NIGHTLIFE

Holiday weekend includes free concerts in Dewey, Rehoboth

ROGER HILLIS
DELMARVANOW CORRESPONDENT
Remember Jones will play a free concert at the Dogfish Head brewpub in Rehoboth Beach on Friday, Dec. 22. The ten-piece band will perform at 10 p.m.

While the holiday weekend will see changes to the regular schedules of many area nightclubs, it will also bring a few special events.

The vast majority of local bars will be closed on Sunday and Monday, Dec. 24-25 — for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, respectively. Friday and Saturday should see good-sized crowds out and about, however, as former locals roll into town to be with family.

Singer-songwriter Jimmy Allen is a Milton native who is now pursuing a country music career in Nashville. While he is back here for the holidays, he'll play a free concert at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22.

Allen's eponymous EP on Stoney Creek Records is receiving national distribution in conjunction with the BBR Music Group promotions company. His star is slowly rising, partly due to various appearances opening for famous names. His biggest touring exposure to date came via appearances on Toby Keith's "Interstates and Tailgates Tour."

Milton native Jimmy Allen is now pursuing a country music career in Nashville. He will return to Delaware and play a free concert at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach on Friday, Dec. 22.

When Allen is back on his home turf and playing the Rudder this weekend, he will get to stretch out with a headlining set. The evening will including opening sets by Willow Hill (featuring Lovebettie frontwoman Alexandra Naples) as well as the Clifford Keith Band.

More:Model train club has rebuilt after fire; displays are open to the public

More:Massive great white shark gone? Mary Lee is more than a tweeting shark

Looking ahead to the new year, the Ocean City Convention Center is already selling tickets (priced from $39 to $59) for a Friday, March 23 show featuring country star Josh Turner. This concert will take place in the exhibit hall, as opposed to the Ocean City Performing Arts Center venue that is in the same complex.

Local rock act Monkee Paw will play the High Stakes Bar & Grill in Fenwick Island at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22.

In downtown Rehoboth Beach, the Dogfish Head brewpub has a free concert set for 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Soul-pop act Remember Jones is a 10-piece band that includes female backing vocalists and a horn section. The group has been known to occasionally cover Amy Winehouse's "Back to Black" album in its entirety. It was also set to open a Christmas-themed concert featuring the legendary Darlene Love in New Jersey on Dec. 20.

Bethany Blues Lewes, located on Route 1 at Midway, will live up to its name on Friday, Dec. 22. Popular local singer Judy Malin Mangini will return at 8:30 p.m. to present her "Judy Sings the Blues" show. Admission is free.

Email Roger Hillis at rogerhillis@gmail.com. 

This Week's Must-See List

— Jimmy Allen at the Rusty Rudder in Dewey Beach at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Free

— Remember Jones at Dogfish Head in Rehoboth Beach at 10 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Free

— Judy Sings the Blues at Bethany Blues Lewes on Route 1 at Midway at 8:30 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Free

— Fourplay at B.J.'s On the Water in Ocean City at 9 p.m. Friday, Dec. 22. Free

— Freshly Squeezed at The Pond in Rehoboth Beach at 10 p.m. Monday, Dec. 25. Free