Christmas concerts are taking center stage in the area this week

We're beginning to see a bit of a slowdown as the holidays approach, but there's still plenty of options for music fans.

A tribute to Toni Lynn Washington

Two things you can be sure of with Boston soul queen Toni Lynn Washington: she can sing anything and make it her own with a warmth and feeling that is remarkable, and she always has topnotch backing bands. Friday night Arlington's Regent Theatre hosts a night to salute Toni Lynn, with a long list of her present and former bandmates and admirers. The core band will include Bruce Bears, Sonya Rae Taylor, and Duke Robillard, while guest vocalists include Brian Templeton, Diane Blue, Michelle "Evil Gal" Willson, and Boston's Tony Wilson – aka "Young James Brown." The Regent is located at 7 Medford St. in Arlington, music starts at 7 p.m., and tickets are $40-$50, via regenttheatre.com, or call 781-646-4849 for more information.

Club Passim continues holiday tradition

This is a Club Passim holiday season tradition, where many of the venue's regular performers come together to play their favorite music from other people. This event runs from Friday through Sunday night, and the long list of artists expected includes Mark Erelli and Jake Armerding, but really, you never know who might show up, and that's part of the fun. Check out clubpassim.org for details.

Radio stations host holiday balls

Saturday finds the Mix 104.1 Deck the Halls Ball at Agganis Arena in Boston, with headliners Jellyroll and Parmalee adding a bit of twang. Sunday night TD Garden in Boston is enveloped by the KISS-108 Jingle Ball, with acts including SZA, One Republic and FloRida. Bear in mind the acts do short sets so it's a chance to hear a dozen or more acts on one night at these events, but it is not generally the same as a typical concert where a headliner might play two hours.

THURSDAY, Dec. 7: Johnny Bass and his band pay tribute to The Band

Jonny Bass & Friends craft a tribute to The Band's "The Last Waltz" concert at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. Tony Trischka's Holiday Show takes over Club Passim in Cambridge. TroyBoi hits the groove at Big Night Live in Boston. Singer/actress Leanna Firestone headlines The Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Wesley Stace – aka John Wesley Harding – sings at the Charles River Museum of Industry in Waltham. Model/Actriz is the hip (I guess?) name for the Brooklyn post-punk quartet described as dance-noise at Brighton Music Hall.

FRIDAY, Dec. 8: Sharp Dressed Men play music of ZZ Top

Divas with a Twist, that unique blend of holiday music and pop and pizzazz, has sold out their show at the Spire Center in Plymouth. The C-Note in Hull hosts a Hulliday Cabaret Spectacular, a variety show featuring music by The Pitfalls, comedy and surprises, and it's a benefit for Hull Pride and Toys for Tots. The folk-pop sounds of Darlingside at The Sinclair in Cambridge. Sharp Dressed Men – a ZZ Top tribute – arrives at The First District in Taunton.  Roots of jazz and blues and popular music all run through the brilliant lens of Pokey LaFarge at the Narrows Center in Fall River. The Red NOT Chili Peppers tribute band is at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke. The prog-rock quartet known as Tauk headlines Brighton Music Hall. The Maine – an Arizona rock quintet – shakes up The House of Blues in Boston. Don't look for any music at Roadrunner in Brighton – the venue is part of the Brighton Bazaar holiday shopping fest. The Irish band Connacht performs at The Fallout Shelter in Norwood.

SATURDAY, Dec. 9: Morgan James Celebrating Christmas in Plymouth

You may have heard Morgan James singing with the estimable Postmodern Jukebox, or you might've caught her on Broadway, but she just released her fifth solo album, and her Soulful Christmas at the Spire Center in Plymouth promises to be a hot one. Country chartbuster Ashley McBryde is at Boston's Orpheum Theater. Denver electro-soul act Late Night Radio visits Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke for the first time. Mora brings the hottest reggaeton sounds to The House of Blues in Boston. The Jim Atkinson Band rocks out at The Next Page Cafe in Weymouth. The Brothers Project reprises some of the Allman Brothers Band's best at the C-Note in Hull. Rock and bluesman Albert Cummings is at the Narrows Center in Fall River. Meshuggah is a Swedish metal quintet headlining MGM Music Hall in Boston. The DJ known as Audien holds court at Big Night Live in Boston. The Connecticut power rock trio lespecial eschews capitalization but brings the heat at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston. Brighton Music Hall hosts a Broadway Rave, which we're assuming is a night of DJs.

SUNDAY, Dec. 10: Sky Ferreira lands in Boston

City Winery in Boston has a busy Sunday, with a noontime Beatles tribute, and at night Over the Rhine's Acoustic Christmas Show. Also Sunday, singer/actress Sky Ferreira at The Paradise Rock Club in Boston; Japanese Breakfast is actually British indie pop, at Roadrunner in Boston; Knuckle Puck's alt-rock at Big Night Live in Boston; and Fall of Troy – a prog-metal trio – thunders into Brighton Music Hall.

Coming attractions

MONDAY: Mariah Carey's Christmas concert at TD Garden in Boston; while the a cappella sounds of Rockapella delight fans at City Winery in Boston.

TUESDAY: Alt-rockers Dogstar hit the Paradise Rock Club; while the Compaq Big Band brings Christmas music and jazz to City Winery in Boston; and pop star Patrick Watson sings at The Sinclair in Cambridge.

WEDNESDAY: The rockin' ska and more of Bouncing Souls fills Royale in Boston; while Playing Dead jams at Soundcheck Studios in Pembroke; and the new combo led by Eric Krasno (Lettuce) and Stanton Moore (Soulive) makes its debut at the Narrows Center in Fall River.

DEC. 14: Say Darling, the indie folk duo of Celia Woodsmith and Chris Hersch, lights up The Spire Center in Plymouth; Marsha Ambrosius, from the duo Floetry, brings her solo show to City Winery in Boston.

DEC. 15: It's a Celtic Christmas when the acclaimed Cherish the Ladies take over The Spire Center in Plymouth; The Irish Tenors sing at Memorial Hall in Plymouth (and the next night at Barnstable High's Performing Arts Center.)

DEC. 16: For a completely different take on things, a John Waters Christmas at The Berklee Performance Center in Boston; and South Shore favorites The Fat City Band are back to raise heck at the C-Note in Hull.

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: Where to see live music near Quincy and Boston from Dec. 7-10