Arts & Galleries

The holidays are the time of the year when artists trot out albums they recorded in July, and halls are filled with the ringing reinterpretations of "Jingle Bells."

Here are the big-name holiday concerts to catch in the Inland region.

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Cheyne Gately/Special to The Press-Enterprise

Sara Evans

The country singer has released a holiday EP in preparation of her "Sara Evans Celebrates the Season" tour, which comes to Pechanga on Thursday.

The EP is called "I'll Be Home For Christmas" and -- guess what? -- it has that song on it, too.

Thursday, Pechanga Resort & Casino, Temecula, $45-$75

Barry Manilow

Manilow is doing a special run of shows, "A Gift of Love," at the McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert. The local series of performances is a first for the Palm Springs resident, who said he has wanted to do it for years.

Proceeds from the shows are going to 25 local charities.

The program will draw heavily from Manilow's three Christmas albums. He's also releasing a Christmas DVD this year.

"I am now going to be the bus and truck Andy Williams this year," Manilow said in a recent interview.

Dec. 4-5, 7-9, McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, $85-$250

MANNHEIM STEAMROLLER

In 1984, Mannheim Steamroller unleashed its Christmas album, "Mannheim Steamroller Christmas," and in the years since, you can thank the group for that really intense synthesizer version of "Deck the Halls."

See the West Coast touring version of the group in San Bernardino.

Dec. 8, California Theatre of the Performing Arts, San Bernardino, $20-$99

Dave Koz

Nothing says Christmas like smooth jazz. Perennial favorite Dave Koz has rounded up another group of friends to do the holiday thing at the McCallum. This year, Koz is joined by Peter White, David Benoit, Rick Braun and Brenda Russell.

Dec. 13, McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, $45-$75

Brian Setzer

The coolest cat in the holiday season, Brian Setzer, of the rockabilly big band Brian Setzer Orchestra and the Stray Cats, brings his annual Christmas show to his part-time home, the Coachella Valley. He'll do his annual run to Spotlight 29 Casino in Coachella.

Dec. 16, Spotlight 29 Casino, Coachella, $40-$75

Andy Williams

Who's more Christmas-y then Andy? Barry Manilow might be calling himself the "bus and truck Andy Williams" this year, but the real deal is returning for his annual winter run of shows at the McCallum as well.

Expect lots of festive holiday sweaters.

Dec. 18-20, McCallum Theatre, Palm Desert, $55-125

Reach Vanessa Franko at 951-368-9575, vfranko@PE.com, www.myspace.com/Audio_File or blogs.PE.com/music

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