Buffalo native John Schmitt is home for the holidays, and also to celebrate the release of his CD El Train. Now making his home in Brooklyn, John is a regular performer at some of NYC’s finest clubs and has been a featured artist of the New York Songwriter’s Circle. His roots are planted here though, and his approach to songwriting stems from his experiences growing up in Western New York. Soulful and original, Schmitt’s music earned him a nomination for Best Musician in Artvoice’s 2006 Best of Buffalo Readers’ Poll, right before he took off for the big city. The CD Release Show is happening at Nietzsche’s on Friday (Dec. 14), starting at 10:30pm.

If there’s one group of musicians who are definitely not getting a lump of coal this season, it’s the members of McCarthyizm. After playing last weekend’s “Rock For Food” at Club Infinity, they are back with the spirit of Chritmas charity for their annual Benefit for Friends of Night People, held each year at Nietszche’s. All proceeds from the party on Saturday (Dec. 15) go to the thirty-five year old Night People, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing essential services to Allentown’s homeless, destitute and working poor. The music also features John & Mary, A Potter’s Field, the Ifs, Dee Adams & the Housecats, Poor Ould Goat and Guillermo Izquierdo from the Corrections. It gets started at 8pm. Bring non-perishable food items and/or winter clothing for the “Friends” and get a discount on admission.

The Queen City Roller Girls are releasing their 2008 pinup calendar, starring their very own skaters. Proceeds from this calendar go toward funding the 2008 skating season, which begins January 5th at Rainbow Rink with a showdown between the Nickel City Knockouts and the Devil Dollies. On Saturday (Dec. 15), starting at 9pm at their home base of Rainbow Rink (101 Oliver St. N. Tonawanda), the Queen City Roller Girls will be signing calendars and playing holiday games for your amusement. Admission is $7, which includes skate rental so you can skate with the rollergirls and a very special Santa on skates. All ages welcomed. Support your local all-volunteer, all-female roller derby league! More info at www.qcrg.net

The Buffalo Choral Arts Society is a 120-member community chorus that performs its annual Christmas concert each December at the magnificent Our Lady of Victory Basilica in Lackawanna, located right off Route 5. This year the program will be presented on Friday (Dec. 14) and Sunday (Dec. 16), both nights at 7:30pm. The concert will be will be recorded for a Christmas Eve rebroadcast by WBFO 88.7FM. “A BCAS Family Christmas” is conducted by music director Marcia A. Giambrone and features accompanist John F. Mitton. Tickets are $15 advance, available by contacting 812-1541 or www.buffalochoralarts.org, or $20 at the door. This is a perfect family celebration in a weekend full of holiday concerts, capturing the spirit of Christmas in one of the area’s most glorious locations.

Back in town for a holiday break from his gig as guitarist with the touring Broadway production of Ring of Fire, Doug Yeomans and Lo Blu Flame will be hosting a Christmas party on Tuesday (December 18) at Allen Street Hardware. Expect a broad buffet of rockin’ originals and some tasty covers. The widely admired and accomplished picker will also be stepping into his role on Thursday nights at the club with the more bluegrass oriented players in Down to the Roots. Step out and spend some time with one of the area’s most talented musicians before the lullabye of Broadway lures him back on the road in January. Shows start at 9:30.

It’s a popular adage that it can take decades of trying before you become an overnight success. Nobody knows that like Sean Patrick McGraw. The Dunkirk native has been slugging it out in Nashville for the past ten years looking for that lucky break. In the meantime, he’s been honing his songwriting chops and securing various publishing and production deals while continuing to hit the road hard with his band of WNY natives. In the world of the touring country group, that often means trotting out the latest country singles for an audience whose tastes stray little from the current top ten. On Thursday (Dec. 20) at the Sportsmen’s Tavern, McGraw and his band will get the chance to show off originals from his current CD Songs for Saturday Night. Come out and welcome some hometown boys back for the holidays. Show starts at 8pm