Rook Rocks Packed Holiday Calendar

Contributed

Consider heading to the Kings Rook Club this December, as the schedule is stacked with a ton of can't-miss events including a Gathering at Chaffee's Christmas Party, Rockin' Rook-Mas with Shea D'Heaux, and a New Year's Eve night with a full slate of local and out-of-town music.

Beginning Friday, Dec. 20

Are you looking for a few fun nights out during your winter holiday? If you want to get moving, The King's Rook Club has you covered. Running through the New Year and beyond, each weekend has a roster of performers that are worth checking out.

Let's start with the two-night Gathering at Chaffee's Christmas Party. Friday, Dec. 20 will feature Funktional Flow, backed up by local alt-rockers Royek (fresh out of the recording studio), pop-punk dynamos Do Not Call List, and an improvisational afterparty odyssey with TimeMind. No stranger to the Rook stage (not to mention Chaffee's in 2022 and 2023), the Buffalo-based quintet Funktional Flow, brings a groovy mix of reggae, rock, and — you guessed it — funk to every show.

The following night will host the much-loved Syracuse powerhouse Sophistafunk. If you haven't caught them locally (including this year at Chaffee's), maybe you've seen them as the house band on Guy's Ultimate Game Night, the latest offering from the Mayor of Flavortown himself, Guy Fieri. Joining them will be local heroes Phunkademic, Good 'N You?, and an after party with hip-hop/EDM artisan Grimace. Both nights will have food available courtesy of Jake Juliano, with vending from Hippie Hideout and Optimistic Apocalypse.

Just two days after the holiday, Friday, Dec. 27 will be "Rockin' Rook-Mas," a Christmas celebration with Pittsburgh family rock-and-rollers Chip and the Charge Ups, Common Spence (who just recently moved from Erie to Pittsburgh), rock up-and-comers Next to Cascade, and Moon Destroyer (featuring former Wasted Info members), all hosted by local drag superstar Shea D'Heaux. Guests dressed in holiday attire will be up for a special contest. "How it works is when you come into the Rook, we give you a wrapped gift! Inside will be either a nice gift with a green glow stick and a drink coupon or naughty gift with a red glowstick," explained Khristina Juarez, social media manager and booking agent for the KRC. "I know it'll be a fun Christmasy time with a nice sprinkle of drag to tie it together," wagered Shea D'Heaux (aka Jemmerio Harper). "I am going to be doing a little haunting Christmas look to fit the twisted Christmas theme." Krampus will be on hand for selfies and drink coupons for the naughty (red glowstick) guests, and headliners Chip and the Charge Ups will personally select a best-dressed guest.

On Friday, Dec. 31, Philadelphian synth-funk sensations Minka will be returning to the King's Rook Club in the downstairs concert complex. Opening up for them will be Steely Mac, the Steely Dan tribute band fronted by McKenzie Sprague. At the same time, upstairs will feature And..., Dirty Cigarettes, Stim City, and DJC Dubz. 

Doors at 8 p.m. Dec. 20, 21, and 31; Doors at 9 p.m. Dec. 27 // Kings Rook Club, 1921 Peach St. // $15 Dec. 20 and 21; $10 Dec. 27 // For info and tickets: tickets.eriereader.com