Fight cabin fever: 51 shows you want to see across the South Shore and beyond this winter

Once the holiday pause is behind us the winter season offers plenty of music at all levels. What follows is kind of a guide to some of the more interesting concerts coming up in the South Shore area, or within easy driving distance. We focused on Boston and south of Boston venues. But we'd also encourage music fans to check our weekly listings in the Music Scene column. These are my subjective picks for the most intriguing upcoming dates, a mere 51 concerts to savor.

JANUARY

Jan. 18: Bobby Rush at the Narrows Center, Fall River. One of the most riveting and energetic bluesmen anywhere, and he is just a youthful 88.

Jan. 19: O-Positive at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston. Not just the subject of my first Patriot Ledger review, but an edgy alt-rock unit led by a Northeastern professor.

Jan. 20: Grace Potter, at MGM Music Hall, Boston. Vermont's rock queen Potter plays keyboards, guitar and her vocals knock your socks off.

Jan. 24-25: G. Love and Special Sauce, at City Winery, Boston. It's a 30th anniversary celebration for Philly's gift to R and B ... and cold beverages.

Jan. 26: Antje Duvekot, at the Spire Center, Plymouth. One of New England's most underrated songwriters gets a well-deserved showcase.

Jan. 26: The Milk Carton Kids at The Paradise Rock Club, Boston. Acoustic and electric folk-rock, stellar songcraft, spine-tingling vocals from this riveting duo.

Jan. 29: Juliana Hatfield at City Winery, Boston. Whatever Duxbury's gift to alt-rock is up to musically, it is always compelling.

Jan. 31: The Record Company, with Jesse Ahern, at The Sinclair, Cambridge. Top-notch modern blues rock headliners, and an opener from Wollaston/Squantum who's fast becoming a star.

FEBRUARY

Feb. 3: Mighty Mystic at Brighton Music Hall. The Winter Reggae Splash with three bands topped by Beantown's leading reggae-mon.

Feb. 3: Mac Saturn at The Sinclair, Cambridge. Catch this Detroit rock 'n' soul band now before they become huge--and with their debut album out Jan. 26, it might not be long.

Feb. 3: Third annual Winter Bluesfest at Hopkinton Center for the Arts. Top regional lineup with Chris Fitz, Diane Blue and the Ken Clark Organ Trio makes a great triple-bill.

Feb. 9: Boyz II Men at MGM Music Hall, Boston: Get in the groove at the new concert venue everyone raves about.

Feb. 9: Steve Forbert and Freedy Johnston, at the Spire Center, Plymouth: Forbert is more folk-rock, Johnston more acoustic alt-rock, but both are quirky and delightful songsmiths.

Feb. 9: Greg Abate Quartet at the Narrows Center, Fall River: One of New England's most acclaimed and versatile jazzmen, saxophonist Abate leads a stellar foursome.

Feb. 9: Duppy Conquerors, at Soundcheck Studios, Pembroke: Superb Boston band celebrates Bob Marley's birthday with his tunes and more.

Feb. 10: Cody Jinks, Turnpike Troubadours at MGM Music Hall. The new generation of country outlaws, led by Jinks, whose "Hippies and Cowboys" is an instant anthem.

Feb. 10: The Swinging Steaks at the Spire Center, Plymouth. The South Shore's own country-rock pioneers certain to sell out this show.

Feb. 16 and 17: Josh Ritter at the Paradise Rock Club, Boston. Rock, roots, and pop songwriter Ritter gets a weekend to go deep into the songbook.

Feb. 16: Cowboy Junkies at Memorial Hall, Plymouth. They were Americana before it was a thing, have the same lineup as 1986, and Margo Timmins' voice is like no other.

Feb. 17: Winter Blues Fest at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. Is this the best blues lineup of the year? Popa Chubby, Monster Mike, Albert Castiglia – guitars galore!

Feb. 20: Robert Cray at the Narrows Center, Fall River. The matchless soul and bluesman, superb vocalist and dazzling guitarist, celebrating his 50th Year in the business.

Feb. 22: Portugal. The Man at Roadrunner, Allston. Psychedelic, spacey pop sextet from Wasilla, Alaska, and really something different.

Feb. 24: Slim Jim Phantom at The Music Room, Yarmouth. Stray Cats frontman with his own brand of rockabilly at Cape Cod's intimate room.

Feb. 29: Ballyhoo at Soundcheck Studios, Pembroke. Ska-rock from a Maryland band with 25 years of experience and eight albums to celebrate.

Feb. 29: The Atlanta Rhythm Section at the Spire Center, Plymouth. The hitmakers from way back when are still "So Into You" and establishing that unique Southern groove.

MARCH

March 1 and 2: Bruce Katz at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. The former Marshfield resident, a protean jazz/blues/soul keyboardist, records a new live album here.

March 2: Burna Boy at TD Garden, Boston: His first hit was "Like to Party" and the Nigerian singer lauded for his 'Afro-fusion style, gets his night on the big stage.

March 5: Jonathan Richman at the Spire Center, Plymouth. The state's beloved "Roadrunner" rocks with longtime cohort Tommy Larkins on drums.

March 7: Red Wanting Blue at City Winery, Boston. The Ohio rockers are one of the best and most energizing acts in America, with incisive songwriting too.

March 8: Tom Rush at City Winery, Boston. The icon of folk music always worth a listen, and this is a benefit for Rosie's Place, so it's a win-win.

March 8: The Kooks at MGM Music Hall, Boston. One of the most promising and oft-overlooked young British rock bands out there, with a 1960's throwback vibe.

March 9: Mike Zito at the Spire Center, Plymouth. One half of the vaunted Blood Brothers, St. Louis native Zito is also a dazzling singer/guitarist with his own band.

March 11: John Mellencamp at The Hanover Theater, Worcester. Worth the road trip to catch the rock bard performing solo, especially if you missed this fall's Boston gig.

March 15: The Coronas at Brighton Music Hall: Boston's annual weekend of Irish celebration begins with these Dublin rockers.

March 15, 16, 17: The Dropkick Murphys at MGM Music Hall, Boston. The annual run of St. Patrick's Day shows by the favorite Celtic rockers of Boston (and Quincy/Milton).

March 16: John Lodge at Memorial Hall, Plymouth. The bassist/vocalist/songwriter of the Moody Blues performs and discusses their classic music with his band.

March 16: Jon Batiste at The Orpheum Theater, Boston. Multiple Grammy winner, former Stephen Colbert Show bandleader, beloved New Orleans composer, gets down in Beantown.

March 16: Richard Thompson at the Narrows Center, Fall River. The legendary British folk-rocker and nonpareil guitarist can bring the fire even in a solo show like this.

March 17: Sleater-Kinney at The Paradise Rock Club, Boston. One of the 1990s' hardest rocking and rare all-female bands – wonder if they know any Irish songs?

March 19: Brandy Clark and Hayes Carll at the Narrows Center, Fall River. Clark is more mainstream country, albeit with intelligent writing, while Carll is an oft-hilarious iconoclast.

March 21: Alice Howe with Freebo, at The Fallout Shelter, Norwood. Newton's outstanding singer/songwriter and her mentor/bandleader, who you'll remember from Bonnie Raitt's band.

March 22: Raul Malo at City Winery, Boston. The leader, singer and songwriter for The Mavericks has his own stunning solo songbook, and that amazing voice, of course.

March 24-25: The Magnetic Fields at Roadrunner, Allston. Indelible Americana music with depth, passion and delicacy have made this Boston band a slow-building success story.

March 28: Matt York at City Winery, Boston. Pembroke's troubadour delivers his Highwayman show, where he performs and discusses the music and careers of the iconic quartet.

March 30: Guster, at MGM Music Hall, Boston. Why not cap off the month with the Boston alt-rock band started by three cheeky lads from Tufts?

This article originally appeared on The Patriot Ledger: 51 area concerts you'll want to leave the house to see this winter