Sound check: Bret Michaels decks the Arcada halls

Jingle bell rocker

Rocker Bret Michaels just can't sit still. The frontman who brought Poison to its heyday is also a spokesman for the American Diabetes Association, an entrepreneur, a TV star, a family man and a hard-core rocker who still puts on a heck of a show. Michaels brings a little holiday spirit to the Arcada Theatre this weekend with his “Bret Michaels Christmas Show!” Arcada Theatre, 105 E. Main St., St. Charles. $49. (630) 962-7000 or arcadalive.com. 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22

Cracken Fest

Cracken Cakes and More, the north suburban Beach Park outpost for delicious baked goods and tasty musical licks, is throwing Cracken Fest, a full-day festival to celebrate owner and head chef Dora Lee McCracken's birthday. The lineup of mostly area bands starts at noon and features Jimmy Liggett, Noah Meltzer, The Terrible, Owls & Other Animals, Save the Planet, SpaceWolves, Trident Deep, All the Wine, Happy Larf, Ashby & the Oceanns, Old Wolves, Annie Alkaline, Jayleigh, Small Places, Barnes Chernobyl, The Forever Lost, Apathy Orchard, Social Que, Frank Samuel, Syncere and Crisis, plus a few TBA special guests. Get a taste of some free music at this family-friendly event at Cracken Cakes and More, 38594 N. Sheridan Road, Beach Park. Free. (847) 603-4966 or crackencakes.com. 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 23

I Fight Dragons at Lincoln Hall

Their catalog is already packed with catchy songs (including a couple of surprisingly beautiful ballads), but Chicago pop-rock band I Fight Dragons is rolling out even more. The chiptune-wielding fivesome - Brian Mazzaferri, Packy Lundholm, Hari Rao, Chad Van Dahm and Bill Prokopow - returns to Lincoln Hall for a night of tunes both old and new. See them when they play with fellow Chicago acts Temporary Pharoahs and Carlile. And don't miss I Fight Dragons' appearance on the recently released “The Goldbergs' Mixtape,” featuring “Rewind,” the band's theme song for the ABC series. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave., Chicago. $13-$15. (773) 525-2501 or lh-st.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23

Cubby Bear canned food drive

Out of Context Productions and Cubby Bear are teaming up to host a holiday canned food drive to warm things up for the giving season. $5 admission (or free with three canned food items) nets you sets from Red Light Compliance, The Linden Method, Aim at Your Enemies and The Fromps. Grow your heart three sizes that day and enjoy some awesome local music at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison, Chicago. $5 (free with donation of three canned goods). (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com. 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23

Concert highlights

Mr. Capone's Ultimate Christmas Party with the Bootlegger Band: 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Rochaus, 98 W. Main St., West Dundee. Free with donation of an unwrapped toy or nonperishable food item. (815) 893-9768 or rochaus.com.

The Redmonds Christmas Show featuring The Redmonds, Kevin Lee and the Kings, The Duct Tape Band and The Romeo Brothers: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at FitzGerald's, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $12. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Hitmen: 8 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $6-$8. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Cirrus Falcon: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Peggy Kinnane's, 8 N. Vail Ave., Arlington Heights. Free. (847) 577-7733 or peggykinnanes.com.

This Must Be The Band, Genome: 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Vic Theatre, 3145 N. Sheffield Ave., Chicago. $25. (773) 472-0449 or victheatre.com.

Fletcher Rockwell: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at BaseCamp Pub, 5750 Lakeside Drive, Lisle. Free. (331) 777-4712 or basecamppub.com.

'90s Holiday Pizza Party with There Goes the Neighborhood, Run Forrest Run: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $3-$5. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

My Metal Heart: 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $10. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Texas Toast Chainsaw Massacre, No Conviction, Ryno: 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. $7-$10. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

Snow Leopard Love Affair, Paper Towels, fredo disco, The Grey, The Magnifiers, Big Sky Hunters and more: 6 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at Evolution Music, 923 Curtiss St., Downers Grove. $10. evolutionmusicstore.com.

Inept “So Much Between Us” 10-Year Anniversary Show with Danger Is My Middle Name, The Hoodie Life and Daniel Wade: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at Bottom Lounge, 1375 W. Lake St., Chicago. $15. (312) 666-6775 or bottom lounge.com.

Lakefront EP release with Tiny Kingdoms, The Weekend Classic, Rare Candy, Good Enough: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at Cobra Lounge, 235 N. Ashland Ave., Chicago. $10. (312) 226-6300 or cobralounge.com.

The Giving Trio: 8 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at FitzGerald's Sidebar, 6615 Roosevelt Road, Berwyn. $5 donation. (708) 788-2118 or fitzgeraldsnightclub.com.

Downtown Brown, She Likes Todd, Glostik Willy: 9 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at BrauerHouse, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $16.25-$75. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Wedding Banned: 10:30 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 23, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $7. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

Mr. Blotto's Annual Christmas Show: 8 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. $15. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Extraordinary Popular Delusions: 9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25, at Beat Kitchen, 2100 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. Free. (773) 281-4444 or beatkitchen.com.

MER's Music Showcase: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 27, at Cubby Bear, 1059 W. Addison St., Chicago. Free. (773) 327-1662 or cubbybear.com.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve”: 3 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $47. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com/allstate/.

Whitey Morgan, Ward Davis, Alex Williams: 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at BrauerHouse Live, 1000 N. Rohlwing Road, Lombard. $16.25-$75. (630) 495-2141 or brauerhouse.com.

Trans-Siberian Orchestra's “The Ghosts of Christmas Eve”: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Allstate Arena, 6920 Mannheim Road, Rosemont. Tickets start at $47. (800) 745-3000 or rosemont.com/allstate/.

Jeff and Mario, Jeff Brown & the New Black, Ego Mechanics: 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Sandlot, 3477 N. Clark Street, Chicago. $10. (773) 857-0825 or eventbrite.com.

Family Groove Company, EGi, Great Sky Band: 8:30 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 28, at Durty Nellie's, 180 N. Smith St., Palatine. $12-$14. (847) 358-9150 or durtynellies.com.

<i> Brian Shamie is a Daily Herald multiplatform editor. You can follow him on Twitter at @BShamieDH. Listen to Brian's “2017 Chicago Sound Check” Spotify playlist for a sampling of many of the local bands he's included in the Daily Herald this year.</i>