By Bob Townsend

For the AJC

As if anyone needed convincing, “Christmas in the Heart,” the new Bob Dylan collection of Christmas tunes (including the likes of “Little Drummer Boy” and “The First Noel”), offers further evidence of just how pervasive holiday music continues to be.

Here in Atlanta, the freewheeling Kingsized holiday show at Variety Playhouse has become a tinsel-time tradition going into its fourth year. And in its second year, the perfectly reverent Jeffrey Bützer and T.T. Mahony presentation of “A Charlie Brown Christmas” at the EARL is a classic in the making.

Ironically, avant rockers Bützer and Mahony decided to pay homage to Vincent Guaraldi’s jazzy score for Charles Schulz’s beloved Charlie Brown cartoon special after collaborating on a concept called Beautiful Losers — which covered decidedly more downbeat songs by Nick Cave, Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits.

Here’s a glimpse of some holiday music events:

Star 94 Jingle Jam

This year’s Star 94 Jingle Jam is another pop radio-meets-TV extravaganza, with a lineup that includes “American Idol” winner Jordin Sparks, “X Factor” winner Leona Lewis, earnest piano rockers the Fray, and alt dance band Cobra Starship. As usual, the show is already close to sold out, but lucky Star 94 listeners can still win tickets. 7 p.m. Dec. 17, $27-$77, Gwinnett Arena, 6400 Sugarloaf Parkway, Duluth, 770-813-7500.

Charlie Brown Christmas

Jeffrey Bützer (drums), T.T. Mahony (piano) and Adrian Ash present “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” re-creating the entire 1965 Vince Guaraldi trio soundtrack recording. Special guests will join in to perform other Christmas songs, including a New Orleans shuffle version of “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” And look for naughty elfin dancers, holiday projections and some Christmas baked goods. El Capitan and His Merry Melody Makers open with a set of surf-rock Christmas tunes. 9 p.m. Dec. 19, $7, the EARL, 488 Flat Shoals Ave. S.E., East Atlanta Village, 404-522-3950, www.badearl.com .

Yacht Rock special

And for something completely different, there’s the Yacht Rock Holiday special from the tongue-in-cheek band that’s been bringing the light rock/ smooth sounds/AM Gold music of the ’70s and early ’80s to Atlanta clubs, such as the 10 High. Think a Donny and Marie Christmas special, with spot-on covers of radio hits by Hall and Oates, the Doobie Brothers, Ambrosia, Toto, Captain and Tenille, and England Dan and John Ford Coley. 8:30 p.m. Dec. 18, $14 advance, $16 day of show, Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave. N.E., Atlanta, 404-524-7354, www.variety-playhouse.com .