Plenty of options for jams after Thanksgiving

Thousands of former beach locals have returned to Delmarva this week to spend holiday time with friends and relatives.

Area nightclub owners are ready, willing and able to entertain the masses looking for a little nighttime entertainment after Black Friday shopping (and throughout the rest of the weekend).

Trader Lee's in West Ocean City has an indie-rock triple bill set to kick off at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25.

Blacksburg, Va.-based Mad Habit will travel to the beach to play songs from its 10-track debut album, "Fear the Sun." Ocean City trio The Swell Fellas will spotlight tunes from their "Couchlook" EP. The lineup for the free show will be rounded out by another homegrown OC group, The Hooplas. Expect a long evening of original music with psychedelic overtones.

Original music will also be the order of the day when the Joey Harkum Band plays Pickles Pub in Ocean City on Friday, Nov. 24. Singer-songwriter Harkum is the former frontman for popular indie-rock group Pasadena, which broke up in September. Harkum promptly released a solo album titled "Love and Labor," and he recently returned from a lengthy, cross-country tour.

He will be accompanied by his new backing band at Pickles on Friday, and The Wyse Guys will open the show at 9:30 p.m.

In downtown Rehoboth Beach, the Dogfish Head brewpub will present West Chester, Pa., quartet Afrobear at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24.

Expect the dance floor to be packed for this group's mix of soul, rock, hip hop and reggae. Lead singer Amanda O'Donnell and company are currently recording an album at Philadelphia's legendary Studio 4. At 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25, Dogfish will present the return of Ocean City's Eastern Electric with its rootsy blend of Americana, rock and other styles.

The Milton Theatre has issued a low-ticket alert for A Celtic Christmas. The annual concert is set for 8 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25 ($15 to $25). The theater has a slew of other holiday- and comedy-themed events scheduled throughout the month of December, and we'll have more information about those in upcoming Frequency columns right here in The Beachcomber.

E-mail Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com

This Week's Must-See List

The Hooplas, The Swell Fellas and Mad Habit at Trader Lees in West Ocean City at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 25. Free

Joey Harkum Band with The Wyse Guys at Pickles Pub in Ocean City at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Free

Afrobear at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach at 10 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Free

Whiskeyhickon Boys at Seacrets in Ocean City at 5 p.m. Friday, Nov. 24. Free

Dirty Deal Blues Band at Bethany Blues Lewes on Route 1 at Midway at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 23. Free