Beyoncé
12/13 at 8 In case you missed her triumphant July performance (or you’re just super-obsessed), Bey returns to show us why she’s not giving up her pop-diva crown anytime soon, with this redux of her Mrs. Carter Show worldwide tour. $45–$250. United Center, 1901 W Madison. ticketmaster.com
B96 Jingle Bash
12/14 at 5:30 The annual family-friendly holiday jam cooks up a savory stew of popular radio acts that include Mariah Carey clone Ariana Grande, rapper Pitbull, and, for the first time, mainstream EDM crossovers such as Armin van Buuren. $30–$125. Allstate Arena, 6920 N Mannheim. ticketmaster.com
Brokeback
12/20 at 9 Perhaps the most beloved Tortoise offshoot this side of the Sea and Cake, local guitar hero Doug McCombs’s breezy Morricone-inspired solo project is a delight for post-rock, alt-country, and spaghetti Western fans alike. $10. Schubas, 3159 N Southport. schubas.com
Disappears
12/12 at 9 Three experimentalists play in support of local avant forebear Kranky Records’ 20th anniversary celebration. Disappears, perhaps the most visible act on the bill due to recently departed drummer Steve Shelley, blends post-punk and krautrock with aplomb in its newest and most cohesive album. Implodes and Lichens also perform. $12. Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western. ticketweb.com
Drake
12/12 at 7 The Nothing Was the Same rapper was supposed to perform in October, but he pushed his Would You Like a Tour back to December. No matter. Winter is a more fitting season for the former Degrassi heartthrob, whose moody third album was the year’s second-biggest seller. Sizzling R&B crooners Miguel and the Atlanta rapper Future open. $59.75–$109.75. United Center, 1901 W Madison. ticketmaster.com
Mark Kozelek
12/19 at 8 The prolific San Francisco–based singer-songwriter responsible for iconic acts Sun Kil Moon and Red House Painters continued strumming heartstrings with his 2012 release Among the Leaves, a showcase of his masterful (and often hilariously self-deprecating) narratives over silky nylon-string guitar work. $20. Lincoln Hall, 2424 N Lincoln Ave. lincolnhallchicago.com
Cass McCombs
12/6 at 9:30 The traveling indie troubador hits Ukrainian Village in support of an epic 22-song Domino release, Big Wheel and Others, a triumphant, sonically diverse return that expands upon the singer-songwriter’s road-worn wheelhouse. $12. Empty Bottle, 1035 N Western. ticketweb.com
Polica
12/5 at 9 The Justin Vernon–approved Minneapolis synthwave act tours in support of its newest LP for Mom + Pop, Shulamith, a formidable follow-up to its much-lauded 2012 debut, Give You the Ghost. $18–$20. Metro, 3730 N Clark. etix.com