SouthCoast concerts to brighten your winter nights

In the dark of New England winter, there may be nothing so bright to look forward to as live music, and a room full of people feeling the same beat.

Some might call it joy.

I have here my picks for the best upcoming concerts in SouthCoast. Get out there, music fans, and get grooving. I’ll go in chronological order.

CHERYL WHEELER, Jan. 11

Don’t walk, run. This Swansea folk singer is a national treasure. Wheeler was born to perform. She is Poet and Comic.

I first heard Wheeler on WUMB when I was a kid, maybe 20 years ago now. It was “75 Septembers” and it was beautiful.

She’ll have you laughing during one song — “Potato,” say, or “Which of These Books” — and tearing up in the next — “75 Septembers,” or “Arrow.”

It’s no surprise that, she was performing in coffee shops by middle school.

“I never did think in terms of having a career. I really just wanted to … play guitar all the time,” she told me when I interviewed her for this column a few years back. “I was, and am, totally gone on music and poetry.”

Fun fact: She and her wife Cathleen were married in Fall River shortly after same-sex marriage became legal in Massachusetts.

“When Channel 10 News announced that same-sex marriage would become legal in Massachusetts, we were blown away,” Wheeler told me. “We had no idea anyone was even working on it. I turned to (Cathleen) and said, ‘We should do that,’ and she replied, ‘Absolutely.’”

More must listens: “When Fall Comes to New England,” “Lady Gaga's Singing Program,” "Miss You More Than I'm Mad.”

Opener Kenny White. At the Narrows Center for the Arts, 16 Anawan St., Fall River. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. $37 advance; $42 door. 508-324-1926. https://www.narrowscenter.org/live-music/

ENTRAIN, Jan. 12

Woot wooooot! All about the Entrain.

These guys bring the party. For the uninitiated, the Martha’s Vineyard six-piece is based around beat, groove and rhythm. After that, it’s a little bit blues, a little bit rock and roll… and a little everything in between — calypso, zydeco, ska, funk.

Because of their whole freewheelin’ style, they’re a terrific band to see live.

When I interviewed their drummer Tom Major for this column a few years back, the Berklee College of Music grad told me about gigging with Bo Diddley and Carly Simon before starting Entrain on the Vineyard one summer.

“Our feeling is that music is a bridge that can unite people from all walks of life (to) find a common ground to begin a dialog of peace, unity and love,” he told me. “We are all way more alike than we are different.”

Amen.

At the Narrows Center. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. $27 advance; $30 door.

BILL FRISELL TRIO, Jan. 17

Legend.

Over the years, Frisell worked with Elvis Costello, Bono, Brian Eno, Ginger Baker, Suzanne Vega, Loudon Wainwright III, Van Dyke Parks, Ron Sexsmith, Marianne Faithful, John Scofield… the list goes on.

A guitar master, his trio is rounded out with the talented Tony Scherr and Kenny Wollesen.

Their instrumental cover of The Beach Boys’ “Surfer Girl” is beautiful. And check out Frisell’s NPR “Tiny Desk Concert” for gorgeous instrumental covers of John Lennon tunes.

At the Narrows Center. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. $50 advance; $55 door.

TRINITY: A TRIBUTE TO CROSBY, STILLS, NASH & YOUNG, Jan 18

I don’t often mention tribute bands here, but Trinity is fantastic. A must-see for CSNY fans.

At the Narrows Center. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. $25 advance; $27 door.

SISTER SPARROW AND THE DIRTY BIRDS, Jan 25

Arleigh Kincheloe is a Powerhouse vocalist, capital P.

My God.

The first time I heard her, I think my jaw actually dropped.

This under-the-radar funk/soul rockers from Brooklyn has rocked PBS’ "Austin City Limits” and opened for the Counting Crows. "Sister Sparrow," aka Kincheloe, is a powerhouse of a vocalist; her "Dirty Birds" are a flock of men on trumpet, sax, harmonica, guitar, bass and drums. Her brother Jackson Kincheloe is tremendous on harmonica. Must-listen: “Gold.” Gold.

At the Narrows Center. Openers: The National Reserve. Doors 7 p.m.; show 8 p.m. $27 advance; $30 door.

TREY MCLAUGHLIN & THE SOUNDS OF ZAMAR, Jan 31

Get ready to move.

Gospel music has power. Power to make you feel, sing, sway. There is some kind of joy in it. You will smile with these guys, guaranteed.

Gospel fans: Do not miss this Gen Y gospel sensation and his 20-member-strong group.

The Georgia-born McLaughlin, 34, leads his group in fresh gospel adaptations that have millions of YouTube hits and nearly 24K Instagram followers. The next generation of gospel.

At the Zeiterion Theatre, 684 Purchase St., New Bedford. From $25; $10 for students. 508-994-2900; https://zeiterion.org/

WINTER SONGFEST, Feb. 8

Folkies, save the date: Sandywoods Center for the Arts presents the Winter Songfest: an in-the-round and a solo showcase set with local talented songwriters Louis Leeman, Lara Herscovitch and Chuck Williams.

Leeman has opened for Tom Rush, Leon Russell, Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of Little Feat; and performs with his band Cheap Sneakers and the timeless Funky White Honkies. Herscovitch is a wonderful songwriter-poet, and Chuck Williams has opened for Jimmy Le Fave, Steve Forbert, Cheryl Wheeler and more.

7:30 p.m. $15. 43 Muse Way, Tiverton, R.I. https://sandywoods.org/

Lauren Daley is a freelance writer and Spotlight music columnist. Contact her at ldaley33@gmail.com. Follow her at https://www.facebook.com/daley.writer She tweets @laurendaley1.