater.com. Photo: Anna Webber
M Ross Perkins and Kendra Morris (NYC) at MOTR Pub Neighboring Dayton versatile multi-instrumentalist and acclaimed singer/songwriter M Ross Perkins plays MOTR with Kendra Morris from New York. Morris’ catchy, psychedelic soul and Perkins’ well crafted psychedelic pop should make for a nice night out on the town. Both acts are on local label Colemine Records/Karma Chief. 8 p.m. Dec. 14. $13 in advance and $17 at the door. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows. Photo: Whitney Pelfrey
Santamania at The Mockbee Founded by John Hays and still going strong in its tenth year, Santamania showcases some of the city’s finest punk, rock and roll and the like, this year featuring Vacation, Tweens, Leggy, Flesh Mother, Fruit LoOops, The Serfs, Beef, Mary Henry, Corker and tons more. Even out-of-town guests and friends like New York good-time punk duo Shellshag will be performing. This now two-day festival, back at the Mockbee this year, takes place across several stages all over the venue. There’s even a before and after celebration, “Nightmare Before Santamania,” on Dec. 14th and “Brunch With Santamania” on Dec. 17, both taking place at DSGN CLLCTV up the road in Northside. 7 p.m. Dec. 15 and 16. $10 per night. The Mockbee, 2260 Central Parkway, Brighton, facebook.com/events. Photo: Ava Roberts
Annie D, The Jared Presley Experience and Happy Tuesday at The Loon One of this year’s breakout acts Annie D has had a handful of choice appearances as of late, whether performing solo, with a full band or, like this appearance, as a duo. She appears with The Jared Presley Experience whose songwriting touches on psychedelia, blues and fusion. Locals Happy Tuesday round out the bill. 8 p.m. Dec. 16. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The Loon Wine Bar, 4124 Hamilton Ave., Northside, theloonwinebar.com. Photo: Willie Caldwell
Leggy and Daisychain (Chicago) at Southgate House Revival Local female-fronted punk group Leggy can be as sweet as Bubbalicious and as bitter as Black Jack, blending nuanced pop with a rock and roll heart. They make a return to Southgate House Revival with Chicago melodic garage pop band Daisychain. 8 p.m. Dec. 21. $10 in advance and $12 at the door. Southgate House Revival, 111 E. 6th St., Newport, southgatehouse.com/event. Photo: Danny Phantom
All-Seeing Eyes and Jalpas at MOTR Pub One of the city’s garage rock luminaries, Johnny Walker and his band The All-Seeing Eyes, appear at MOTR Pub with local hard-hitting psych band, Jalpas. This show presents one last chance before the new year to “cage that tiger,” as Mr. Johnny Walker famously says in his longtime band, the Soledad Brothers’ song of the same name. Get on down to Main Street and testify. 10 p.m. Dec. 28. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com. Photo: Austin Vince
General Baxter (EP Release), Dolly Daredevils and Being Dead (Austin) at MOTR Pub Psychedelic-fuzz rock and rollers General Baxter celebrate the release of their new EP “Retrocognitions” with one of the city’s best garage rock groups, the explosive all-female power trio The Dolly Daredevils. They support critically praised Austin punk band Being Dead. A trio of trios and some of the best rock and roll all month. 9:30 p.m. Sept. 15. Free. MOTR Pub, 1345 Main St., Over-the-Rhine, motrpub.com/shows. Photo: Tanner McDole