âEURoeJingle Bell SwingâEUR� with Helen Welch on December 16 or âEURoeGirls with GuitarsâEUR� on December 29 at Akron Civic Theatre

Live music is a huge improvement on canned music, which takes up valuable pantry space and often spoils into noxious free jazz. Keep it fresh with this GrouponLive deal to the Akron Civic Theatre. Choose between the following concerts:

• For $20, you get two tickets for front-orchestra reserved seating to see âEURoeJingle Bell Swing,âEUR� starring Helen Welch with Miller South Show Choir and Stanton Middle School Choir on Sunday, December 16, at 2:30 p.m. (up to a $40 value, including all fees). Doors open at 2 p.m.

• For $10, you get one general-admission ticket for cabaret seating to see âEURoeGirls with GuitarsâEUR� on Saturday, December 29, at 8 p.m. (up to a $20 value, including all fees). Doors open at 7:30 p.m.

British singer and frequent Broadway performer Helen Welch wraps her clear vocals around classic holiday tunes during a festive concert that features local youth choirs. The songstress, whose extensive stage resumé boasts roles in Hello, Dolly! and Carousel as well as her own one-woman shows, treats her audience to dollops of anecdotal humor in between the songs. She belts out swing-heavy versions of âEURoeWinter WonderlandâEUR� and âEURoeIâEUR(TM)ve Got My Love to Keep Me Warm,âEUR� sways to the chilled guitar solo of âEURoeCool Yule,âEUR� then slows to an introspective pace on more empathetic numbers such as âEURoeO Holy NightâEUR� and âEURoeThe Christmas Song.âEUR� Welch encourages audience members to chime in on the popular carols and ditties alike as celebrated Ohio musician Rock Wehrmann accompanies her by tickling the keys of the Mighty Wurlitzer organ and loudly chewing chestnuts in rhythm.

âEURoeGirls with GuitarsâEUR�âEUR"an intimate concert starring Anne E. DeChant, Tiffany Shea, and Hannah ThomasâEUR"showcases each singer-songwriterâEUR(TM)s distinct style while also welcoming local songstresses Crystal Alwine and Madison Cummins. DeChant, the former lead singer of Cleveland band Odd Girl Out, delivers a cache of soul-searching melodies from her six albums, her ringing pipes strong from a bevy of gigs opening for Stevie Nicks, Joan Jett, and 10,000 Maniacs. Shea rigorously strums along to her own robust belting style and challenging, contemplative lyrics. With a twangy alto touched by a slight rasp, Thomas brings an Americana sound to each of her songs, whether sheâEUR(TM)s recording at Capitol Records after winning a talent search or showing up at an Atlanta FalconsâEUR(TM) halftime show to perform a duet with an actual falcon.