If you survived Thanksgiving, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, congratulations. But there's still another four weeks of the holiday onslaught before we can ditch the cheer and go back to being our old grumpy selves. Take a time-out from the frantic pace and enjoy some music that will make you happy without getting sappy.

Wednesday, December 2

The Bluegrass Country Jam

Hosted by Jeanie and Chuck

At the Plough and Stars

116 Clement Street

8:30 to 11 pm

Free/21 and over

Bring your instrument, bring a friend, bring your friend's instrument. Just ask first. You’ll love the Bluegrass Country Jam whether you’re a picker or a grinner, a lover or a sinner. It's free, it's fun, it's fresh!

http://www.theploughandstars.com/

Coming soon – an old fashioned country music variety show put together by Jeanie, Chuck, and that multi-talented marvel, Misisipi Mike Wolf

Saturday, December 12

The San Francisco Folk Music Club Hootenanny presents

The Lil Ole Opry

At the Café Internationale

508 Haight at Fillmore

7 to 10:30 pm

Free/All ages

with

The Black Crown Stringband

Misisipi Rider

The Henriettas

The Knuckle Knockers

Jeanie & Chuck's Country Roundup

and those sweethearts of girly twangness – Chickwagon!

http://sfhootenanny.homestead.com/

http://cafeinternational.us/

Feast your eyes on Misisipi Mike’s poster for the event:

http://www.countryroundupsf.co…..l_opry.jpg

It's gonna be a whole lot of music and a whole lot of fun. We've got all the country bases covered with bluegrass, honky tonk, old-time, alt-country, and more. You like yodeling? Got it! Gospel quartet? Got it! And how about a wacky number featuring Chuck and Chickwagon? Oh, we have so got it!

Lately, we've been highlighting other events going on that we really think you ought to check out. And this one's a doozy. Our pals in the Barbary Ghosts are opening for Todd Snider. Shawn and Joanie perform sea shanties, ballads, and all sorts of seafaring songs. You'll feel the wind on your back and the spray on your face. So fill up your tankard up to the gunwales with grog and check ‘em out. See you there, sailor.

The Great American Music Hall

Thursday, December 10th

8pm/seated show

http://www.myspace.com/thebarbaryghosts