Progressive bluegrass bassist and singer John Cowan comes to the Sportsmen’s Tavern this Friday (Dec. 28) for a 9pm show. As the former frontman for the New Grass Revival, Cowan made a name for himself during the seventies and eighties (along with bandmates Sam Bush, Bela Fleck and Pat Flynn) with an explosive, experimental brand of bluegrass dubbed “newgrass.” Cowan and his current backup band of seasoned musicians— Jeff Autry (guitar), Wayne Benson, (mandolin) Shad Cobb (fiddle) and Noam Pikelny (banjo)—are capably and inventively carrying the NGR torch, and response from fans has been overwhelming, so expect a full house at the Sportsmen’s on Sunday. If you get there early enough you’ll catch the Panfils opening the show.

At the forefront of Philadelphia’s metal-core scene for fifteen years and counting, Turmoil has been long overdue in visiting our Queen City. It’s been almost ten years since the band has played here, so their visit to Club Infinity on Saturday (Dec. 29) night is BIG news. Turmoil’s presence in the worldwide metal/hardcore scene has been felt since their first EP was produced in Europe in the mid-nineties. Delivering seething yet mature hardcore with a message has kept the band continually making an impact on metal industrial music on an international scale. Saturday’s show also features hometown quintet Kid Gorgeous (featuring members of Every Time I Die and Buried Alive/Dispair), with support from Get Back Up and The Red Badge. Dorrs at the Club open at 7pm

Toronto’s disco-funk fusion dance band King Sunshine returns to celebrate the New Year in Buffalo for the second annual Sound in Motion at the Tralf Music Hall and what may be the biggest New Year’s Eve dance party to hit downtown yet. Get down to punk, rock, house, afro-beat, post-disco, jazz, pop and hip hop while experiencing visuals and projections by the Fractal Project. Besides the ten or so members of King Sunshine, the evening features performances by Thought, Lazlo Hollyfeld, the 12/8 Path band and more. It also boasts “a countdown you will never forget.” And if you want to get a taste of New Year’s early, come down to the Sound in Motion Pre-Party at the Pearl St. Grill, happening on Saturday (Dec. 29), hosted by Beyondo and HiLoFi. Ages 18+ are welcome at both events.

Stand up comedian Brian Regan comes to UB’s Center for the Arts on Sunday (Jan. 6) at 7:30pm, as part of his national tour “Brian Regan in Concert: A Comedy Central Live Event.” One of the network’s fast rising stars, Regan is among the crop of lucky comics who have worked out a multi-platform deal. Such deals in clude the tour and DVD, plus two one-hour specials and the development of his own show on Comedy Central, a solo project for Regan to perpetuate his own brand of self-deprecating observational humor. While the deal embraces Regan as a premier television comedian, he’s been selling out theaters nationally since 2005, easily making the leap from small clubs to larger venues all on his own.

The Harmonia Chamber Singers’ “Gaudete!” concert, originally scheduled for December 16, was postponed due to the first winter storm of the year. They will deliver the program instead on Sunday (Jan. 6), at the Blessed Trinity Church (317 Leroy Ave. in Buffalo), at 4pm. This is the group’s third annual advent and Christmas concert as one of WNY’s newest and finest performing ensembles. Their repertoire includes interpretations of some of the most beautiful a cappella music in the world under the direction of Robert Pacillo, who has also perfromed with the Buffalo Choral Arts Society and the Vocalis Chamber Choir. This will be the choir’s last concert until the spring.