Johanna Sillanpaa will play holiday favourites from her disc, One Wish.

As you’ve undoubtedly noticed, the Christmas season reconnects us with time-tested musical favourites. Beat Niq knows this, and it’s evidenced with an all-star lineup on Friday, December 31. Featuring Rob Young (vocals) and The Big Beat Band, the New Year’s Eve event promises an elegant evening of timeless classics and the cool sounds of Frank Sinatra.

The Big Beat Band showcases some of our best jazz musicians, like Al Muirhead on trumpet, Gerry Hebert on saxes and Simon Fisk on bass. Backed by John DeWaal on drums, Dave Reid on trombone and Derek Stoll on piano, the gig's mix of Christmas standards and faithfuls made famous by Old Blue Eyes guarantees a stellar way to end 2010. The ticket price includes light tapas between sets and champagne at midnight. Doors open at 8:30 p.m. with the performance starting at 9 p.m.

Prior to New Year’s, on Saturday, December 18, Johanna Sillanpaa celebrates the season with a concert showcasing tunes from her Christmas album One Wish, also at Beat Niq. If you haven't yet heard this album, you're in for a treat. Live, Sillanpaa delivers her sultry interpretations of traditional Christmas fare along with original compositions and fresh perspectives on pop standards. One Wish, originally released in Christmas 2007, continues to impress reviewers and fans and, as a bonus, this gig is also sure to feature some of the Swedish songs originally featured on the CD. Perhaps we'll also hear Sillanpaa's contemplative interpretation of the Joni Mitchell tune "River" from the same album. Johanna will be backed by Chris Andrew on piano, Aaron Young on guitar, Kodi Hutchinson on bass and Tyler Hornby on drums.

Now, if the aforementioned Aaron Young's name isn’t familiar to you, it should be — he's worked with the Polyjesters and is one-half of Sillan & Young. He's also a composer, performer, songwriter and member of the Gerry Hebert Quartet, which released it's newest CD, The Beat Niq Sessions Volume 3, in November. Young's influences range from Ricky Skaggs to Ozzy Osbourne, and during his career he's toured Europe, Asia, Canada and the U.S. His travels — and diverse interests — surface prominently in his music, so mark your calendars for his gig at the Beat Niq on Saturday, January 8, where he’ll be joined by Rubim de Toledo on bass and Tyler Hornby on drums.