Christmas may be over, but New Year’s Eve is still hurtling towards us … which means that when it comes to local shows, this week is seeing some slim pickin’s until after the holidays officially […]

Okay, New Yorkers – let’s get down to brass tacks, here. The holidays are fast approaching, it’s cold, there’s an exorbitant amount of tourists taking over the streets as well as your favorite new-but-made-to-look-like-vintage clothing stores, and most importantly, after last week’s Ryan Adams and Justin Townes Earle shows at Carnegie Hall, you feel like the live music circuit is on a major decline until after the new year.

Well, you’re right. But you’re also partially mistaken, as the upcoming weeks may actually be the best time to get hip to (I’ve never used that phrase before) some awesome, local acts who are on the rise. For that reason, here’s a calendar of this week’s most exciting live shows of some bands you know, and hopefully, some you don’t.

So, put on the brightest gloves you own, brave the cold, and we’ll catch you folkers at the venues – I’ll be the one double-fisting hot toddies and holding a picture of Ryan Gosling playing the ukelele. (Click “more” to see the calendar, and make sure you scroll down on the embed to view all the night listings.)